So, am I the only idiot? I want to ask fellow readers whether they knew there was a preview feature for numerous novels on Amazon. I always figured there were samples but for some reason, I always ignored the big ‘Look Inside!’ sign.
I grew up in Australia and Amazon isn’t that big over here. I know Amazon is very big in America. I rarely use it (only for the odd book purchase and Ermilia novels). Maybe I wasn’t sufficiently familiar with Amazon…did you guys know about it? Do you think it’s obvious enough?
Please expand your responses below.
Part of me always suspected, and I know I was told about the preview feature, I just didn’t remember. The preview feature (in my opinion) is a little too subtle. I think people often overlook book covers and if everyone has this ‘Look Inside’ tag, we habituate, and begin to ignore it. On the right side there is often a sample download as well. I’ve seen some books have the excerpt in the description itself. That reads better for me, but do others agree?
Expanding your answer will help a lot. This information is really useful for us authors (whether we need to have more book excerpts), but also to hopefully confirm I’m not the only idiot on Amazon. 😛
– Ermisenda Alvarez
Ermilia 
They have if for sheet music too.
Thanks for letting me know. 😀
<- Big dummy right here, who has just checked out the 'Look inside' option on her own novel at Amazon for the first time. I have the feeling I had been told it was there at some stage, but then clean forgot about it…
Yeah, that was me too. I have the feeling I was told but…I definitely just forgot about it. 😛 Glad I’m not the only one. (It’s pretty cool reading a sample of your novel on Amazon, eh? :D)
I stumbled upon it only after several years of using it. I feel a bit guilty using it. Feels like cheating.
Hehe, it’s not REALLY cheating. When you go to a book store you’re allowed to flick through the pages and read the first few. This is eBook’s way of giving that same luxury of paperback shopping. 😀
You’re not the only idiot on Amazon!!
It’s always a learning process. You stumble upon new info, into it. I like to ‘look inside’ – I think it’s great.
Good for you to post on it though, to tell more people!! 🙂
Yeah, the function is fantastic (once you know about it :P). Hopefully this post will help some people, and remind others that we are all silly at times. 😀
With my Memoir I am delighted that there is the option to ‘look inside’ the synopsis to the story and maybe part of the first chapter – to try and grab the interest. I don’t know how many have viewed mine, but I am also Australian and not use to the Amazon/Lulu side of EPub technology. However I think it is a wonderful way of letting a reader have a bit of insight into the story written….and yes quite a buzz knowing they can look inside 🙂
It’s fantastic when you see the sample of your own book. Yeah, I think nationality might have something to do with it. Amazon just isn’t as popular or as well-advertised in Australia as America. Thanks for sharing!
I am so amazed that so many of you didn’t know about this. How else can you decide if a book is any good? I have read a few samples and glanced at the inside a few times to see what is there. That is the beauty of Amazon. They know that no one wants to buy an unknown author like us without being able to look inside first.
It’s true. Now that I know the sampling feature, I’ll be using it a lot! As I mentioned earlier, I think I was told about it but I totally forgot about it. I need to be more observant on Amazon it seems. Thanks for sharing!