tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post1882119502260233768..comments2024-03-18T02:11:40.154-07:00Comments on <b>Smashwords</b>: Amazon Shows Predatory Spots with KDP SelectDovetail Public Relationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039664167177159146noreply@blogger.comBlogger147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-86774830081240885162017-03-20T19:09:56.029-07:002017-03-20T19:09:56.029-07:00This is all well and good. But why would ANY compa...This is all well and good. But why would ANY company want to cross-promote products.Of course they want exclusivity. So do most print publishers. What if the thing goes "Harry Potter" on you? You gonna share the glory with other publishers?Art For The Home And Officehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04535604363970064517noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-4579765721453822612013-12-13T04:59:44.857-08:002013-12-13T04:59:44.857-08:00Since mine is a new niche book, only now making th...Since mine is a new niche book, only now making the rounds with friends and family for criticism, I leaned toward Select. But now, considering your article and the comments above, it is obviously not so <i>pashut</i> (sounds like pa-shoot, Yiddish/Hebrew for <i>simple</i>). Oy vey.therapydochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05088184676439578876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-90444400227703742212013-08-13T16:50:11.031-07:002013-08-13T16:50:11.031-07:00Do authors understand that KDP doesn't force t...Do authors understand that KDP doesn't force the author into an exclusive deal, but simply your choice of titles?<br /><br />Sure, I don't like monopolistic behaviour like the next guy but can someone explain how this is different from "opting in" to an exclusive television deal, for example? It's the same concept - you may be a financial reporter - your skillset includes financial analysis, but the network quite reasonably expects you to offers your skills to the exclusivity of competing networks.<br /><br />What's the big issue exactly?<br /><br />Just to re-iterate, you're free to publish "other" titles anywhere you like. It's not an author-exclusion programme guys! <br /><br />Disclaimer: I'm yet to publish an ebook but found this post interesting.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13446464149260352077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-10141908322228564462012-11-30T13:29:00.779-08:002012-11-30T13:29:00.779-08:00Had my book, 'Surviving Urban Crisis' in t...Had my book, 'Surviving Urban Crisis' in that 'select' thing, never made a dime. But they whined about it being for sale internationally thru Smashwords. Told 'em to cancel the deal. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-88401049540515511802012-08-25T01:01:48.280-07:002012-08-25T01:01:48.280-07:00Ready To Move Call@-9953932722 KDP Grand Savanna i...Ready To Move Call@-9953932722 KDP Grand Savanna in Raj Nagar Extension.<br /><br />Ready To Move, KDP Grand Savanna in Raj Nagar Extension at Ghaziabad.Luxurious Apartments in KDP Grand Savanna NH 58 at Ghaziabad.Ready to Move in Ghaziabad,Ready To Move in svp gulmohar garden in Ghaziabad.<br /><br />Keywords- <br />Ready To Move Kdp<br /><br />Contact Us-<br />NH-58, Raj Nagar Extension<br />Ghaziabad<br />Call Us - 9953932722 <br />9899969608, 9811172672<br /><br />http://kdpgrandsavanna.in/kdp grandsavanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05390178991645165660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-25528056580081678052012-07-18T10:02:27.487-07:002012-07-18T10:02:27.487-07:00I tried the KDP Select and did not do well. I do ...I tried the KDP Select and did not do well. I do much better at Smashwords. I did not re-enroll and place these books at SW. Coincidence, but since I did not re-enroll in the KDP Select...my account is being blocked at Amazon. I follow all rules and guidelines and the reason for the block was resolved in May, with a confirming email from them. Yet last night received one telling me to prove exclusivity on a small ebook of recipes which I've unpublished on all sites simply because I have no way to do that. These are recipes I gathered an into a simple ebook. I unpublished the book, but still I'm blocked at Amazon. So author beware when you enter these programs. Wish I had read Mark's article way before this.Collette Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05111081825676864339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-35838299122957580652012-06-17T19:22:41.255-07:002012-06-17T19:22:41.255-07:00This thread so badly needs updating since writers ...This thread so badly needs updating since writers now have so much more experience with the KDP Select program. B&n has always been my best market and it was never clear why. I would love to know so I could repeat the effect. But my fourth rotation through Select has been phenomenal. You also learn when and where to promo and it is synergistic. I brand it a success. On Apple I got a one star review from someone who could not make head nor tails of my book. Her only other review was a 5 star for a pizza ordering app. Amazon Prime members are usually serious readers or they would not be paying to belong. I will continue to rotate my books through Select, not ignoring other venues.Virginia Llorcahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08354795459855491623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-71431356228021397052012-05-18T07:43:41.694-07:002012-05-18T07:43:41.694-07:00I found a way to make use of KDP Select and not re...I found a way to make use of KDP Select and not restrict my ability to publish the titles I want to. What I have done is to write a novella specifically for KDP Select. I'm not sure yet if I will leave it that way past the 90 days or publish that novella with Smashwords at that time. I guess it depend on how successful it is in helping me garner sales. I can tell you that by using a KDP Select free day that in that one day I had more downloads than my other title that is free at Smashwords and Amazon had in nearly a week. It also provided my only sales to day in the UK.<br /><br />There are some big drawbacks to this. Enrolling a previously published book in KDP Select would be crazy. For a major new title, if you only do the first 90 day round and then publish elsewhere, you are looking at something like 120 days before your title will be in all the markets Smashwords distributes to. That is why the only titles I will enroll in KDP Select are one I write specifically with that in mind. It is a great way to draw people to you on Amazon, but it is not a great way to publish in general.Scott Seldonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08819100651879147466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-46302049795734033392012-05-13T06:17:05.608-07:002012-05-13T06:17:05.608-07:00It's difficult, if not impossible to ignore Am...It's difficult, if not impossible to ignore Amazon—they're the two-ton elephant sitting in the living room. On the other hand, I don't trust them, and with good reason. For a number of years my partner and I sold used books, both on Amazon and B&N and several sites that specialize in used books. Amazon's treatment of its resellers is shameful in the extreme, then came the day when they allowed resellers to list and sell used books for $0.01, and the bottom dropped out of the used book market for good. Amazon, like eBay under their new CEO, seems to have one rule: "Our way or the highway."Etienne's Storieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01550527446767999299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-4834809747334312052012-04-03T10:34:08.200-07:002012-04-03T10:34:08.200-07:00There is certainly room for both sides of this dis...There is certainly room for both sides of this discussion. Some folks seem to be doing MUCH better on amazon and others are delighted with their results on SW. <br />I enjoy working with SW and Mark Coker is an inspired business leader and a good guy but I was not getting many sales from SW.<br />So I decided to try KDP Select and unhooked from all my other channels (Barnes and Noble, Googlebooks and Smashwords). I was late to the game and started December 16.<br />My Kindle sales were the same or better than before, In addition, I was earning more "royalties" on borrows through KDP than SW and B&N sales combined. So I decided to try another 90 days. I'll revisit June 16 after I try one or two "free" book promotion days. On another note, the KDP police are watching. I initially forgot about Googlebooks and they sent me an email pointing out I was not in compliance. I fixed that - no penaly and it was no problem. Then just today I got another "violation" email that my book was still on sale at KOBO even though I unpublished it on Smashwords in December. I'm trying to fix that now. Don't get me wrong, I get the point about "exclusivity" and it initially turned me off. But being an Indie author frees one to make these judgement calls. I decided to TRY IT OUT. The results were good for me to a point so I'm giving it another 90 days. Something tells me I'll be back publishing on Smashwords someday, but not right now. I need to see what KDP Select does for my book and its sales.John E Nevola -The Last Jumphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09662007649144465894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-9539625074820621782012-03-19T13:45:28.650-07:002012-03-19T13:45:28.650-07:00Very similar experience to below; #1 in 3 categori...Very similar experience to below; #1 in 3 categories, 17,000 downloads but we are now back on Smashwords too. I like the wide exposure SW gives. If you care to follow please feel welcome http://tinyurl.com/JCKSMSHW Always glad to encourage anyone positive.<br />Victor Brodtvictorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09552958588784074304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-88737708313894976192012-03-19T10:31:47.475-07:002012-03-19T10:31:47.475-07:00Actually I want to put MORE books in there. My sal...Actually I want to put MORE books in there. My sales flew and peaked and now are back down to where they were BUT still getting borrows. Not only that,I'm actually getting reviews ... a LOT of reviews. I have 3 books in one category that all hit #1 at one point. PLUS my paperback versions are selling better.<br /><br />I guess you just have to have books people actually want to buy or borrow for it to work. <br /><br />My income is still 10x what it was on Smashwords tho for those books. Other books I've left on Smashwords because they are doing pretty good. I may try and shift them over too for 1 period just to see how they do.DonOmitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18421539458285746220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-31280119129028120752012-03-14T10:47:05.776-07:002012-03-14T10:47:05.776-07:00So - has all this proved to be much ado about noth...So - has all this proved to be much ado about nothing?<br /><br />I put one book in Kindle Select as an experiment. So far, it has been borrowed... 0 times. As have all my other books, which include monologues for actors and food and criminal history.<br /><br />So obviously I'm not re-upping for the next three month period. And I doubt any more than a handful of people will.<br /><br />I'm sure Kindle Select works beautifully for some class of authors. But I'd guess that same class of authors sells well enough elsewhere to make it questionable whether they want to forego sales anywhere but on Kindle.<br /><br />This may change; Kindle itself took some time to get going. But I really don't think the Kindle Select program has proved to be much of a menace to anyone, or even much of a factor.chezjimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13552197985756973087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-14871362174547693972012-03-08T05:28:09.288-08:002012-03-08T05:28:09.288-08:00Hi Mark,
First off, admire your initiative with Sm...Hi Mark,<br />First off, admire your initiative with Smashwords and I agree: the pay-pal recent complaint is just like book censoring in a modern guise. <br /><br />As for Amazon's 5 day freebie exclusive; again, you're right, it's tremendously anti-competitive and if the EU can tell Microsoft to dismantle, they can certainly read Amazon the riot act.<br /><br />Meantime, the main thing in your favour is competing strongest where you can: right now that's in being the ONLY player in town to offer a permanent free book with B&N and Kobo, etc - which Amazon then will price match. <br /><br />This has been a boon for many authors like Rebecca Forster, who I've e-mailed on the subject. So much so that I decided - being in a similar position as her - bestselling legal thriller writer with several books in my backlist - to emulate.<br /><br />And here comes my ONE complaint: I uploaded a never before seen volume about gun control - called The Second Amendment - in two books in mid Feb. <br /><br />I anticipated a week or so (this on top of the extra week - and cost - to get someone else to format for me), but it took over two weeks, and then came back with some alter notes (one to do with Kindle, the other a confusion caused by chapter numbering). I changed and uploaded the new versions... and now I wait again. What worries me, seeing the comments of other authors, is that I'll go back to the beginning of the review queue (IOW, another two weeks).<br /><br />Thing is, I'm running a test with this. I'm currently with kdp with my other books, and if this runs smoothly, I'll shift them over and use one freebie to feed the rest (as Rebecca Forster does).<br /><br />But right now I'm stuck and losing sales with each day that passes. And I'm sure I can't be the only author in that situation.<br /><br />I agree with your thoughts about KDP and the competition angle; but by making your own system so difficult/time-consuming to gain entry to, you're playing into their hands. <br /><br />You're doing a great job in every other area, but this really is one area you've got to streamline more: making your system easier and more accessible, and not soooooo time-consuming to get from entry to premium distribution.John Matthewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11137356330779146822noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-88210772079773058242012-02-22T21:22:40.614-08:002012-02-22T21:22:40.614-08:00If I understood the new contract correctly, the au...If I understood the new contract correctly, the authors who choose the %70 royalty rate have NO choice but to go along with the lending library as of February 9th!<br /><br />Did I understand correctly? :O<br /><br /><a href="http://elizabethmueller.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">♥.•*¨Elizabeth¨*•.♥</a><br><br />A to Z co-host<br />#AtoZChallenge<br />@AprilA2ZElizabeth Muellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06028099814857743134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-26255372974941126252012-02-07T18:49:56.329-08:002012-02-07T18:49:56.329-08:00.....forgot to add that my target readers are over........forgot to add that my target readers are overseas (outside the United States).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00146162802152619030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-89662238237049650622012-02-07T18:43:53.242-08:002012-02-07T18:43:53.242-08:00Don't be too sure! Besides those figures are j...Don't be too sure! Besides those figures are just for a few days in January. I have a book on Smashwords already, and I'm impressed with the status of things.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00146162802152619030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-82135460671080380972012-02-07T18:41:46.371-08:002012-02-07T18:41:46.371-08:00Don't be too sure! Besides those figures are j...Don't be too sure! Besides those figures are just for a few days in January. I have a book on Smashwords already, and I'm impressed with the status of things.WritingAlwayshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17614615194768896163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-81058488049953358292012-02-07T13:31:13.881-08:002012-02-07T13:31:13.881-08:00If you have no sales on Amazon or no "borrows...If you have no sales on Amazon or no "borrows" then you will probably not do very well in Smashwords either. Yeh. I had over 20k downloads when one book was free. BUT that book then went on to sell more in the next month than it had total anywhere. It has died down considerably but the borrows continue. So I have to look at it and decide on no sales anywhere or some sales on Amazon? Not a hard decision to make. Plus Amazon payments are faster. About 45 days after the end of the month vice 30 days after the end of the quarter.<br /><br />So a sale in Jan will get paid around the middle of March on Amazon. But a sale in Jan will get paid on the last day of April with Smashwords.<br /><br />Of course then my sales in Feb get paid in April with Amazon. So every month I'm getting paid. <br /><br />Reporting is almost instantaneous on Amazon. Lucky if you see your sales for months on Smashwords.<br /><br />I think Smashwords has a lot of room for improvement. Primarily promoting the Smashwords site more so sales are from the site instead of through 3rd party vendors.DonOmitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18421539458285746220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-8248718554489896742012-02-07T12:00:28.511-08:002012-02-07T12:00:28.511-08:00Well, I'm moving my five ebooks from the Amazo...Well, I'm moving my five ebooks from the Amazon KDP program to Smashwords. I have my print editions with them, which should suffice for now. Amazon can keep the less than $100 they claimed I made from lending one of the books out for free in the month of January; I'm OK with that. The first day I had a free promotion on that one book, I had over 500 downloads in a matter of hours. Downloads then slowed down so dramatically when the book became a 'paid-for' item. As soon as you offer it for free, the download-rush begins. Let's be realistic here fellow-authors - put yourselves in the shoes of readers. Why would you buy a product that you can get for free just by being an Amazon Prime Member? It costs only $79.00 to become a prime member, and you are on to a 'download spree'. Why am I an Independent Author/Publisher if I'm still being controlled by an entity on what to do with my books? One thing though, SMASHWORDS/MARK - could you move quicker on the BOOK APPROVAL PROCESS, please; there is room for improvement in that area. Besides that, you are doing a great job! Thumbs Up!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00146162802152619030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-26249353311568931422012-01-31T13:50:59.808-08:002012-01-31T13:50:59.808-08:00I have had ebooks online for ever and sold very fe...I have had ebooks online for ever and sold very few. I am willing to commit for 90 days. I sold 1442 of one book in December. I am not working outside the home and I need the money. I am being read. I won't even tell you what I sold in January. I am still counting clear up til midnight.<br />I have wanted an opportunity for getting out there. Innovative thinking has always been surrounded by fear. <br /><br />I choose to go for it. I have no regrets.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17325607028163807327noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-11028383641551535702012-01-19T04:01:35.507-08:002012-01-19T04:01:35.507-08:00As someone who is just about to start publishing e...As someone who is just about to start publishing e-books, and therefore has a major decision to make, may I add another word to this discussion?<br />I'm a big reader of fantasy and it's what I've written most of so far. Now if I go with the Kindle option I'm immediately up against the big boys in the field. But has anyone else looked at the reviews of books such as George R R Martin's latest books? The huge gripe from Kindle readers is that the formatting is terrible! And this isn't a cheap download! So there's a danger that if a new Kindle owner goes for their favourite writer they are likely to have a very poor impression of the Kindle format. I'm talking here about a reader's perception, not a writers - indie or otherwise. Now those of you who are in the Smashwords community will be aware that this is sheer laziness on behalf of major publishers who think they can just dump stuff into the e-format without any additional effort - but will Joe Public know that? No they won't! And if you were one of those folks who has paid out good money for something that drives you nuts to read because of the format, not the content, would you then risk paying for someone you might perceive as 'less professional' because they self-publish?<br />Of course Kindle does have massive sales, but the big publishers are not exactly helping the image of the e-books with those they publish badly in this format.<br />On the other hand, I've not come across anyone (reader) making the same complaints against Smashwords. This may be because your system is much better at picking up hidden horrors in the formatting before it gets to the release stage. But equally, I suspect, it has a lot to do with Indie writer/publishers caring a lot more about their work and being prepared to put the work into making them good. <br />So for my part, I'd rather be part of an e-community that cares, and where I'm not fighting just to get seen against the giants in my field who might already be creating negative reactions - reactions I don't have the resources/cash/whatever to be able to counter because of the scale on which those works are distributed.<br />For me Smashwords is definitely the place I will be placing my work in the near future, and if I need to concider Amazon later then hopefully, by then, the so called professionals will have upped their game.L. J. Huttonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10697385764493201653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-30885986788870384582012-01-12T14:39:40.608-08:002012-01-12T14:39:40.608-08:00@dcc0b630 We would never penalize, punish or sing...@dcc0b630 We would never penalize, punish or single out any author for the decisions they make. Our systems don't know if you're in Select or not, nor to our systems care. <br /><br />We have made a recent change (just yesterday, as a matter of fact) to our automated systems that should prevent a small number of authors from waiting multiple weeks (or longer for review). In the past, if authors made updates to their book while they were waiting for review, they went to the back of the vetting line. This was a glitch that has now been corrected.Dovetail Public Relationshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05039664167177159146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-62836316242758820882012-01-12T14:29:44.668-08:002012-01-12T14:29:44.668-08:00Unfortunately it is typical. Smashwords is SLOW. P...Unfortunately it is typical. Smashwords is SLOW. Period. Slow approval, slow reporting, and slow payments.<br /><br />I understand the reporting is dependent on the outlets' reporting but payment once a quarter?<br /><br />Amazon makes a decsion on a book in 72 hours at the most. (Longest I've seen) and reports are quick. Payments are 45 - 60 days after the end of the month of the sale but it is every month.<br /><br />Amazon has its problems, don't get me wrong. And SW has its upside.<br /><br />But the fact that I made $500 last week alone on Amazon (not counting borrows) which is 5 times what I made from SW the last quarter makes me overlook some of Amazon's problems.DonOmitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10625819322102913461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7436915084701775452.post-11400216881763820332012-01-12T14:14:58.865-08:002012-01-12T14:14:58.865-08:00You know I thought someone in the comment section ...You know I thought someone in the comment section was just 'whistling dixie' when they said that SW Mark Coker was crying like a baby; however I am one of those authors who decided to give KDP Select program a chance to jump start my sales. Well after a couple of months like other authors have stated I haven't seen anything earth shattering with my sales in the program, so I decided that my new release I would skip the KDP Select program and enroll my book on all platforms available (Smashwords). Any way I would have thought that SW staff would have more class than to actually have an axe to grind against us authors who were only making a business decision; nothing personal. However after almost of two weeks of uploading my eBook to SW it is still pending approval; thus holding it up from entering SW premium distribution. Really Mark? Say it ain't so? Please say that this isn't some form of "punishment" for authors who elected to make a business decision at marketing their wares? <br /><br />I hope that it is only some kind of 'technical' problem as to why my eBook is setting in the virtual world of limbo awaiting approval for almost 2 weeks. Are there any other others having similar experiences like I am? Any who elected to skip trying KDP Select and those who tried it? Is there any kind of backlash you feel when attempting to publish your eBook back on SW?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com