Draft2Digital Review: Is D2D Worth It?

About this video

Roberts presents Draft2Digital (D2D) as an aggregate publishing platform and Kindle publishing alternative for authors not earning enough from KDP Select exclusivity. He says D2D distributes ebooks to iBooks, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and Kobo Plus, Inktera, Scribd, 24symbols, Tolino, Playster and OverDrive, and that according to its FAQ it was pursuing Ingram, Google Play and Amazon. It is free to open an account and upload, with D2D taking about 10% of the retail price, which Roberts describes as technically 15% of net royalties, so it is paid only when the author is paid. Payouts are monthly subject to each retailer’s schedule — often not until 60 days after the close of month — by check, PayPal, Payoneer or direct deposit. His favorite feature is the auto-formatting software: upload a document with simple chapter headings and D2D builds a near-impeccable interior with options for a title page, copyright, about the author and other works, and it will also convert a manuscript into a paperback file at no extra charge. He also highlights the Findaway Voices audiobook partnership, where the normal $49 setup cost is waived when distributing through D2D, as an alternative to Audiobook Creation Exchange. Cons are the lack of paperback distribution since CreateSpace closed, and minimum payout thresholds, and Roberts says he struggled to find a third fault, praising the customer service and Twitter responsiveness.

Key takeaways

• Draft2Digital is an aggregator, not a single retailer: Roberts lists distribution to iBooks, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and Kobo Plus, Inktera, Scribd, 24symbols, Tolino, Playster and OverDrive, with Ingram, Google Play and Amazon being pursued per its FAQ.
• Cost model Roberts cites: free to start and upload, with D2D collecting about 10% of the retail price, described as 15% of net royalties.
• Payment options are check, PayPal, Payoneer and direct deposit, but minimum thresholds apply — Roberts cites $25 for checks, $20 for Payoneer and $10 for international direct deposit — and retailer timing often means payment 60 days after month close.
• Roberts calls D2D’s auto-formatting the best he has found: simple-heading manuscripts are converted to a polished ebook interior, and a paperback file can be generated at no additional charge.
• Main cons Roberts identifies are no paperback distribution after CreateSpace closed and the payout thresholds; a pro is the Findaway Voices deal waiving the normal $49 audiobook setup fee.

Episode details: published August 25, 2017 · 5:41 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Business results and any income figures mentioned are Dale L. Roberts’s own claims, shared for education — they are not typical or guaranteed.

← Previous: Google Translate Books: Bad Translations from Spanish to English · Next: Is Publishing on Smashwords Worth It? →

All Dale L. Roberts videos · Dale L. Roberts profile · Dale L. Roberts on YouTube