Smashwords - yay or nay? - Page 3

AkumaTakeshi · 07-14-2011, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peggy Trentini

I Have been on Smashwords for 4 months and have had very few sales. I'm not sure I like the fact that they offer pdf version to buyers as this is the easiest format to pirate. I am considering taking my book off since the sells are so low anyway might not be worth the risk.

If people want to pirate a book they will still do it, even if it's official Amazon books. And if people download pirate books, they will still do it regardless Smashwords providing DRM free versions (and PDFs) or not.

So resuming, most pirates would never buy your or others books they pirate in the first place, even if there isn't any pirated version probably they won't buy it because they can go and download some other book.

Bright side of things, you get some advertising through pirated versions and there's some people that just want to see if they like the book (or the series) or the author style at full extent before buying.

This is my personal opinion and my opinion as programmer, one of the most pirated things (software).

Pirating is far from ending, so I guess is better to endure it or take it lightly

P.S.: Many people share this opinion and there's some studies on it, if you want I can provide you some links but I just would have to search for them again.

Elfwreck · 07-14-2011, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laine

I look for genre and storylines that appeal to me. THEN I ELIMINATE ANY BOOKS WHERE THE BLURB HAS SPELLING OR GRAMMAR MISTAKES. If you want to sell a book you should at least make sure your advertising is correct.

I'm with you on that. I'll sometimes buy a book with errors in the blurb, but they have to be the kind that don't bother me. And I always open the sample to read a bit first; if the first few pages have spelling errors or keep switching point of view at random or dialogue without punctuation--skip. I'm not paying money for books that need beta reading.

I'm more tolerant of free books, but they've still got to have something strong going for them that overrides the errors.

JoelArnold · 07-14-2011, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peggy Trentini

I Have been on Smashwords for 4 months and have had very few sales. I'm not sure I like the fact that they offer pdf version to buyers as this is the easiest format to pirate. I am considering taking my book off since the sells are so low anyway might not be worth the risk.

You should give them some more time. I'm finally getting some nice sales through their affiliates like Kobo and Apple, but I've been on there for about a year now, and it's only been starting to pay off in the last six months or so.

Isabel · 07-15-2011, 10:35 PM

Smashwords defintiely suits me. The two non-fiction books published there are in no way likely to appeal to a mass market, but am encouraged by the number of downloads when offered through Smashwords. I am never likely to make a lot of money through writing, but all the while I believe I have something of value to share I would like it 'out there'.

Todd Young · 07-16-2011, 04:14 AM

Most of my money is made through Amazon KDP, though I am a big fan of Smashwords. I should see around $100 this quarter, and that's without my only novella being at Apple. Barnes & Noble sales are encouraging, though I also sell some at Kobo, Sony and Diesel.

emilyward · 07-16-2011, 01:42 PM

I echo what others have said. Smashwords is free (even with the royalty, you still make about 60%) and offers access into stores where you can't self-publish your book. Also they have coupons that you can give to book bloggers or for other promotional purposes.

You won't see a huge amount of sales, but it's worth it to provide your books to international customers and for the above reasons.

Anke Wehner · 07-17-2011, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pholy

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?

This. I don't have a Kindle (and don't want to buy Kindle books and convert them, because I don't want to support Amazon's ebook politics) and don't live in the USA, so Smashwords and Kobo might be the only stores that sell decent selections of English-language ebooks to me.

CHunter_Author · 07-17-2011, 09:01 AM

Amazon has the customer base, but Smashwords has the reader's and publisher's interest at heart. No restrictions with royalty and pricing, no DRM, no restrictions on where a book can be sold, the option to discount for free, flexibility with samples, and it's easier to download a later version if the author updates. They have some great benefits. Now if only they can speed up reporting and payment.

Aladyleyna · 07-17-2011, 09:59 AM

I always go to Smashwords for my indie books. This is mainly because I am not from the US, so I am unable to access any of the bookstores mentioned by the OP. Smashwords is great because it caters to an international audience (and I can pay by paypal too!), and very rarely do I have a problem with formatting, though if the book is really good, I tend to ignore the formatting problems.

speedlever · 07-18-2011, 06:40 AM

Speaking of Smashwords, is the site up? I can't seem to get into it.

AkumaTakeshi · 07-18-2011, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedlever

Speaking of Smashwords, is the site up? I can't seem to get into it.

At least for me is up. Just checked and no problems whatsoever.

speedlever · 07-18-2011, 07:44 AM

Ok. It's working now. Hmm.

DixieGal · 07-18-2011, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pomtroll

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.

Me too, because it takes less money, and the author keeps more of it.

John Carroll · 07-18-2011, 09:49 AM

My philosophy as a writer is that every sale counts. It makes sense to have my work available everywhere. Even if I don't get as many sales from Smashwords, I do get the occasional sale that I wouldn't have had otherwise. It's all been a good experience for me.

buttefly · 07-18-2011, 01:35 PM

I totally agree with John Carroll, that's why I use Smashwords and XinXii (which is very convenient and established in Europe).

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07-15-2011, 10:35 PM	#34
Isabel Junior Member Posts: 4 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Port Lincoln, South Australia Device: Samsung Galaxy Tablet	Smashwords defintiely suits me. The two non-fiction books published there are in no way likely to appeal to a mass market, but am encouraged by the number of downloads when offered through Smashwords. I am never likely to make a lot of money through writing, but all the while I believe I have something of value to share I would like it 'out there'.

07-16-2011, 04:14 AM	#35
Todd Young Addict Posts: 243 Karma: 1004164 Join Date: May 2011 Device: Kindle 2	Most of my money is made through Amazon KDP, though I am a big fan of Smashwords. I should see around $100 this quarter, and that's without my only novella being at Apple. Barnes & Noble sales are encouraging, though I also sell some at Kobo, Sony and Diesel.

07-16-2011, 01:42 PM	#36
emilyward Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 296 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Oregon Device: Kindle	I echo what others have said. Smashwords is free (even with the royalty, you still make about 60%) and offers access into stores where you can't self-publish your book. Also they have coupons that you can give to book bloggers or for other promotional purposes. You won't see a huge amount of sales, but it's worth it to provide your books to international customers and for the above reasons.

07-17-2011, 09:01 AM	#38
CHunter_Author Zealot Posts: 118 Karma: 503896 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bronx, NY Device: iPhone	Amazon has the customer base, but Smashwords has the reader's and publisher's interest at heart. No restrictions with royalty and pricing, no DRM, no restrictions on where a book can be sold, the option to discount for free, flexibility with samples, and it's easier to download a later version if the author updates. They have some great benefits. Now if only they can speed up reporting and payment.

07-17-2011, 09:59 AM	#39
Aladyleyna Zealot Posts: 138 Karma: 24624 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Singapore Device: iPad 1	I always go to Smashwords for my indie books. This is mainly because I am not from the US, so I am unable to access any of the bookstores mentioned by the OP. Smashwords is great because it caters to an international audience (and I can pay by paypal too!), and very rarely do I have a problem with formatting, though if the book is really good, I tend to ignore the formatting problems.

07-18-2011, 06:40 AM	#40
speedlever Fanatic Posts: 592 Karma: 138200 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: NC, USA Device: PW2014, PW2012, iPad Pro	Speaking of Smashwords, is the site up? I can't seem to get into it.

07-18-2011, 07:44 AM	#42
speedlever Fanatic Posts: 592 Karma: 138200 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: NC, USA Device: PW2014, PW2012, iPad Pro	Ok. It's working now. Hmm.

07-18-2011, 09:49 AM	#44
John Carroll kookoo Posts: 1,461 Karma: 7772454 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Colorado Springs Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Nook, LG4	My philosophy as a writer is that every sale counts. It makes sense to have my work available everywhere. Even if I don't get as many sales from Smashwords, I do get the occasional sale that I wouldn't have had otherwise. It's all been a good experience for me.

07-18-2011, 01:35 PM	#45
buttefly Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 42 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: none	I totally agree with John Carroll, that's why I use Smashwords and XinXii (which is very convenient and established in Europe).

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