Most of my fellow authors will undoubtedly know Smashwords. For those of you who don't know it, Smashwords is an ebook sales platform and sales channel aggregator allowing you to sell (as an author) or buy (as a customer) ebooks in a large number of different file formats, ranging from .EPUB, .mobi to .pdf and even simple .txt files. I admit I'm one of those dastardly guys who doesn't own an ereader and prefers to read his ebooks in the .pdf format. Evil me.
Anyway, the platform also links you into an extended distribution system where you as the author are able to sell your books to Barnes & Noble, among others, if the files you've submitted adhere to a certain formatting standard.
While I've made all my ebook purchases except the last one on Smashwords, I've never been too happy with the system. Much of the content seems to edge towards a level of lower quality compared to Kindle ebooks on Amazon, regarding among others, cover designs. Also, in comparison to Amazon, a lot of the works there have really weird price tags, with novels or novelettes of barely 40,000 words often costing $2.99 or more.
Anyway, the platform also links you into an extended distribution system where you as the author are able to sell your books to Barnes & Noble, among others, if the files you've submitted adhere to a certain formatting standard.
While I've made all my ebook purchases except the last one on Smashwords, I've never been too happy with the system. Much of the content seems to edge towards a level of lower quality compared to Kindle ebooks on Amazon, regarding among others, cover designs. Also, in comparison to Amazon, a lot of the works there have really weird price tags, with novels or novelettes of barely 40,000 words often costing $2.99 or more.
All in all, while the functionality of the site is great, it's presentation and much of its content make Smashwords appear like the amateur hour of self-publishing, which I assume to be the reason for its limited reach. Smashwords so far made up for a wee bit more than 3% of my total sales. That is, I've sold 97% of my work through Amazon. I just recently talked with fellow author Steven Konkoly about this very issue. Steven has just recently sold his 10,000th copy of his superb thriller The Jakarta Pandemic. A few days ago, he took his works off Smashwords, because, as he said, he "sold like 2 copies there".
And with the opportunities that Kindle Select now provides (and yes, I've read about all the potential pitfalls), it really makes little sense to either of us to hang on to a platform that so far has not worked out for us (though I don't know if he's enrolled some of his works in its program).
Nonetheless, I've thus decided to follow Steven's lead and take Wolf Hunt off Smashwords. That may be bad timing on my part because I know I've sent out some review queries in which a Smashwords coupon was included. However, since I haven't heard back from any reviewers in months (and small wonder that, given how swamped they get), I guess that's just the way it is.
Lets see where the road'll lead me to. Good bye, Smashwords! Sadly, right now leaving you is no great loss.
And with the opportunities that Kindle Select now provides (and yes, I've read about all the potential pitfalls), it really makes little sense to either of us to hang on to a platform that so far has not worked out for us (though I don't know if he's enrolled some of his works in its program).
Nonetheless, I've thus decided to follow Steven's lead and take Wolf Hunt off Smashwords. That may be bad timing on my part because I know I've sent out some review queries in which a Smashwords coupon was included. However, since I haven't heard back from any reviewers in months (and small wonder that, given how swamped they get), I guess that's just the way it is.
Lets see where the road'll lead me to. Good bye, Smashwords! Sadly, right now leaving you is no great loss.
I'm a little late reading this post, but I TOTALLY agree. I just took my books off of Smashwords as well and they have only been on sale a month. Less than, actually. The quality of the e-pubs there are just not cutting it for me and then they are a black hole for communication, constantly sending you to their silly little guide for every question you have. So done with them. I have seen great sales on my novel, Prophecy of the Most Beautiful, on Amazon and B&N w/o any involvement from Smashwords. Direct publishing is a lot of work and a hassle, but definitely worth it.
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