CLOSED
GET A PIECE OF BOOKSNIFFER INC.
Reading is good :)
BookSniffer is a new mobile and web-based platform which brings readers and authors together in a whole new way. Built on next-generation technologies and with more than 1,600 registered authors on the platform to date, we believe BookSniffer is poised to become a new leader in the book marketing industry.
$136,786.18 Raised
REASONS TO INVEST
Launched in 2020, BookSniffer has begun generating revenue as of October 31, 2020, with 1,600+ authors using the platform.
The mobile app market, currently worth $154 billion, is expected to continue growing at a CAGR of 11.5% through 2027.
Within the book market, which is worth $122 billion, more and more authors are publishing independently, changing the landscape of the book marketing industry as a whole.
Overview
BookSniffer helps readers and authors connect without relying on overly expensive advertising
BookSniffer provides an affordable solution to authors and publishers looking to market their works. Readers using the app are able to discover and fall in love with new writers every day, and writers are able to advertise and reach fans on their own terms and within their own budgets.
Our recently released app, available for iOS and Android, already has an impressive average rating of 4.6 stars, with 1,600 authors and more than 3 million books on our platform. In a growing, $154 billion mobile app market, we believe we’re already off to a great start.
The Problem
The book business is undergoing a major transition right now
More and more authors have chosen the self-publishing route in recent years. This seismic shift has turned the industry on its head. According to Bowker, over 1.6 million books were self published in the US in 2018 (source).
Working writers- whether self- or traditionally-published - are an extraordinarily resilient bunch. Yet, these steely authors are facing exorbitant and rising marketing costs. This state of affairs puts the newest authors, with the least financial resources, at a major visibility disadvantage.
The Solution
Book Marketing Made Easy - and Affordable
BookSniffer helps indie authors and publishers alike reach rabid readers at a reasonable cost—and helps book lovers discover new voices on a safe, fun, next-generation platform.
The Market
Combining a massive book market with an even larger mobile app market
BookSniffer operates at the intersection of two major global industries: the $154 billion mobile app market (source), which is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.5% through 2027 (source), and the $122 billion book market (source), which comprises more and more indie authors.
There are 45,000+ authors in the U.S. market today (source). Over 1.6 million books were self-published in 2018 (source), and the number of ebooks sold and published by independent and small-press authors has already overtaken the number of ebooks sold and published by Big 5 publishers (source).
Our Traction
Readers, writers, and strategic partners are taking notice
In October of 2020, BookSniffer opened the castle gates and offered a limited Beta version of its sponsorship products. Within 30 days, BookSniffer generated nearly $30,000 in sales on a shoestring marketing budget.
BookSniffer recently rolled out an updated version of its .com website, and is in active development of new features for its iOS and Android applications.
Traction with authors:
Technical milestones include:
An advanced, proprietary, next-generation book search engine
Over 3 million titles on our platform, including the latest bestsellers
Technologies to index millions of additional books per month in the coming months
Direct author-to-reader messaging
A proprietary book memes and quotes engine to allow readers to share fun and meaningful content
Advanced graphical library builder, designed for readers to share their favorite reads with friends and family
An advanced authors portal, with self-serve tools where authors and publishers can purchase advertising on the BookSniffer platform
Easy-to-use tools for authors, including AdMakerMcAdmakerFace, a free tool helping authors make attractive book ads they can use anywhere
KeywordThingy, a product to help authors find and identify thousands of advertising keywords, customized to their titles, with just a few clicks
Hundreds upon hundreds custom server-side applications to enable the above, many of which we believe may be patentable
What We Do
A tailor-made app to benefit readers and authors alike
Authors on BookSniffer can:
Create custom book landing pages to display books and link to social media
Send messages, news and deals to fans and followers
Create book ads using our AdMakerMcAdmakerFace tool
Build lists of thousands of relevant keywords for advertising using our KeywordThingy tool (in Beta)
Purchase reasonably priced Sponsorships to display books more prominently on shelves and in keyword searches (in development)
Readers can:
Access book deals we’ve collected from across the web
Build and share custom virtual libraries
Rate books within our proprietary BookSCAPE system, which allows ratings based on Story, Characters, Action, Prose and even Editing
Follow authors to get news about their latest releases, as well as direct messages with exclusive content
Search for books using a super advanced search engine
Host private book discussions and clubs (coming soon)
gif
The Business Model
BookSniffer is committed to a differentiated, ethical advertising model
BookSniffer generates advertising and subscription-based revenues from independent and self-published authors, ad agencies, and publishers.
BookSniffer attracts readers through its advertising and referral programs.
How We Are Different
BookSniffer empower authors to connect with their fans on their own terms, without the artificial barriers erected by other platforms
Goodreads, a social media network with approximately 90 million users (source), provides shelving and other search and organization features similar to BookSniffer. However, after being purchased by Amazon, Goodreads no longer offers self-serve advertising, and authors aren’t able to connect directly with readers.
Another popular platform, BookBub, a book deals newsletter and marketing platform with approximately 15 million users (source), rejects more than 80% of applicants for featured placement due to low availability (source).
BookSniffer has lots of space, and we don’t require bidding wars for our authors to access it.
Platforms like Amazon suggest per-click bid prices as high as $2 or more for some keywords. This is because they use an auction-based system, where the highest bidder gets the most visibility. You can’t sell a 99c book at $2 per click. It’s unsustainable, and it doesn’t only hurt authors – it also hurts the readers out there who want to find new voices. If new authors can’t afford to advertise, readers won’t know they exist. The only winner in this scenario, with an ever-increasing “slice of the pie”, is the platform - and in some cases, the cost of the click exceeds the price of the pie.
BookSniffer has a better approach.
BookSniffer offers fixed-bid advertising. That’s right - no highest bidder auctions. Right now, in 2021, our maximum cost per click is 18 cents flat – and sometimes lower.
The Vision
BookSniffer aims to break the stranglehold the Big Tech platforms have on authors.
We believe BookSniffer has the opportunity to solve a major industry challenge: making room for new authors while creating fair and affordable advertising opportunities for authors at any stage in their career.
Although we expect to appeal initially to indie authors and small-press publishers during our product launch cycles, we believe that as our platform, user base, and potential marketing reach grow, our advertising products become viable to the broader market while maintaining our ability to serve new and emerging voices.
OUR LEADERSHIP
Founded by independent authors who know the struggle is real
BookSniffer is proud to be a diverse, majority-woman-owned company, composed of individuals who have been successful in various industries. Our Board of Directors is made up of authors who have worked together to slay the book marketing dragon.
We've also been fortunate to attract a brain trust of brilliant minds from the technology, legal, and finance industries who have helped bring our mission to life.
On the marketing side, we’re excited to partner in 2021 with Harmon Brothers, makers of some of the world’s most vibrant and viral video ads, such as SquattyPotty, Purple Mattress, and Lumè Deodorant.
Why Invest
The reading revolution begins with you
The power in the book business is largely concentrated in the hands of a few behemoths, at the detriment of the hard-working, talented authors who bring fantastic stories to life, who educate, who inspire, who thrill and entertain.
We hope you'll join us in our author-and-reader powered revolution.
ABOUT
HEADQUARTERS
600 W. 6TH STREET, STE. 400
Fort Worth, TX 76102
WEBSITE
View Site
BookSniffer is a new mobile and web-based platform which brings readers and authors together in a whole new way. Built on next-generation technologies and with more than 1,600 registered authors on the platform to date, we believe BookSniffer is poised to become a new leader in the book marketing industry.
TEAM
Eric Knight
Secretary & Director
Eric's primary occupation is being an author. He works approximately 10 hours per week for BookSniffer Inc.
Sean Hansen
CEO & Director
Janice Defluiter
Director
Janice's primary occupation being an author. She works approximately 10 hour per week for BookSniffer Inc.
Angela J Ford
Director
Angela's primary occupation is being an author. She works approximately 10 hours per week for BookSniffer Inc.
John Kang
Director
John's primary occupation is being a business manager. He works approximately 30 hours per week for BookSniffer Inc.
Meg Jolly
Director
Meg's primary occupation is being an author. She works approximately 10 hours per week for BookSniffer Inc.
Melinda Spencer-Crabbe
Director
Melinda's primary occupation is being an author. She works approximately 10 hours per week at BookSniffer Inc.
TERMS
Booksniffer Inc.
Overview
PRICE PER SHARE
$0.36
DEADLINE
Jul. 20, 2021 at 6:59 AM UTC
VALUATION
$18.42M
FUNDING GOAL
$10k - $250k
Breakdown
MIN INVESTMENT
$249.84
MAX INVESTMENT
$106,999.92
MIN NUMBER OF SHARES OFFERED
27,777
MAX NUMBER OF SHARES OFFERED
694,444
OFFERING TYPE
Equity
ASSET TYPE
Common Stock
SHARES OFFERED
Series B Common Stock
Maximum Number of Shares Offered subject to adjustment for bonus shares
*Maximum Number of Shares Offered subject to adjustment for bonus shares. See bonus info below.
COVID Relief
This offering is being conducted on an expedited basis due to circumstances relating to COVID-19 and pursuant to the SEC’s temporary COVID-19 regulatory relief set out in Regulation Crowdfunding §227.201(z).
Offering maximum.
In reliance on this relief, financial information certified by the principal executive officer of the issuer has been provided instead of financial statements reviewed by a public accountant that is independent of the issuer, in setting the offering maximum of $250,000.
Expedited closing sooner than 21 days.
Further, in reliance on Regulation Crowdfunding §227.303(g)(2) A funding portal that is an intermediary in a transaction involving the offer or sale of securities initiated between May 4, 2020, and February 28, 2021, in reliance on section 4(a)(6) of the Securities Act (15 U.S.C. 77d(a)(6)) by an issuer that is conducting an offering on an expedited basis due to circumstances relating to COVID-19 shall not be required to comply with the requirement in paragraph (e)(3)(i) of this section that a funding portal not direct a transmission of funds earlier than 21 days after the date on which the intermediary makes publicly available on its platform the information required to be provided by the issuer under §§227.201 and 227.203(a).
Investment Incentives and Bonuses
Early Bird*
Friends and Family - First 72 hours I 15% bonus shares
Super Early Bird - Next 72 hours I 10% bonus
Early Bird Bonus - Next 7 days I 5% bonus shares
Volume*
Tier 1 perk - ($1000 +) Advertising credit of $1,000
Tier 2 perk - ($5,000+) 110% value in advertising credit on the platform
Tier 3 perk- ($10,000+) perk 2 + 5% bonus shares
Tier 4 perk - ($25,000+) perk 2 + 10% bonus shares
The 10% StartEngine Owners' Bonus
BookSniffer Inc. will offer 10% additional bonus shares for all investments that are committed by investors that are eligible for the StartEngine Crowdfunding Inc. Owner's bonus.
This means eligible StartEngine shareholders will receive a 10% bonus for any shares they purchase in this offering. For example, if you buy 100 shares of Series B Common Stock at $0.36 / share, you will receive 110 shares of Series B Common Stock, meaning you'll own 110 shares for $36. Fractional shares will not be distributed and share bonuses will be determined by rounding down to the nearest whole share.
This 10% Bonus is only valid during the investors eligibility period. Investors eligible for this bonus will also have priority if they are on a waitlist to invest and the Company surpasses its maximum funding goal. They will have the first opportunity to invest should room in the offering become available if prior investments are cancelled or fail.
Investors will only receive a single bonus, which will be the highest bonus rate they are eligible for.
*Investors participating in both the Early Purchase Bonus and the Volume Bonus may claim the greater of either bonus, not to exceed 15% in total.
Bonuses will be computed based on each purchase transaction. If an investor makes purchases of our stock in different transactions the bonus will be computed on each purchase meaning that the amounts from different pw·chases will not be aggregated to calculate bonus tiers. Investors are suggested to, if possible, purchase your shares in one transaction as soon as possible.
Fractional shares will not be distributed and share bonuses will be determined by rounding down to the nearest whole share.
Any advertising credits received when purchasing our stock will have no cash value and will be nontransferable. All advertising credits will expire two years from the date of your stock purchase. All advertising credits will be used at BookSniffer's then applicable advertising pricing and will be subject to BookSniffer's advertising standards at the time the advertising is run. Advertising pricing and advertising standards may be changed from time to time with no notice to you.
For an example of bonus calculation, if you bll.ly 100 shares of Series B Common Stock at $0.36 I share during the second 72 hours of our Early Purchase Bonus, you will receive 110 shares of Series B Common Stock, meaning you'll own 110 shares for $36. If you make a second purchase later, your bonus will be computed on the shares you purchased in that transaction with no regard to your earlier purchase.
Irregular Use of Proceeds
Example - The Company might incur Irregular Use of Proceeds that may include but are not limited to the following over $10,000: Vendor payments and salary made to one's self, a friend or relative; Any expense labeled "Administration Expenses" that is not strictly for administrative purposes; Any expense labeled "Travel and Entertainment"; Any expense that is for the purposes of inter-company debt or back payments.
ALL UPDATES
REWARDS
Owner’s Bonus
Owner’s Bonus Members earn 10% bonus shares on top of this and all eligible investments for an entire year. Not a member? Sign up at checkout ($275/year).
JOIN THE DISCUSSION
0/2500
Edward Beale
2 years ago
Interested to see an update. The company web site is not SSL and the non-secure site says it it "parked" with GoDaddy. http://www.booksniffer.com/ What's the latest on this investment?
2
0
Niki Moyer
3 years ago
In this age of cancel culture, does your product discriminate in any way against conservatives, Republicans, or Trump supporters (ie. make the books or search terms less available to them)?
1
0
Sarvish Arora
3 years ago
Why is the UX so old and outdated. I mean UX isn't too hard. Having a great UX/UI is the only way to create a successful app and to be honest you don't have it
0
0
Ben Sobieck
3 years ago
Hi Booksniffer - Where are you sourcing the metadata from to index your search engine and catalog? Are you pulling it from retail websites?
0
0
Brittany Tripp
3 years ago
I'm interested but I was wondering if it's possible to invest the minimum initially but have the option to upgrade later to the $1,000 investment in order to be eligible for the advertising credit?
1
0
Kristi Cramer
3 years ago
Thanks for your answers, Sean! It's kinda what I thought, and it is nice to get confirmation. (And I didn't mean to flag your comment as inappropriate. I didn't know what the exclamation point was for!)
0
0
Kristi Cramer
3 years ago
Hey there, I'm really tempted to invest in BookSniffer, but I couldn't find any indication of how it would pay off, if indeed it could pay off. I mean, I'm all for supporting an alternative to Amazon ads, but "investing" sounds like I could (eventually) see a fiscal benefit to supporting it. I know investing is a gamble and I'm willing to take it, but I'd like to hear how the investment could pay off, more than just the existence of an alternative.
1
0
Writerly Writer
3 years ago
Why is BookSniffer still not available in my region, Australia? It’s a bit difficult to invest, when you cannot see the item for yourself.
1
0
steven hightower
3 years ago
I'm interested in investing. One question honestly, who picked the name? Really...what comes to mind when you think of a person sniffing a book? Starts with a P ends with ervert. Book Finder? or maybe Book Locator? You really think you will be taken seriously?
1
0
HOW INVESTING WORKS
Cancel anytime before 48 hours before a rolling close or the offering end date.
WHY STARTENGINE?
REWARDS
We want you to succeed and get the most out of your money by offering rewards and memberships!
SECURE
Your info is your info. We take pride in keeping it that way!
DIVERSE INVESTMENTS
Invest in over 200 start-ups and collectibles!
FAQS
Crowdfunding
With Regulation A+, a non-accredited investor can only invest a maximum of 10% of their annual income or 10% of their net worth per year, whichever is greater. There are no restrictions for accredited investors.
With Regulation Crowdfunding, non-accredited investors with an annual income or net worth less than $124,000, are limited to invest a maximum of 5% of the greater of those two amounts. For those with an annual income and net worth greater than $124,000, he/she is limited to investing 10% of the greater of the two amounts.
At the close of an offering, all investors whose funds have “cleared” by this time will be included in the disbursement. At this time, each investor will receive an email from StartEngine with their Countersigned Subscription Agreement, which will serve as their proof of purchase moving forward.
Please keep in mind that a company can conduct a series of “closes” or withdrawals of funds throughout the duration of the campaign. If you are included in that withdrawal period, you will be emailed your countersigned subscription agreement and proof of purchase immediately following that withdrawal.
StartEngine assists companies in raising capital, and once the offering is closed, we are no longer involved with whether the company chooses to list shares on a secondary market, or what occurs thereafter. Therefore, StartEngine has no control or insight into your investment after the close of the live offering. In addition, we are not permitted to provide financial advice. You may want to contact a financial professional to discuss possible investment outcomes.
For Regulation Crowdfunding, investors are able to cancel their investment at any point throughout the campaign up until 48 hours before the closing of the offering. Note: If the company does a rolling close, they will post an update to their current investors, giving them the opportunity to cancel during this timeframe. If you do not cancel within this 5-day timeframe, your funds will be invested in the company, and you will no longer be able to cancel the investment. If your funds show as ‘Invested’ on your account dashboard, your investment can no longer be canceled.
For Regulation A+, StartEngine allows for a four-hour cancelation period. Once the four-hour window has passed, it is up to each company to set their own cancelation policy. You may find the company’s cancelation policy in the company’s offering circular.
Once your investment is canceled, there is a 10-day clearing period (from the date your investment was submitted). After your funds have cleared the bank, you will receive your refund within 10 business days.
Refunds that are made through ACH payments can take up to 10 business days to clear. Unfortunately, we are at the mercy of the bank, but we will do everything we can to get you your refund as soon as possible. However, every investment needs to go through the clearing process in order to get sent back to the account associated with the investment.
Both Title III (Regulation Crowdfunding) and Title IV (Reg A+) help entrepreneurs crowdfund capital investments from unaccredited and accredited investors. The differences between these regulations are related to the investor limitations, the differing amounts of money companies are permitted to raise, and differing disclosure and filing requirements. To learn more about Regulation Crowdfunding, click here, and for Regulation A+, click here.
Andrew Brickson
2 years ago
Any update?
0
1