Friday 4 May 2012

The Quest for Premium Status

After publishing via smashwords, I have been hoping to secure the illusive premium status, which will allow my book to sell via Apple and Barnes & Noble, etc...today I think I discovered what I had done wrong.  So, I will keep my fingers crossed and hope it will get accepted soon.

I have to admit that I debated publishing through Amazon as well,but I am confused.  I don't want to sell via the KDP scheme.  I self-published to maintain control, not to lose it!  Also, I think I need to purchase an ISBN number (even though it says it is optional - can anyone clarify this point?) which is $100. So, again, why would I want to do this when I get one for free at Smashbooks?

Also, you can download onto any media via smashwords - you can only download to Kindle via Amazon.  Is this true?  Again, does this smell of monopoly to you?

I guess if all I cared about was sales, Amazon is the place to be?  Or, is it? 

I think more people will have an ipad as they see what an excellent tool it is.  And personally, I love to read books on it. It's bigger, better and clearer.  Then again I recently bought a Kobo and again was surprised at how easy it was.  WiFi enabled, with access to the internet at £75 - a bargain.  So, why would you buy a kindle at over £100?

Am I missing the point?

Anyway, add comments to my musings and have an excellent weekend...
Vanessa :)

4 comments:

  1. The beauty of formatting for smashwords Premium is not only does your eBook get shipped to Amazon but it also is shipped out to Sony,Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple, Diesel and Baker-Taylor. Yes you get into Smashwords Premium and you go into 7 major eBook stores and it does not matter what type of reader they have, if you are in Smashwords Premium every reader will be able to read your eBook.

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  2. Thanks for the comment, but I have been reading the fine print! It does not get shipped to amazon unless you make sales of $1000. They recommend you publish on amazon until then...this is why I also chose to publish on amazon...thanks for the comment! Vanessa :)

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  3. Vanessa,
    Found your blog via WW and your comments on my last post. I published with Smashwords first as it included an ISBN which I could use anywhere.
    I waited a while to get into Premium. When nothing happened - around January this year - I asked them why. They admitted a glitch and quickly put it right.
    I omitted Amazon from their option and did it with KDP myself
    Eddy

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  4. Thanks for that...I have just sent them a few emails. I'll wait and see...as you can see from the blog I also published via kdp...

    Nice to see you here :)
    Vanessa
    Xx

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