tBook HUB & Pricing Strategy

How tBook Pricing & Funding Works

HUB Funding Strategy

The tBook Funding Strategy evolved from a desire to make books accessible to all readers and while by providing a monetary value to kick start the intrinsic value of books. To achieve this goal, books need to be affordable, really free, while still creating value for the writer and the reader. While I would love to see everyone giving away books, I know this strategy will not appeal to everyone. Don't worry! You are under no obligation to give away your books! If you already have an audience, you might not care about tBooks in the least, but keep in mind, the tBook may still be an option for incentivizing sales.

To keep costs low, so that everyone can participate, we have implemented a tiered funding model.

Books

• Amount: $1.00 USD equivalent
• Method: Immediate on-chain funding

Articles

• Amount: $0.01 USD equivalent
• Method: Reserved in HUB until appreciation achieved
• Appreciation: $1.00 value

Newsletters

• Amount: $0.001 USD equivalent
• Method: Reserved in HUB until appreciation achieved
• Appreciation: $1.00 value

Since Bitcoin is a digital store of value, it makes a perfect embed for tBooks. However, the amount of the embed must meet a threshold value or it cannot be sent electronically. This means that any funding that does not meet this threshold cannot be embedded: newsletters and articles. The tBook HUB embeds the specific amount of bitcoin, at the time of funding, into the newsletters and articles and then tracks this amount until it appreciates to $1. Once appreciated, your tBook will be updated to show the new value and it is ready to be extracted or redeemed. By utilizing the HUB, we make newsletters and articles affordable to all authors.

For example, 100 newsletters cost $1.00 USD equivalent. This means that the newsletters will not display their value until they reach $1. Until they hit this threshold, the tBook Value page in any given newsletter or article will display this message:

It is important to understand that until the threshold is met, the bitcoin amounts in these newsletters and articles are not accessible, meaning if someone accesses the private key on the token value page, they will not be able to retrieve their funding and they will destroy their book. If this occurs, the person will need to hold onto that private key until the the threshold is met and the HUB issues the bitcoin to that private key. This situation is best avoided because it means the person will not have the book and will need to manually track their bitcoin which becomes much more difficult without the tBook.

Pricing Strategy

Understanding the tBook HUB is crucial to understanding the pricing strategy of tokenized content. The HUB makes creation of content inexpensive and accessible for all creators. By leveraging the power of Bitcoin and the unique features of the tBook HUB, we can suggest a two-pronged pricing strategy for authors depending on their circumstances.

The first approach is a low-cost entry point for new authors, allowing them to publish their work without significant upfront investment while at the same time offering a real-world value proposition. I discuss the publishing problem in more detail and if you understand or experienced these issues, you will realize the imporance of giving away tBooks rather than trying to market them. If you think this model is absurd, you truly lack experience with the challenges authors face, and I encourage you to go ahead and try to self-publish and market a book. If you are that person, and you have the money for marketing, then go for it! This model is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but it is a very pragmatic approach to engaging readers in a money-driven society that places little value on creative works or artists.

I hope you are successful, but you may find marketing and promotion exceed tBook creation and distribution costs.

Using this model, you will discover variations in your method of engaging readers and new ways to distribute your books. For example, I am taking the approach of giving away an equal amount of books as I keep for myself. If I need to print five books, I print ten and keep five. If I start getting requests for more books that begin to exceed my financial capacity, ultimately this means the demand for my books is growing, so what I could begin charging for additional copies. Remember, I have copies in my possession so if those copies have exceeded $1, say $1.25, I can charge the reader the $1.00 and print them a new copy and they get a book, essentially for free, but I now have another tBook growing in value. I could also just begin charging $1.25 for a book if I have enough market demand.

I will not be charging for any copies ever because my personal philosophy prioritizes accessibility and seeks to invert traditional publishing. I am investing in my work and my readers, and I believe this approach will foster a more equitable, sustainable, and profitable literary ecosystem.

Learn why long term investment is the key to literary success.

The second approach is a premium model for established authors with a proven track record. This model allows them to charge for their work, while still providing value for their readers. This strategy enables authors to leverage their existing audience and reputation while rewarding existing and engaging new readers.

As mentioned in the beginning, there is not requirement to give away books or sell them. You can modify your approach based on your goals and audience. For example, if you are a content writer, you might want to create copies of your articles for yourself so your library appreciates in value while the articles earn online from clicks or views. This way you are also protected from potential loss of income due to demonetization or censorship.

Understanding just these two simple approaches can help you make the most of the tBook platform. The tBook is a versatile publishing tool you can adapt to your needs and if you have suggestions, feel free to share them with us.