Is Publishing on Smashwords Worth It?

About this video

(Summary based on the Arabic caption track.) Dale reviews Smashwords as a self-publishing aggregator for authors who want distribution beyond Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, saying it has the widest reach among Kindle alternatives. He lists distribution to Apple iBooks in 51 countries, Barnes & Noble in the US and UK, Scribd, Kobo and Barnes & Noble internationally, plus library channels reaching hundreds of thousands of locations including OverDrive, Baker & Taylor Axis 360, Tolino, Gardners, Bibliotheca Cloud Library and Odilo. Opening an account and uploading books is free, with two account types: one for an individual author and one for a publisher producing many authors or pen names. Royalties vary by channel: up to 85% on sales in the Smashwords store, about 60% from premium distribution channels such as Apple iBooks, and between 45% and 70% from library distribution channels. Payments recently changed from quarterly to monthly, arriving within 30 to 40 days after the end of the month, though sales from outside the Smashwords store can take 30 to 60 days to appear in the dashboard. To be paid, authors need over $75 in a month for a check, or one cent for electronic payment via PayPal; anyone outside the United States must use PayPal or accumulate $500 in earnings for transfer via Payoneer. Pros are the huge distribution, special-offer features and new-release spotlighting on the homepage by listing date, and pricing freedom: unlike Amazon, Smashwords does not care whether a book is free or $20. Cons are strict interior formatting guidelines required for premium distribution with little clear guidance, an overloaded and hard-to-use dashboard, and a messy FAQ full of walls of text. Once past the steep learning curve, he says you can really start making money.

Key takeaways

• Smashwords distributes to Apple iBooks in 51 countries, Barnes & Noble, Scribd, Kobo and library channels including OverDrive.
• Royalties reach up to 85% in the Smashwords store, about 60% for premium channels such as Apple iBooks, and 45% to 70% for libraries.
• Payments are now monthly, arriving 30 to 40 days after month-end, with a $75 threshold for checks and one cent for PayPal.
• Pros include special-offer features, homepage spotlighting of new releases, and freedom to price a book free or at $20 without changing earnings treatment.
• Cons are strict interior formatting rules for premium distribution, a difficult dashboard, and an overloaded, confusing FAQ.

Episode details: published August 26, 2017 · 5:43 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.

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