Out of curiosity, does anyone know what makes more money for Fiathlife: Logos books or their (debranded) Vyrso books?
You would have to guess Logos.
IIRC, Bob himself has stated that Vyrso books are hardly profitable. From what I understand, they are generally converted via an automated process and just kinda "pass through" with FL making pennies.
Would you? I ask because I thought the original idea behind Vyrso was that these are the sorts of books that make a lot of money as opposed to the more academic focus of Logos resources. So Faithlife has their sort of pablum branch of books, untagged, that are cheap to acquire but would bring in more money than their academic titles. Maybe my memory of that is incorrect.
But if Logos resources really are outperforming the Vyrso resources, then that raises an interesting issue (in my mind, at least). Maybe instead of Vyrso being the Amish chick-lit branch of Faithlife it should focus on producing more Logos-type resources that lack the sort of tagging and integration of a full Logos resource.
For example, consider a resource like Michael Heiser's The Unseen Realm. I can get this on Logos for $24.99. I can also find this book on the Vyrso FaithlifeEbooks site for $24.99 (interesting that no mention is made of enhanced Logos features). Or I can get the Kindle edition for $2.99.
Does it make sense that Fiathlife isn't also selling the untagged version for $2.99 on their FiathlifeEbooks site? In other words, if Faithlife is already selling a bare-bones digital version via Kindle, why not sell the same version via FaithlifeEbooks? This would allow customers more choice in version AND platform. Amazon at least understands that the more a customer has invested into resources for a platform the more they are likely to stick with that platform in the future and continue to build on it. Is Faithlife splitting their base unnecessarily?
(The FaithlifeEbook version of a book, even without deluxe integration of a Logos resource, would still be superior to a Kindle version. If nothing else, it would have hyperlinks within the app for Bible verses. And since this is controlled by an algorithm, there is no extra cost to that extra functionality.)
Perhaps the fear is that the majority of people would rather have the more minimal versions of books rather than the more integrated Logos versions. If FaithlifeEbooks is selling a $25 version and a $3 version of The Unseen Realm side by side, maybe you just get 1% of your customer base choosing the fully integrated $25 version over the $3 version. But if the choice is a $25 version vs a $3 version with a fragmented platform you get 30% of your customer base choosing the more expensive version. Still, every $3 version Faithlife sells wouldn't be split with Amazon and I'd bet that almost every Faithlife customer who opted for the $3 Kindle version would have opted for a dumbed-down $3 Faithlife version, given the choice (platform parity).
Maybe, but as I hinted above, it doesn't necessarily have to be the case that FaithlifeEbooks focuses on pablum (not trying to be mean about it) or else they focus on selling two versions of the same resource with different functionality at different price points. Above I mentioned Logos-type resources. In other words, It could focus on acquiring the kind of academic titles that would fit nicely in the Logos platform, but which Faithlife hasn't been able to get into Logos yet, for whatever reason.
For example, just take any of the numerous resource suggestions from the forums and put more energy into getting those resources which are not already on a clear track for Logos into FaithlifeEbooks. Then a community pricing campaign can be started for a full-featured version.
...I've written this while being distracted by other things and perhaps it doesn't communicate my point very clearly. To try to put it more simply:
If Logos resources, which tend to be more academic, sell better than FaithlifeEbook resources, which tend to be more popular level, then perhaps FaithlifeEbooks should have the same focus as Logos when it comes to the types of resources they acquire. Acquire more substantive titles with less of the bells-and-whistles of a full Logos resource, allowing the community to decide if they want a more expensive and functional version.
I would guess that this benefits both customer and producer: the customers have less of a divided platform, are less likely to go through the gymnastics of PBBing that I often see pop up on the forum, and Faithlife has customers with a higher attachment rate. But maybe I'm missing something.
I am surprised to see Dr. Heiser’s books on both platforms.
My understanding of Faithlife policy is that they sell books on either platform but not both.
I expect this is an error but I could be wrong
All Faithlife books are tagged whether sold on the Logos site or "Vyrso" one.
Another case in point:
Right now there is a thread asking for forum members to help push a John Frame collection over the pre-order line into pre-pub. Why not put those books out on Vyrso format with a cheaper price point while maintaining a pre-order campaign for full Logos production?
As for Heiser's book, maybe it has something to do with the fact that it's published by Lexham and they want the fullest exposure possible or that it's a best-seller? I know Logos.com has been advertising this book a lot whenever I visit. Or maybe it just has to do with audience for the book.
Edit:
I was using "tagged" as shorthand for all of the various sorts of integration you get on a Logos resource but not on a Vyrso resource. The FaithlifeEbooks page of Heiser's book makes no mention of the extra integration you get with the book, like you see on the Logos page.
I am surprised to see Dr. Heiser’s books on both platforms. My understanding of Faithlife policy is that they sell books on either platform but not both. I expect this is an error but I could be wrong
Graham, this has changed considerably since it is Faithlife eBooks and no longer Vyrso. The eBooks store has e.g. all the Faithlife Classics and all the Lexham Originals that are part of the Connect Essential subscription. Thus we see books with Logos tagging in the FL eBooks store (at the same price as in the Logos store). This is not an error - and this confusing situation is worsened by the dysfunctional search engine of the store.
Thanks Mick
Appreciate the insight, Graham
I am surprised to see Dr. Heiser’s books on both platforms. My understanding of Faithlife policy is that they sell books on either platform but not both.
You are mistaking two things. Yes, FL does not intend to have two "editions" of one book (i.e. a "Logos edition" and an "eBook edition"), but FL has cross listed a number of resources in the two stores. In such cases, the books are always "Logos edition" resources.
EDIT: I didn't read far enough to see Mick's post. [:S]
He is right that this is MORE so now, but this has been the case for many years... that some books are cross listed.
