Smashwords is a free, self-publishing platform that makes it fast and easy for authors to distribute their books to major ebook retailers and libraries.
The platform also offers an author profile and author support system, as well as a variety of marketing tools. It’s one of the most popular self-publishing services on the market.
It’s free
The Smashwords platform is free to use and offers a wide range of tools for authors and publishers. Its main purpose is to distribute ebooks to the world’s largest ebook retailers, including Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, OverDrive and more. The site also has excellent support for marketing and sales, as well as a host of other features.
Authors can upload their own cover designs and descriptions, and set the price for their books. They can also choose to make the book free, or to charge a minimum price of $.99. This gives them more control over how their titles are priced and sold, and makes it easier for readers to discover their work.
It is free to register for an account with Smashwords, and once you’re signed up you’ll receive a confirmation email containing your next steps. After you’ve done that, you can upload your manuscript. The first step is to read the Smashwords Style Guide to ensure you format your book correctly.
Once your manuscript is formatted, you can start distributing it to the world’s largest ebook retailers. There is no cost involved to upload your work to the Smashwords store, and you’ll get 85% of all sales that come through its distribution channels.
You can also choose to have your work distributed on Amazon, which is a great way to reach a larger audience. However, Amazon doesn’t offer the same level of marketing and support that Smashwords does, so you may have to do some advertising on your own to increase sales.
In addition to the main store, Smashwords has a variety of other distribution platforms and stores. They include the Smashwords Library, the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, and a number of independent bookstores.
Alternatively, you can publish your work with Draft2Digital, a service that enables indie authors to create and distribute their work across many different platforms. This service has been a popular choice for many indie writers, and is one of the most comprehensive distribution services on the market.
It is also a popular choice for publishers, who can centrally manage the publishing and distribution of their authors’ titles from a single console. This allows them to control the metadata of their publications, which is important for ensuring that their books are distributed properly to all of their stores.
It’s easy
In addition to providing free distribution for self-published e-books, Smashwords offers many tools to help authors get their books out there. For example, readers can subscribe to an author’s alerts, which will automatically email them when the author publishes a new book. Moreover, authors can offer free downloads of their books in a variety of file formats to book bloggers and reviewers.
Besides, you can also hire a fellow Smashwords author to create an ebook cover for you for a few dollars. That’s a great way to save money and get the professional look you want for your book.
You can easily upload a cover to your Smashwords book via the Publish page, as long as it meets our formatting requirements. If you have any questions, please check out our Style Guide for details on formatting requirements for the different book formats.
One of the best things about using Smashwords is that it’s incredibly fast and easy to use. You can publish your book in just a few minutes, and we’ll do the rest.
Once you’re satisfied that your book is properly formatted, go to the Publish page and fill out all the required fields. Once Smashwords receives the information, it will process it in real time and generate multiple ebook formats for you.
Then you can re-check it and make any changes you need. Then, just click Publish and wait for your ebook to be published!
This is the quickest and most efficient way to distribute your book to retailers. It takes around 3 minutes for the conversion to complete, and it’s done in batch mode so that your book will be available to retailers at once.
Another benefit of using Smashwords is that your book is distributed to all major ebook retailers. That means it will be available to more readers than if you were to sell it independently.
However, it’s important to note that the sales rank that these retailers compute for your book isn’t directly related to sales of your book. The algorithms are complicated and take into account a variety of factors, including the timing of your book’s release and the sale of other books in the same category.
It’s convenient
Smashwords is an incredibly convenient and easy-to-use platform for distributing ebooks. It’s a free service that allows you to upload your finished manuscript as a Word file and automatically convert it into nine different ebook formats. In addition to these nine formats, it also allows you to create a variety of different promotional tools.
The first thing you need to do is sign up for a free account. Then, you can start submitting your manuscripts to be distributed to retailers and libraries.
You can use the platform to distribute to iBooks, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and more than 40 other online retailers, as well as over 40,000 libraries through OverDrive. It’s a great way to connect with readers and get your book into their hands.
If you’re not sure about how to format your book, you can download the Smashwords Style Guide for free. The 117-page document can be intimidating, but it’s easier to follow if you print out a copy of the guide so you can refer to it when you’re formatting your book.
Another advantage of Smashwords is that you can make changes to your files for free, which can be helpful if you need to update a typo in your manuscript or add a new chapter. This is important if you’re a new author or don’t have the time to make these changes yourself.
In addition to the convenience of using Smashwords, it’s also easy to get in touch with customer support if you need assistance. They offer a variety of help desks and email support to help you with any questions or problems that you may have.
They also offer coupon codes for their store, which can be very handy if you need to give away copies of your book to reviewers or giveaways. The coupons are also great for making your books cheaper for readers.
It’s not the most whiz-bang storefront out there, but it’s certainly a nice option for those who want to sell their books and don’t have the budget to spend on an expensive website. You can even set up a newsletter, which will help you keep in touch with your readers and potential buyers.
It’s secure
Smashwords is an online publishing platform that converts manuscripts into multiple formats readable on iPads, Kindles, and other e-book reading devices. Its mission is to democratize the publishing process, allowing writers to appeal directly to readers without having to deal with traditional gatekeepers such as agents and editors.
You can upload your manuscripts in either a Microsoft Word file or an epub, both of which are accepted by Smashwords and other retailers. You can also use their free formatter, or hire a professional editor to help you. The company also has a style guide that explains how to write, format, and publish your books to ensure that they are accepted by a wide range of retailers and readers.
The first thing you need to do is create an account on the Smashwords website, which is free and easy. You’ll need an email address and a password, which will serve as your login credentials. The email and password you select should be unique, and not a variation on your existing login information from another website.
Once you have an account, it’s time to upload your manuscript. Make sure that it is completely finished and is ready for prime time, as you can’t make any changes after the initial upload. If you need to re-upload, it can take a while before your book becomes available to the public.
If you’re new to the self-publishing world, it’s easy to get swept up in all the excitement. However, you should be aware that not all publishers are happy with the way authors are using self-publishing.
Similarly, some publishers are hesitant to accept e-books because they don’t want to pay the high prices that are typically associated with the digital format. This is a major concern for many small and independent authors, who are already struggling with the fact that a large percentage of their book sales are from ebooks.
One of the best things about using Smashwords is that you have complete control over your data. You can edit and change your pricing instantly, and you can even delete your negative reviews from your author profile page. You can also use their home page merchandising opportunities to increase your book’s visibility and sell more copies of your work.