I have sold a textbook through a publisher (for 15 years) and through Amazon as a Kindle book. I decided to move to Kindle so that I could create resources in a different format (a Primer at low cost in combination with free online web resources). We negotiated the return of our copyright when we could not agree on price and format. In making this transitions I gave up two significant things. First, I now longer have a dedicated editor. An editor is very helpful to even an experienced author. However, because I am selling a book at less than 1/10 of the cost from the publisher, it was not practical to pay someone what my editor was paid. Second, I no longer have an army of regional book reps going door to door to offer faculty members a free desk copy of the book and attempt to encourage the faculty members to take a look. Of the two forms of support, it is this second service that is most challenging to overcome. Of course, it greatly increases the cost of the product, but unless faculty members take a look they will not consider a book for adoption.
I have come to the conclusion that this is the challenge I must address based on the pattern of sales our book generates. The book sells at a steady pace with no spikes that would seem to indicate the adoption for college classes. I also search for references to the book online. When I was selling through a company, I could locate syllabi that would indicate the book was required of students. I am pleased individuals purchase the book, but the book was really written to be used in a class setting.
Anyway, I am attempting to use some of the promotional approaches Amazon recommends. I am doing this at this point in time as this is when educators look to select books to be used in the Spring semester. For a limited time, the book is available for $1. The price then gradually increases back to the normal selling price. This approach cannot compare to free in your office, but it makes sense to me.
