lulu vs. smashwords

lordshell · 10-03-2011, 01:43 PM

Hey

I've been struggling with lulu.com for weeks now. It's been excruciating and it's driven me to the brink of madness. I assumed it was standard epublishing problems, but when I uploaded onto Amazon.com, I was up and running in two days!

So I've been contemplating dumping lulu and going with smashwords. Thing is, I don't know if it's better or worse. Before I give lulu.com the boot, anyone here have any advice?

HistoryWes · 10-03-2011, 01:59 PM

Speaking from my experience, Smashwords is about 10,000 times easier to get along with than Lulu. I've been using Lulu for paper publishing for 4 years now. While it was originally very easy, it has gotten progressively more difficult as they've changed both their site and their customer service.

I started using Smashwords back before Lulu did ebooks. They are great. Smashwords is easy to use, their customer service is getting better all the time, and you can publish in more formats that Lulu. Most important, Smashwords sells through B&N, iBooks, Kobo, and others.

Try it out with one of your titles and see how you like it. I think you'll move them all over.

crich70 · 10-03-2011, 02:18 PM

I think it's easier to navigate about on SmashWords than over at Lulu too. I haven't spent much time over at Lulu but it just seems easier to click on a link at SW and get to the book I want to look at.

lordshell · 10-04-2011, 05:57 PM

Know if I have to get a new ISBN for Smashwords? Can I use the one assigned me by lulu?

VydorScope · 10-06-2011, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordshell

Know if I have to get a new ISBN for Smashwords? Can I use the one assigned me by lulu?

Yes you should. Smashwords can give one.

I only use Lulu for POD anymore, and even that... my opinion of them has fallen over the years.

GraciousMe · 05-03-2012, 11:55 AM

Hi

I was trying to find answers to precisely this question.

Has anything changed /changed your opinions since 2011?

HistoryWes · 05-03-2012, 12:11 PM

I think everything stands about the same.

VydorScope · 05-03-2012, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GraciousMe

Hi

I was trying to find answers to precisely this question.

Has anything changed /changed your opinions since 2011?

I have since left Lulu and moved to Amazon Create Space for my print on demand needs, but still use Smashwords for my ebooks.

altworld · 05-07-2012, 05:15 PM

The only problem I've found is Lulu has a tendency to hide its free to use stuff underneath a pile of pay to play options. Hence making the work of self-publishing just that little bit harder to do.
Arigato,
Nick Davis

VydorScope · 05-07-2012, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by altworld

The only problem I've found is Lulu has a tendency to hide its free to use stuff underneath a pile of pay to play options. Hence making the work of self-publishing just that little bit harder to do.
Arigato,
Nick Davis

Lulu works fine, just they cost roughly twice as much as Create Space. Using Amazon allowed me to lower my print book price to $7.99. Much more reasonable then the same book, with the same features, and less net profit to me on Lulu at $14.99. In short, I cut my price by 50% and increased my profits per sale. Seems like an easy choice.

altworld · 05-08-2012, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VydorScope

Lulu works fine, just they cost roughly twice as much as Create Space. Using Amazon allowed me to lower my print book price to $7.99. Much more reasonable then the same book, with the same features, and less net profit to me on Lulu at $14.99. In short, I cut my price by 50% and increased my profits per sale. Seems like an easy choice.

My experience of Lulu is based off my use of it two years ago trying to use the website to get into the Apple iBookstore. It just felt like the entire process was a mess and more complicated than it should be if you compare to other interfaces. What I distinctively remember is the constant pay to play options that seemed to bury the nav... Maybe it has cleaned up, but I've discovered Createspace since then.

VydorScope · 05-08-2012, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by altworld

My experience of Lulu is based off my use of it two years ago trying to use the website to get into the Apple iBookstore. It just felt like the entire process was a mess and more complicated than it should be if you compare to other interfaces. What I distinctively remember is the constant pay to play options that seemed to bury the nav... Maybe it has cleaned up, but I've discovered Createspace since then.

Yea, Create Space interface for print books is lightyears ahead of Lulu, that is with out question. I had been using Lulu for 5-7 years now though, so probably do not have as much trouble as some one just starting.

Lazybones · 05-09-2012, 11:58 AM

I still use Smashwords and think it's a great site, but it can be slow, especially in updating affiliate sales. I've also noticed a slowdown in how long it takes to get books approved for their premium catalog (which is sent through all the affiliates).

Janet Merza · 05-12-2012, 05:42 AM

I found Smashwords really helpful, although it's true that it takes longer to get on the premium catalogue - there's so many brilliant authors out there, obviously!
I don't know about Lulu, but another big advantage of Smashwords is that it gives you a much bigger slice of the sale price than Amazon. It also makes it really easy to offer your books for free for limited periods and to specific people through its coupons - I used a coupon to send my book to reviewers and it worked really well...

Lazybones · 05-14-2012, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janet Merza

I found Smashwords really helpful, although it's true that it takes longer to get on the premium catalogue - there's so many brilliant authors out there, obviously!
I don't know about Lulu, but another big advantage of Smashwords is that it gives you a much bigger slice of the sale price than Amazon. It also makes it really easy to offer your books for free for limited periods and to specific people through its coupons - I used a coupon to send my book to reviewers and it worked really well...

Actually, Amazon now has a 70% royalty rate if your e-books are priced at over $2.99, better than Smashwords's 60% for books sold through affiliate sales.

10-03-2011, 01:43 PM	#1
lordshell Writer/Artist Posts: 23 Karma: 20000 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Roanoke, VA Device: Nook, Kindle	lulu vs. smashwords Hey I've been struggling with lulu.com for weeks now. It's been excruciating and it's driven me to the brink of madness. I assumed it was standard epublishing problems, but when I uploaded onto Amazon.com, I was up and running in two days! So I've been contemplating dumping lulu and going with smashwords. Thing is, I don't know if it's better or worse. Before I give lulu.com the boot, anyone here have any advice?

05-12-2012, 05:42 AM	#14
Janet Merza Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 562866 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: England and, now and then, Crete Device: Kindle	Smashwords seems to be on our side... I found Smashwords really helpful, although it's true that it takes longer to get on the premium catalogue - there's so many brilliant authors out there, obviously! I don't know about Lulu, but another big advantage of Smashwords is that it gives you a much bigger slice of the sale price than Amazon. It also makes it really easy to offer your books for free for limited periods and to specific people through its coupons - I used a coupon to send my book to reviewers and it worked really well...

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10-03-2011, 01:59 PM	#2
HistoryWes Teacher/Novelist Posts: 632 Karma: 2274466 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Nevada Device: Nook STR, iPad	Speaking from my experience, Smashwords is about 10,000 times easier to get along with than Lulu. I've been using Lulu for paper publishing for 4 years now. While it was originally very easy, it has gotten progressively more difficult as they've changed both their site and their customer service. I started using Smashwords back before Lulu did ebooks. They are great. Smashwords is easy to use, their customer service is getting better all the time, and you can publish in more formats that Lulu. Most important, Smashwords sells through B&N, iBooks, Kobo, and others. Try it out with one of your titles and see how you like it. I think you'll move them all over.

10-03-2011, 02:18 PM	#3
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,310 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	I think it's easier to navigate about on SmashWords than over at Lulu too. I haven't spent much time over at Lulu but it just seems easier to click on a link at SW and get to the book I want to look at.

10-04-2011, 05:57 PM	#4
lordshell Writer/Artist Posts: 23 Karma: 20000 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Roanoke, VA Device: Nook, Kindle	Know if I have to get a new ISBN for Smashwords? Can I use the one assigned me by lulu?

05-03-2012, 11:55 AM	#6
GraciousMe Zealot Posts: 101 Karma: 202774 Join Date: Apr 2012 Device: none	Hi I was trying to find answers to precisely this question. Has anything changed /changed your opinions since 2011?

05-03-2012, 12:11 PM	#7
HistoryWes Teacher/Novelist Posts: 632 Karma: 2274466 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Nevada Device: Nook STR, iPad	I think everything stands about the same.

05-07-2012, 05:15 PM	#9
altworld Evangelist Posts: 495 Karma: 746472 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Deep in Maryland Device: Android G1	The only problem I've found is Lulu has a tendency to hide its free to use stuff underneath a pile of pay to play options. Hence making the work of self-publishing just that little bit harder to do. Arigato, Nick Davis

05-09-2012, 11:58 AM	#13
Lazybones Groupie Posts: 162 Karma: 1719250 Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Sacramento Device: Kindle	I still use Smashwords and think it's a great site, but it can be slow, especially in updating affiliate sales. I've also noticed a slowdown in how long it takes to get books approved for their premium catalog (which is sent through all the affiliates).