Anyone like to talk about Kobo?

AnnGirdharry · 08-23-2015, 05:09 AM

hello,

I have just put four books onto Kobo via Smashwords and would like to discuss with other indie authors their experience of Kobo as a distribution platform.

Good, bad, indifferent?

It seems impossible to retrieve stats or views/downloads - or am I missing something?

thanks in advance,
Ann Girdharry

cromag · 08-23-2015, 07:09 PM

My Smashwords titles seem to be downloaded mostly at Smashwords and Apple -- about 50/50 over the long haul -- with both still going strong. I had some downloads at Barnes & Noble last year and they were a substantial fraction of my downloads before that, but none this year -- I suspect that reflects their overall tailspin.

I had a couple of downloads at Kobo a few years ago but none this year or last year. Personally, I find myself using Kobo much less often than I used to, and I suspect others are in the same boat.

You can get a pretty detailed report at Smashwords by going to the Dashboard, selecting the Sales and Payment report, and getting a Quarterly Report or the current year's Sales and Payment report -- both are best viewed in a spreadsheet.

EDIT: I've never actually looked for Page Views from other vendors, but I doubt that information gets reported to Smashwords.

gmw · 08-24-2015, 12:20 AM

My novels are submitted directly to Kobo, my free short stories are distributed via Smashwords. None have shown any movement from Kobo at all. BUT, and this is an important "but", I do very little marketing. So the truth is that I see very little movement anywhere. B&N and Smashwords have seen the most movement of my recently released short stories, with a couple from Apple. (I haven't submitted the shorts to Amazon, not sure if/when I'll bother.)

A while ago I noticed Kobo (when dealing directly with them) do have some extra options for special pricing that weren't there when I first submitted. I may play with those some time.

AnnGirdharry · 08-28-2015, 04:22 AM

Cromag - how do you get your Apple stats?

cromag · 08-28-2015, 10:09 PM

Through the Smashwords Dashboard. Again, no "Page Views," just "Downloads/Purchases."

AnnGirdharry · 09-18-2015, 02:35 AM

Thank you for all the useful comments.

I also found a helpful guide from Kobo, here

http://download.kobobooks.com/writin...User-Guide.pdf

and so was finally able to add a Kobo link to my webpage

Lima Bean · 09-26-2015, 03:27 PM

I sold next to nothing on Kobo. I do better financially by being exclusive on Amazon.

08-23-2015, 05:09 AM	#1
AnnGirdharry Enthusiast Posts: 43 Karma: 4910034 Join Date: Jul 2015 Device: ipad	Anyone like to talk about Kobo? hello, I have just put four books onto Kobo via Smashwords and would like to discuss with other indie authors their experience of Kobo as a distribution platform. Good, bad, indifferent? It seems impossible to retrieve stats or views/downloads - or am I missing something? thanks in advance, Ann Girdharry

08-23-2015, 07:09 PM	#2
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 24,382 Karma: 459220161 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	My Smashwords titles seem to be downloaded mostly at Smashwords and Apple -- about 50/50 over the long haul -- with both still going strong. I had some downloads at Barnes & Noble last year and they were a substantial fraction of my downloads before that, but none this year -- I suspect that reflects their overall tailspin. I had a couple of downloads at Kobo a few years ago but none this year or last year. Personally, I find myself using Kobo much less often than I used to, and I suspect others are in the same boat. You can get a pretty detailed report at Smashwords by going to the Dashboard, selecting the Sales and Payment report, and getting a Quarterly Report or the current year's Sales and Payment report -- both are best viewed in a spreadsheet. EDIT: I've never actually looked for Page Views from other vendors, but I doubt that information gets reported to Smashwords. Last edited by cromag; 08-23-2015 at 07:45 PM.

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08-24-2015, 12:20 AM	#3
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,809 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	My novels are submitted directly to Kobo, my free short stories are distributed via Smashwords. None have shown any movement from Kobo at all. BUT, and this is an important "but", I do very little marketing. So the truth is that I see very little movement anywhere. B&N and Smashwords have seen the most movement of my recently released short stories, with a couple from Apple. (I haven't submitted the shorts to Amazon, not sure if/when I'll bother.) A while ago I noticed Kobo (when dealing directly with them) do have some extra options for special pricing that weren't there when I first submitted. I may play with those some time.

08-28-2015, 04:22 AM	#4
AnnGirdharry Enthusiast Posts: 43 Karma: 4910034 Join Date: Jul 2015 Device: ipad	Cromag - how do you get your Apple stats?

08-28-2015, 10:09 PM	#5
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 24,382 Karma: 459220161 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	Through the Smashwords Dashboard. Again, no "Page Views," just "Downloads/Purchases."

09-18-2015, 02:35 AM	#6
AnnGirdharry Enthusiast Posts: 43 Karma: 4910034 Join Date: Jul 2015 Device: ipad	Thank you for all the useful comments. I also found a helpful guide from Kobo, here http://download.kobobooks.com/writin...User-Guide.pdf and so was finally able to add a Kobo link to my webpage

09-26-2015, 03:27 PM	#7
Lima Bean Groupie Posts: 170 Karma: 527094 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: USA (near Lima, Ohio) Device: Kindle	I sold next to nothing on Kobo. I do better financially by being exclusive on Amazon.