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| McDonalds.com |
Free Books are like Big Macs! Really! Find out how they
compare.
As I wrote that line, not only was I reminded of Joe Fox's
comment in You've Got Mail about vats of olive oil, but I
also realized — and this is fitting to the post — not everyone likes
Big Macs. Me, eh ... not really, I'd rather have a black-bean burger. But
... I LOVE McDonald's french fries and coffee. I digress ...
The M in McDonald's is probably the most commonly known trademark
throughout the world, and yet, McDonald's advertises
EVERYWHERE! Radio, TV, Twitter, Facebook, your mailbox…
Yes, even though there's a good chance that you'll go to
McDonald's in the near future — umm … for coffee — they still pay
millions of dollars to bring you into their lair. And one of their most popular
draws is the freebie or discount, often called a "loss leader."
Yes, that lure of a free or bargain sandwich is what gets you in
the door. Sure, you could just order the Big Mac, but oh … those fries smell so
good, and then you know you'll want a nice refreshing soda — Diet Coke, of
course — to wash it all down. Yep! They gotcha! They know if you come in for
the free sandwich, more than likely, you'll go away with more … and
there's a good chance, you'll bring a friend … or two.
Well, that's what a free or $0.99 eBook is like. Like the Big
Mac, authors offer you a bestseller at FREE or $0.99, hoping you'll order the
follow-up novel, and maybe even a third.
I'm not particularly fond of cliffhangers in books … I always like
to end the current situation, and then dangle another situation in front of the
reader, but even a cliffhanger is like a Big Mac. Sure, you could just have
water … but authors hope that once you finish the book, your mouth is watering
for something more. Water … love it. But some things, like burgers and pizza,
just taste better with a Coke. Wasn’t that a campaign, too?
I always offer a snack. It just seems like a nice way for us to
meet. If your mouth doesn’t water for another course, that’s okay. I just
hope you enjoy a little escapism on me.
Until next time, happy reading and writing, friends!
Carmen
Thank you for reading my musings. Remember these are just my opinions and shouldn’t be taken too seriously. If you have questions, please feel free to leave them in the comment section, and I promise you I will answer.
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