However, when I went to enroll, a notice popped up saying my books "must not be available in digital format on any other platform during their enrollment." I guess this means no Smashwords and no Barnes & Noble.
Smashwords has been a huge promotional tool for me, especially with its free coupons I send to book reviewers, so I don't want to take my book down there. And Barnes & Noble has netted me sales for readers with the Nook. I could make my next novel an Amazon exclusive for a few months, especially since my books are now available for sale in other countries there, but I don't want to shut out readers with the Nook, or keep it out of book reviewers' hands.
I know Amazon is trying to sell Kindles, and the majority of my sales are from their site, but I don't like how they're trying to monopolize the market. I'd apply for enrollment for a reduced payout if I could keep my book on other platforms. Writers, what do you think about this new program?
Update: Smashwords has responded here.
2 comments:
I have decided to try out KDP Select on a few titles which have been low performers for whatever reason on Amazon.
It's extremely hard to pass up any opportunity to get more exposure, especially on books that I feel (and the reviews of said books seem to concur) are actually pretty good books.
I hate to take away anything from Smashwords or BN, but the honest fact is that I make more in one day @ Amazon than on both of those sites combined over a month. If other retailers could even come close to that level I would never opt in to granting any retailer exclusive sales rights, in the interest of pleasing my readers.
That said, for the time being, my best-selling stuff will remain off the "Select" listing. Let's just call it an experiment. I'll be sure to post up whatever I discover.
Whenever you as a writer limit the distribution of your book, you also limit yourself and your sales. Amazon is trying to build themselves as having the most content, but if a writer buys into that, they only hurt themselves by ignoring readers on the Nook and the promotional potential Smashwords offers.
I would sign up for the lending library if I could keep my books on B&N and Smashwords, but as it is I don't think that signing up for this is in most authors' best interest.
-S.M. Boyce
Author of The Grimoire: Lichgates
“Once you open the Grimoire, there is no going back. You will be hunted. You have been warned.”
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