Another month, another prediction. This time, PricewaterhouseCoopers is claiming in its “Global Entertainment & Media Outlook 2014-2018” that eBook sales in the UK will overtake hardback and paperback editions by 2018, and that printed book sales will decline by more than a third.
But, according to Nate Hoffelder of The Digital Reader, the chance of this prediction coming true is “not too damn likely.”
Why? Well, PwC has made a couple similar predictions about American eBook sales over the last few years, neither of which appear to be correct, especially considering the flattening performance of the US eBook market lately.
But that slowdown in eBook sales isn’t necessarily a doom-and-gloom picture for indie authors. The resilience of print books (which is evident in the infographic “The top reasons for choosing a printed book over an eBook“) is a great thing; it means you have continuing opportunities to offer fans multiple options that suit their reading preferences: eReaders, smartphones/tablets, web, paperback, hardcover, and special editions. And when you’re meeting the needs of ALL your readers, you’re also set up to capture the most sales.
For more information, check out:
* 3 ways to keep your books sales up when eBook sales slow down
* Is eBook distribution enough? Why selling hard copies of your novel matters
What do you think? Are print books here to stay? Is the leveling-off in eBook sales just a temporary slowdown? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.
