Smashwords - yay or nay?

BonnieJoDouglas · 07-12-2011, 09:48 AM

Hi everyone

I'm already on Kindle and am contemplating Nook, but have heard mixed reviews about Smashwords. Some say it's a waste of time, others say it's the bees knees!

Is it a good way to sell e-books? Obviously, it's not as popular as say, Amazon but is it worthwhile doing?

Sorry if this sounds a bit vague. Have a headache from a looooong day's writing.

mr ploppy · 07-12-2011, 11:12 AM

There's no harm in it since it's free, but don't expect many sales. Only really useful for access to iBooks and Barnes & Noble really, but watch out for discounts they might apply because that will also affect your price at Amazon. There's also Lulu.

Pomtroll · 07-12-2011, 11:49 AM

I use it but not often. I tend to find the books I want elsewhere & then go to Smashwords to see if they have it. If they do I buy it there.

JSWolf · 07-12-2011, 12:03 PM

Smashwords is a wast of time. The code that comes from DOC to ePub is awful and I won't buy there. I don't like the meatgrinder they use. I prefer clean code if at all possible.

melaniejaxn · 07-12-2011, 12:08 PM

Smashwords can get your books into Sony, Kobo and other outlets that won't let authors upload directly. I make almost nothing off smashword sales, but a lot from the places where they place my books.

Formatting weirdness can happen anywhere. At least you can talk to a human and get help at smashwords :-).

rhadin · 07-12-2011, 12:19 PM

I have bought several hundred books at Smashwords. Rarely have I found a problem with the formatting. Smashwords is my preferred place of purchase.

odiakkoh · 07-12-2011, 01:09 PM

If the book is sold at Amazon and Smashwords, I prefer to buy at Smashwords. DRM free and different formats ftw.

Native · 07-12-2011, 02:31 PM

I'm on Amazon through KDP and Createspace, and both were miserable experiences compared to dealing with Smashwords. I know that runs counter to a lot of Smashwords disgruntlement, but to me, their "Style Guide," good or bad, is at least a responsible attempt at guidance, whereas the others pass you off to a forum to fish for clues about who you should listen to about clues. Also, for prices under $2.99 they return a better percentage to the author than Amazon. I try to direct folks to Smashwords whenever I can.

ficbot · 07-12-2011, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by odiakkoh

If the book is sold at Amazon and Smashwords, I prefer to buy at Smashwords. DRM free and different formats ftw.

I agree. I always check the Amazon bargain blogs and see which of the books are at Smashwords too. I like being able to download DRM-free.

vulcan_girl · 07-12-2011, 04:03 PM

I buy from Smashwords and haven't come across any hinky formatting.

Elfwreck · 07-12-2011, 04:32 PM

I buy from Smashwords; it's the only self-publishing ebook store I buy from. (I don't deal with DRM at all, and I'm not willing to install special programs just to shop somewhere. If I can't buy-and-download as normal files, I don't bother.)

I've run across bad formatting that I believe was from sheer carelessness--uploading files without checking the instructions at all. I've run across many more ebooks that have run-on chapters (no page break for chapters) and no table of contents. I consider those tolerable errors.

I don't browse much at Smashwords, because the search capabilities are exceedingly limited. It's like digging through boxes at a rummage sale; it's fine when I've got no idea what I want and just want something to throw ideas at me, but when I want a specific subgenre or topic, I search elsewhere, then go to Smashwords to see if they've got that specific book or author.

carpetmojo · 07-12-2011, 04:51 PM

Never had any problems with Smashwords, no complaints from me.

Glad to see authors like them too.

pholy · 07-12-2011, 04:54 PM

Remember, Amazon only sells to Kindles, and Barnes&Noble only sells to Americans (US of). If you want world-wide sales, Smashwords can get your books into Kobo, Sony, and Apple, as well as Amazon and B&N. Somebody should figure out what percentage of the English-reading world those 300 million Americans amount to - 30% or less?
Just follow their style guide and your book will come out at least OK, if not excellent.
I prefer to buy direct from authors, if possible, then from Smashwords, and lastly from the big distributors. I don't like booting up Windows just to have to deal with Adobe DRM.

Pomtroll · 07-12-2011, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melaniejaxn

Smashwords can get your books into Sony, Kobo and other outlets that won't let authors upload directly. I make almost nothing off smashword sales, but a lot from the places where they place my books.

Formatting weirdness can happen anywhere. At least you can talk to a human and get help at smashwords :-).

Hi Melanie.

I get most of your books through Smashwords & have had no problems.

L.J. Sellers · 07-12-2011, 07:56 PM

You can also get your books into Kobo, Sony, and Apple through a distribution service like INgrooves. It takes five percent of sales, but at least you can control the quality of the product, as well as price and DRM.

I'm considering uploading to Smashwords just for the ability to offer coupon codes, but I'm not sure yet.
L.J.

07-12-2011, 09:48 AM	#1
BonnieJoDouglas Thespian Extraordinaire Posts: 15 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Brighton, East Sussex Device: Kindle	Smashwords - yay or nay? Hi everyone I'm already on Kindle and am contemplating Nook, but have heard mixed reviews about Smashwords. Some say it's a waste of time, others say it's the bees knees! Is it a good way to sell e-books? Obviously, it's not as popular as say, Amazon but is it worthwhile doing? Sorry if this sounds a bit vague. Have a headache from a looooong day's writing.

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07-12-2011, 11:12 AM	#2
mr ploppy Feral Underclass Posts: 3,622 Karma: 26821535 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yorkshire, tha noz Device: 2nd hand paperback	There's no harm in it since it's free, but don't expect many sales. Only really useful for access to iBooks and Barnes & Noble really, but watch out for discounts they might apply because that will also affect your price at Amazon. There's also Lulu.

07-12-2011, 11:49 AM	#3
Pomtroll Guru Posts: 822 Karma: 1341819 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Minnesota USA Device: Sony 350, Sony T1, Kindle Touch, Kindle PW1	I use it but not often. I tend to find the books I want elsewhere & then go to Smashwords to see if they have it. If they do I buy it there.

07-12-2011, 12:03 PM	#4
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,740 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Smashwords is a wast of time. The code that comes from DOC to ePub is awful and I won't buy there. I don't like the meatgrinder they use. I prefer clean code if at all possible.

07-12-2011, 12:08 PM	#5
melaniejaxn Enthusiast Posts: 48 Karma: 10308 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sierra foothills of California Device: Kindle	Smashwords can get your books into Sony, Kobo and other outlets that won't let authors upload directly. I make almost nothing off smashword sales, but a lot from the places where they place my books. Formatting weirdness can happen anywhere. At least you can talk to a human and get help at smashwords :-).

07-12-2011, 12:19 PM	#6
rhadin Literacy = Understanding Posts: 4,833 Karma: 59674358 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The World of Books Device: Nook, Nook Tablet	I have bought several hundred books at Smashwords. Rarely have I found a problem with the formatting. Smashwords is my preferred place of purchase.

07-12-2011, 01:09 PM	#7
odiakkoh Guru Posts: 823 Karma: 1818344 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: iPhone 5s	If the book is sold at Amazon and Smashwords, I prefer to buy at Smashwords. DRM free and different formats ftw.

07-12-2011, 02:31 PM	#8
Native Cozy Bumpkin Stories Posts: 66 Karma: 351904 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Sprague River, Oregon Device: none	I'm on Amazon through KDP and Createspace, and both were miserable experiences compared to dealing with Smashwords. I know that runs counter to a lot of Smashwords disgruntlement, but to me, their "Style Guide," good or bad, is at least a responsible attempt at guidance, whereas the others pass you off to a forum to fish for clues about who you should listen to about clues. Also, for prices under $2.99 they return a better percentage to the author than Amazon. I try to direct folks to Smashwords whenever I can.

07-12-2011, 04:03 PM	#10
vulcan_girl Groupie Posts: 156 Karma: 1010345 Join Date: Jun 2009 Device: PRS 350	I buy from Smashwords and haven't come across any hinky formatting.

07-12-2011, 04:32 PM	#11
Elfwreck Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,187 Karma: 25133758 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area, California, USA Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3 (Past: Kobo Mini, PEZ, PRS-505, Clié)	I buy from Smashwords; it's the only self-publishing ebook store I buy from. (I don't deal with DRM at all, and I'm not willing to install special programs just to shop somewhere. If I can't buy-and-download as normal files, I don't bother.) I've run across bad formatting that I believe was from sheer carelessness--uploading files without checking the instructions at all. I've run across many more ebooks that have run-on chapters (no page break for chapters) and no table of contents. I consider those tolerable errors. I don't browse much at Smashwords, because the search capabilities are exceedingly limited. It's like digging through boxes at a rummage sale; it's fine when I've got no idea what I want and just want something to throw ideas at me, but when I want a specific subgenre or topic, I search elsewhere, then go to Smashwords to see if they've got that specific book or author.

07-12-2011, 04:51 PM	#12
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	Never had any problems with Smashwords, no complaints from me. Glad to see authors like them too.

07-12-2011, 04:54 PM	#13
pholy Booklegger Posts: 1,801 Karma: 7999816 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Device: BeBook(1 & 2010), PEZ, PRS-505, Kobo BT, PRS-T1, Playbook, Kobo Touch	Remember, Amazon only sells to Kindles, and Barnes&Noble only sells to Americans (US of). If you want world-wide sales, Smashwords can get your books into Kobo, Sony, and Apple, as well as Amazon and B&N. Somebody should figure out what percentage of the English-reading world those 300 million Americans amount to - 30% or less? Just follow their style guide and your book will come out at least OK, if not excellent. I prefer to buy direct from authors, if possible, then from Smashwords, and lastly from the big distributors. I don't like booting up Windows just to have to deal with Adobe DRM.

07-12-2011, 07:56 PM	#15
L.J. Sellers Novelist Posts: 287 Karma: 387979 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eugene, Oregon Device: Kindle	You can also get your books into Kobo, Sony, and Apple through a distribution service like INgrooves. It takes five percent of sales, but at least you can control the quality of the product, as well as price and DRM. I'm considering uploading to Smashwords just for the ability to offer coupon codes, but I'm not sure yet. L.J.