Publishing Industry News
The “Price by Word Count” Strategy: Is It Worth It for Indie Authors?
What Is “Price by Word Count”?
PBWC pricing aligns your ebook or print book price with its length. The idea is to offer readers a sense of fair value per word.
| Length | Ebook Price | Paperback Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1–30k (shorts, serials) | $0.99–$2.99 | ~$7.99 |
| 30–75k (novella/small novel) | $3.99–$4.99 | ~$9.99 |
| 75–150k (novel) | $5.99–$7.99 | ~$12.99 |
| 150k+ (epic) | $8.99–$12.99* | $14.99–$17.99 |
*Amazon slashes royalty to 35% above $9.99. Details here.
ROAS Basics for Indie Authors
ROAS = (Royalty × Conversion Rate) ÷ Cost per Click
This metric tells you how efficiently your ad dollars are turning into royalties.
PBWC Can Improve ROAS
| Book Length | Price | Royalty (70%) | Conv. Rate | Rev/Click | ROAS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30k (short) | $2.99 | $2.09 | 6% | $0.125 | 0.25 |
| 80k (novel) | $4.99 | $3.49 | 5% | $0.175 | 0.35 |
| 120k (epic) | $7.99 | $5.59 | 4% | $0.224 | 0.45 |
Why PBWC Helps Indie Authors
- Higher revenue per sale = better ROAS.
- Reader trust in shorter formats.
- Print cost recovery.
- Strategic series funnels.
PBWC Pitfalls to Watch
| Risk | ROAS Impact |
|---|---|
| Royalty Cliff > $9.99 | Amazon cuts royalties to 35% |
| Genre Price Resistance | Romance/YA readers may reject $5.99+ |
| KU Earnings Dilution | ~$0.0046/page can undercut ROAS |
| Higher Ad Competition | Higher CPCs needed for visibility |
| Short-form Backlash | Negative reviews for "too short" content |
Print Books & PBWC
A 400-page paperback costs ~$5.20 to print. With a 60% royalty, your minimum price is $8.67. Epics often require pricing around $14.99–$17.99.
Consider IngramSpark for lower print costs or hardcovers.
Best Practices for 2025
| Goal | PBWC Tactic | ROAS Boost |
|---|---|---|
| Get Exposure | Launch $0.99 short (20–30k) | Low CPC |
| Maximize Profit | Core novel $4.99–$6.99 | Strong conversion/ROAS |
| Epic Title | Price up to $7.99 | High-value per click |
| Print Combo | Bundle 2 books in 1 paperback | Double ROI per ad |
Final Verdict
Yes—conditionally. PBWC is effective when used within royalty constraints, genre norms, and ad spend targets.
Sources & Further Reading
- Amazon KDP Royalty Guide
- KDP Print Cost Calculator
- BookBub Advertising Trends
- Kindle Unlimited Payout Data
- /r/selfpublish community
- Bryan Cohen Ads for Authors
- Author Ad School 2025
Michael Matson
0
