Have you ever noticed that the Wall Street Journal allows anyone to go to its website and read an article, and some of the articles are considered "premium content - for subscribers only." They let you read two or three paragraphs, so you have a basic idea as to what's going on in the news, but if you wish to read more you either have to login with your online subscription number, Free Reading Novel Online Website or you cannot read any further.Amazingly enough, the Wall Street Journal and many other high-end information publications believe that if it is worthy enough to print, it's worth something, and therefore readers must pay for the content. It turns out, that this strategy works quite well and the Wall Street Journal has had a 12% increase in subscriptions for its publication, and it online subscription base has skyrocketed as well - all this at a time when other publications are losing double digit percentages of subscriber base.
Now then, what if you wrote online articles as an online article author and used those to entice people to read your novel? What if you use this as a way to show off your writing ability, and allow the reader to enjoy either one paragraph or a couple of pages of high suspense, and then put a byline with a link at the bottom of your article directing them to a website where they can purchase your book? In fact, there was a very interesting article in the New York Times I believe a few months back; "publishers to issue digital works intended as appetizers for novels," by Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg. In this article Jeffrey notes that "Valentine Books and Harlequin Teen" are using such strategies to entice readers to buy their novels, and it's working. Other companies are giving away 10,000 to 15,000 word sections of their book to get you interested, and if you like it and wish to continue the book you of course have to buy it.
There are various theories as to how many words should be put forth to get the reader to start reading, and commit to purchasing the book. Is it possible that 2500 words will be enough to introduce characters and get the reader involved in an online article enough for that reader/customer to wish to pay for the rest of the book? Could you put forth three chapters of 2500 words each to entice a reader to buy? Is my belief that this would work, and therefore I think you should try it if you are an author who wishes people to purchase your books. Please consider all this.
