Looking for a platform to sell and deliver ebooks?

Mattid · 08-10-2011, 06:41 AM

I am looking for a platform to set-up website that sells and delivers ebooks. Overdrive seems to have one (http://www.overdrive.com/solutions/r...storeplatform/). Does anybody have ideas of other similar solutions?

Valkrider · 08-11-2011, 02:51 AM

You can do it yourself BUT it is more work. There are many eCart type programmes that you can use but they require some knowledge of web design and a fair bit of configuration. Alternatively you can use Wordpress and a shopping cart plug-in which is what i have created for an author friend as it allows you to bog about your books as well as sell them all in one place. If you are trying to compete with Amazon, Smashwords or similar you may be too late to the party but for yourself it may be OK BUT you will need to market your site to get people to visit and buy.

emellaich · 08-11-2011, 10:30 AM

I'm not sure why you want to set up your own site, and there can be good reasons for wanting to do it yourself.

There are several options to consider.

1) ebooks are just another good. Any shopping cart solution will work. At the low end, consider eBa. Or just set up webpages and use paypal to collect funds. Search for something like "ecommerce applications fo my web site". Or "shopping carts" or stores.

2) sell it on an existing store. For example, sell it through Amazon. Amabzob will take a 30% cut. Then, set up your own web pages with buy links that go back to Amazon. If you also sign up as an Amazon associate/affiliate, Amazon will give you back from 4% to 8% making your net cost as low as 22%. Smashwords.com is another popular self publishing choice. You can also look into b&n or explore Baen's webscriptions (they don't do self publishing, but they do sell books from other publishers.

Depending on the direction you go, the missing piece may be in book production. Sigil can be found at the top level of these forums. It is a tool to help you edit ePub format. You can use calibre to then convert to other formats. Alternatively, calibre can take source documents in formats like rich txt and convert them to various formats.

Giggleton · 08-11-2011, 03:22 PM

ebooks are not just another good, ebooks are an encapsulation of an idea, so that the idea can be transmitted between minds...

At the moment I am interested in the Cursor platform, currently being tested by redlemona.de

It should allow for much more than selling ebooks, namely it will allow for the ideas in ebooks to be refined before they are sold among other things.

08-10-2011, 06:41 AM	#1
Mattid Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2011 Device: none	Looking for a platform to sell and deliver ebooks? I am looking for a platform to set-up website that sells and delivers ebooks. Overdrive seems to have one (http://www.overdrive.com/solutions/r...storeplatform/). Does anybody have ideas of other similar solutions?

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08-11-2011, 02:51 AM	#2
Valkrider Addict Posts: 316 Karma: 1250000 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: UK Device: Kobo Libra, iPadAir2, PRS600, iPhone 6, iPod, Palm TX	You can do it yourself BUT it is more work. There are many eCart type programmes that you can use but they require some knowledge of web design and a fair bit of configuration. Alternatively you can use Wordpress and a shopping cart plug-in which is what i have created for an author friend as it allows you to bog about your books as well as sell them all in one place. If you are trying to compete with Amazon, Smashwords or similar you may be too late to the party but for yourself it may be OK BUT you will need to market your site to get people to visit and buy.

08-11-2011, 10:30 AM	#3
emellaich Wizard Posts: 1,101 Karma: 4388403 Join Date: Oct 2007 Device: Palm>Ebookman>IPaq>Axim>Cybook>Kndl2>IPAD>Kndl3SO>Voyager>Oasis	I'm not sure why you want to set up your own site, and there can be good reasons for wanting to do it yourself. There are several options to consider. 1) ebooks are just another good. Any shopping cart solution will work. At the low end, consider eBa. Or just set up webpages and use paypal to collect funds. Search for something like "ecommerce applications fo my web site". Or "shopping carts" or stores. 2) sell it on an existing store. For example, sell it through Amazon. Amabzob will take a 30% cut. Then, set up your own web pages with buy links that go back to Amazon. If you also sign up as an Amazon associate/affiliate, Amazon will give you back from 4% to 8% making your net cost as low as 22%. Smashwords.com is another popular self publishing choice. You can also look into b&n or explore Baen's webscriptions (they don't do self publishing, but they do sell books from other publishers. Depending on the direction you go, the missing piece may be in book production. Sigil can be found at the top level of these forums. It is a tool to help you edit ePub format. You can use calibre to then convert to other formats. Alternatively, calibre can take source documents in formats like rich txt and convert them to various formats.

08-11-2011, 03:22 PM	#4
Giggleton Banned Posts: 1,687 Karma: 4368191 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Oregon Device: Kindle3	ebooks are not just another good, ebooks are an encapsulation of an idea, so that the idea can be transmitted between minds... At the moment I am interested in the Cursor platform, currently being tested by redlemona.de It should allow for much more than selling ebooks, namely it will allow for the ideas in ebooks to be refined before they are sold among other things.

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