Self Publishing with Smashwords

3 min read

Self-publishing your book in eBook format using Smashwords is a pretty good deal. Their process is fairly easy to learn, they distribute the eBooks on a wide variety of networks when they approve you for their Premium Catalog including Barnes and Noble, Apple iBooks, and more. They offer several FREE eBooks for authors about formatting your eBook correctly, marketing your eBook and they have lots of help pages as well. A great marketing tool is to have a special price for library copies and tell your local libraries about your book is available on the Overdrive Library section at a special price for them. Most local library systems want to buy books by local authors.

“Premium Catalog (Reaches Global Retailers and Libraries): Once your book is accepted into the Premium Catalog, we automatically distribute it to major online retailers. Notable retailers in the Smashwords distribution network include Apple (operates iBooks stores in 51 countries), Barnes & Noble (US and UK), Scribd, Kobo, Blio and Overdrive. Our industry-leading library distribution reaches OverDrive (world’s largest library ebook platform serving 20,000+ libraries), Baker & Taylor Axis 360, Tolino, Gardners (Askews & Holts and Browns Books for Students), Bibliotheca CloudLibrary (3,000 public libraries) and Odilo (2,100 public libraries in North America, South America and Europe).”

Jolenes Books on Smashwords (Jolene is participating in Smashwords “End-of-the-Year” sales event click on the above picture to be taken to her profile.)

Their royalty structure is about the same as Amazon. You use to have at least $10 in sales to receive payments every quarter electronically. According to the help section below that has been updated. Again, it depends on when the sales payments were received by Smashwords from the other distributors. You best payment percentage and guarantee of monies quickly is when they are purchased directly from Smashwords.

“Earn 60% of list price from major ebook retailers and up to 80% list at the Smashwords Store”

How often are my revenue shares paid?
Monthly (prior to 2017, it was quarterly). Although our Terms of Service states that authors’ earnings will be paid within 40 days of the close of each calendar month, we usually pay in about 30 days. To qualify for payment, accrued earnings must be over USD $75.00 for U.S. authors who want paper checks, and $0.01 for all authors who want electronic payment via PayPal. All authors and publishers outside the US are paid via PayPal”

Please do fill out the author profile page and even the Interview. You can link the profile on your website, share it on all your social media pages and keep it updated yearly. It is a great marketing tool for you and your books. It just takes a little time but your readers will appreciate it when you do. And again, please check it at least once a year to keep it updated with new pictures, extra information, etc. Now you can even add your book trailer videos to your account.

We would like to hear from our fellow Smashwords Writers Out there. If you would like to be featured on our blog just give us a shout using our CONTACT US form.

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