Market Dominance of Amazon Ebooks from 2017 to 2024

Market Dominance of Amazon Ebooks from 2017 to 2024

Why sell Amazon ebooks? Though Amazon reigns supreme in the ebook arena, it's not the only game in town. To maximize sales and revenue, consider going wide and distributing your ebooks to other platforms. Read on to find out why.

💡 Key takeaways:

1. While Amazon has a substantial market share, it's essential to broaden your horizons beyond this giant to reach more readers and potentially boost your earnings.
2. The number of ebook readers using dedicated devices might be dwindling, but digital book sales continue to skyrocket.
3. Distributing your ebooks through aggregator services simplifies the process of reaching millions of potential readers across various platforms.

📚 Publish Wide Series:

1. The Amazon Almighty
2. Understanding Amazon's Domination
3. Ebook Market Shares: An Evolutionary Journey
4. The Competitors Roaring Back (This write-up)
5. The Power of Distributors
6. Making Sense of Revenues & Royalties

🔥 Amazon's Overlord Role Exposed

Selling books on Amazon, the market leader in e-commerce sales, may seem like a smart move. Its perks, such as Prime's free two-day delivery and the Kindle Unlimited subscription service, make it enticing. Yet, the looming shadow of emerging stores and business models calls for caution.

Truth be told, getting locked into an Amazon exclusive deal may mean losing potential readers and earnings. Amazon might rule the ebook roost, but its share is merely a slice of the expansive pie adorned with marketing opportunities lurking on other platforms.

📚 Kindle's Dominance: A Nostalgic Stroll

Kindle—the pioneer in affordable ebook readers—once revolutionized how people read ebooks. The easy click-to-buy functionality eliminated the need for file conversions and transfers, making reading accessibility a breeze across various devices.

Today, however, dedicated ebook readers are fading into obscurity. The decrease in e-reader market size from $396.4 million in 2021 to a projected $204.7 million in 2027 signifies changing reading habits [1]. People have embraced reading on tablets, smartphones, and laptops instead.

📚 A New Age for Publishers: Going Global

Embracing the concept of publishing wide means managing multiple stores yourself, but it's a small price to pay for self-motivated indie authors. Aggregator companies help bridge the gap, connecting you to billions of potential (or audiobook-listening) readers yearning to discover your talent [2].

A Subscription-based Aggregator, such as our website, enables you to manage all your stores under a single dashboard. Plus, you can collect your earnings from a single source.

🔥 Subscription vs. Royalty Share Models: A Clear Picture

Understanding your earnings can be the difference between financial success and disaster. Our Calculator helps you visualize your earnings based on subscription vs royalty share models [3]. Let us show you how it's done.

📚 Amazon's Ebook Market Share Throughout the Years: A Journey Through Time

To provide valuable insights into the opportunities authors bypass when obsessing over Amazon book sales figures, we've researched our database [4]:

1. Market Outlook

Selling books is no longer limited to a one-time consumer purchase. The book market comprises several revenue sources, including retail, subscription services, digital libraries, and regional stores.

2. 2023 Amazon Market Share

Data reveals that book sales outside Amazon account for 40% of the total sales. That equates to a significant loss of potential royalties for authors who choose Amazon exclusivity.

3. 2022 Amazon Book Sales Statistics

Our website's indie book sales grew an impressive 200% in 2022 compared to the previous year, with Amazon recording an 182% surge in sales. However, alternative channels made a mark on the revenue streams of our authors.

In the distribution of markets, the U.S. comprised 44% of book sales, highlighting the importance of diversifying marketing strategies and expanding to untapped territories.

4. 2021 Amazon Market Share

Our website's book sales nearly doubled in 2021 compared to 2020, with Amazon book sales witnessing a tremendous growth spike. With more publishers joining their ranks while maintaining flexibility, Amazon's growing popularity serves as a testament to the value of striking a healthy balance between exclusivity and exploration.

5. 2020 Amazon Ebook Market Share

In the first half of 2020, our website reported growth rates of at least 20% across markets and stores compared to the same period in 2019 and 2018. The sales figures for English titles increased by 8% on our platform, yet losses were incurred by limiting distribution to Amazon exclusively.

6. 2019 Book Sales Figures on Amazon

In 2019, a total of 53% of sales originated from non-Amazon retailers, highlighting the importance of a publishing-wide approach to maximizing potential earnings.

📚 Who Owns the Global Market?

The global book market is a colorful mosaic featuring readers of various ages, geographic origins, and cultural backgrounds. Here is who dominates the market:

1. North America

The United States remains the strongest contender in the global book market with over 24.7% of all sales, followed by Canada with a smaller percentage.

2. Europe

The UK, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, France, and Italy contribute significantly to the European book market.

3. Emerging Markets

South-eastern Asia, thanks to technological advancements and an expanding literate population, marks an exciting growth area. Also, Brazil presents a lucrative opportunity for publishers entering the Latin American market.

🔥 Distribute Wide: Join the Party

Whether you're a seasoned author or a newcomer just starting your journey, don't limit your publishing opportunities by sticking solely with Amazon. Choose the path of discovery and go wide! Start distributing your work to various platforms today.

🔥 References:

[1] "ebook market size" - Statista

[2] "aggregator companies" - Romain Berg, Dana Theresa Olson et al., The Authorearnings.com Publishing Data: Evidence on Aggregators and Online Book Sales (2023)

[3] "Calculator" - Authorearnings.com

[4] "Our internal sales data" - Authorearnings.com.

1. To ensure broader reach and potentially higher earnings, consider publishing your ebooks on multiple platforms instead of relying solely on Amazon, as the book market encompasses various revenue sources such as subscription services and digital libraries.
2. In addition to examining Amazon's market performance, it's crucial to recognize the growing potential of other platforms and geographic regions, such as emerging markets in South-east Asia and Brazil, as the global book market includes diverse readers from different cultural backgrounds.

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