Amazon vs. Smashwords – which is best for Indie Authors?
It is fair to say that when it comes to books, Amazon has it covered. They have dominated the market for quite some time now, and there has to be a reason for this; they must be good at what they do, right?
But does being ‘good’ mean that they offer the best deal to authors or just to the customers who buy from them? When it comes to pleasing their customers, who are Amazon primarily looking to delight?
Having self-published my own books on both platforms over the last few years, I can tell you that it is not as easy as it might first appear… Amazon’s algorithm logic takes some getting your head around! The pond is also so big that if you are not careful, there is a danger that you could end up just a tiny minnow aimlessly swimming around! There is also the fact, that while most authors have heard of Smashwords very few readers are even aware of its existence and often resent having to register for an account.
So, what is an Indie Author to do?
Is there a viable alternative that will provide a better level of exposure?
Perhaps Smashwords has the answer…
This article sets out to compare and contrast the two in order to help you decide which one is right for your book.
I sincerely hope that you find it helpful and if so, share it with others who may be facing a similar dilemma.
Okay then, so let’s get to it…
How easy is it to self-publish my book?
Amazon
With Amazon, you have three choices for self-publishing: CreateSpace, Kindle Direct Publishing, and ACX (for audiobooks). It is free to publish on each of these and Amazon has made sure that they are as easy as possible to use. However, for those that require some additional support, they also have publishing experts on hand to offer additional advice.
Smashwords
Smashwords works a little differently as they are not restricted to just one e-book platform. Once you have uploaded your book, it is made available in a variety of formats according to the retailer preference. They claim that no technical experience is necessary although they do require that you download their Style Guide and follow the instructions within. I have attempted to “Go nuclear” myself, and it was a NIGHTMARE. As such, I would recommend using a Smashwords approved formatter. (Smashwords will provide you with a list) Prices will vary, but you should find one that will work for around $30. The beauty is that if for whatever reason the files then fail Smashwords process, your formatter should rectify any issues free of charge.
How quickly will my book be available to purchase?
Amazon
Amazon states that publishing on Kindle takes less than five minutes to do and that the book will appear on Kindle stores within 24-48 hours. While for a novice publishing in less than five minutes might be a bit of a stretch, it is not a difficult process. Publishing on Kindle via KDP is certainly less time-consuming than publishing in print. I will look at the merits of publishing in print in a future article.
Smashwords
Providing you do not have any errors in the formatting, your book will be added to the Smashwords home page within a few minutes of file conversion. After this, your book will go into a queue to be reviewed to ensure that it meets the requirements of the Style Guide before being submitted to retailers. The reviews typically take one to five days to be carried out.
How much money will I make from each sale?
Amazon
Amazon offers the following royalty options for Kindle direct publishing:
70%, providing the list price satisfies their [list price requirements], is at least 20% below the lowest price for the physical book and, the title is available in all geographical locations where the author has rights.
35%, where the royalty will be 35% of the list price without VAT for each unit sold.
Smashwords
Smashwords offer the following royalty options for their e-books:
Up to 80%: Smashwords Store
Up to 60: Sales from distribution to leading retailers
Up to 45%: Library sales to OverDrive and Baker & Taylor Axis360
How restrictive is the Review Policy?
Amazon
Amazon is very clear that reviews must be from genuine readers. They will not accept paid reviews, promotional reviews, author review swaps or blogger reviews. You are permitted to purchase an Editorial Review, and this must be posted in the specific section that Amazon provides for this purpose.
Smashwords
Whilst all of your reviews appear in the same place on Amazon (good or bad), with Smashwords you have the potential for wider distribution, depending on where your book was purchased from. At the time of writing this article, I could not find any specific restrictions with regards to the Smashwords review policy.
So there you have it, Smashwords does open up a completely new market to that offered by Amazon but is it worth the extra effort required in order to reach it? Only you can decide that! On a final note, Amazon is incredibly strict when it comes to offering promotional discounts and the like, IF you enrol in KDP Select, (choose to market your book free of charge for a maximum of 5 days) then you will be prohibited from making your digital book available on other platforms for a 90 day period. By contrast, Smashwords positively encourage offering promotional discounts. You can even make your book permanently free of charge.
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