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Making Simple eBooks
and Making eBooks Simple




San Francisco, November 2, 2011

         Mark Coker
     Founder, Smashwords
         @markcoker
Our Simple Mission


Make ebook publishing &
distribution
 Fast
 Free
 Simple
… and profitable for our
authors, publishers, agents and retail
               partners
Simple is Good


             • Simple is faster, smarter, cheaper
                 • ~80%* of ebook units sold are
                   “simple”
             • Complexity bad
                 • Added cost & risk for publisher
                 • Added cost to consumer



*BISG estimates 51% of ebook units sold are fiction. Fiction is narrative.
My assumption: 60%+ of remaining 49% is narrative, or narrative + images
What Matters to Readers?




This is what I think. You’re welcome to think different.
How are simple books working for
              us?
31,000+
Number of authors, publishers, agents served by Smashwords
7,000+
ebooks released at Smashwords last 30 days
82,000+
ebooks published at Smashwords
Indie ebooks published at
               Smashwords
                               82,000 (11/2/11)
90000
80000
70000
60000
50000
                        28,800
40000
30000
                6,000
20000
10000    140
    0
        2008   2009     2010       2011
How did we do it?
Bags of VC Money?
Army of super-hero ninja squirrels ?
Did we shake down authors?
No.

We provide FREE publishing and
       distribution tools

We never stop making our tools
    faster, simpler, better
Here’s how we make books
Step 1:   BYO Word Processor &
              Manuscript




Microsoft         Open Office
  Word              Writer
Step 2 – Implement our Formatting Tips
  (over 120,000 copies downloaded!)
Step 3 – Instant, FREE Conversion
                 Smashwords Meatgrinder




High-quality multi-format conversions for narrative &
       narrative + images, fast/free updating
Meatgrinder creates quality books
     that make readers happy …

 Reflowable
 Custom styling
 Hyperlinks
 NCX navigation
 Automated formatting error detection
  and correction
 EPUBCHECK compliance
 Instant updates/revisions
Meatgrinder limitations

• Doesn’t support direct .epub/.mobi/.pdf/
  etc uploads of pre-formatted files
• Drop caps weak
• Support for bullets and numbered lists
  needs improvement
• Hand-coded books will always provide
  more precise control (but do readers
  really care for simple books??)
Step 4 - Distribution to Apple,
B&N, Kobo, Sony, Diesel, others
Final Thoughts

• Simple works great for vast majority of
  books readers want to buy
 • fiction
 • narrative non-fiction

• Simple is good for books, good for
  authors/publishers/agents/retailers
 • cuts production costs/risks
 • faster time to market
 • enables lower prices for consumers
Thanks for listening!


Connect with Mark Coker:


Web: www.smashwords.com
Blog:   blog.smashwords.com
Twitter: @markcoker
Email: mc@smashwords.com

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Making Simple eBooks & Making eBooks Simple

  • 1. Making Simple eBooks and Making eBooks Simple San Francisco, November 2, 2011 Mark Coker Founder, Smashwords @markcoker
  • 2. Our Simple Mission Make ebook publishing & distribution  Fast  Free  Simple
  • 3. … and profitable for our authors, publishers, agents and retail partners
  • 4. Simple is Good • Simple is faster, smarter, cheaper • ~80%* of ebook units sold are “simple” • Complexity bad • Added cost & risk for publisher • Added cost to consumer *BISG estimates 51% of ebook units sold are fiction. Fiction is narrative. My assumption: 60%+ of remaining 49% is narrative, or narrative + images
  • 5. What Matters to Readers? This is what I think. You’re welcome to think different.
  • 6. How are simple books working for us?
  • 7. 31,000+ Number of authors, publishers, agents served by Smashwords
  • 8. 7,000+ ebooks released at Smashwords last 30 days
  • 10. Indie ebooks published at Smashwords 82,000 (11/2/11) 90000 80000 70000 60000 50000 28,800 40000 30000 6,000 20000 10000 140 0 2008 2009 2010 2011
  • 11. How did we do it?
  • 12. Bags of VC Money?
  • 13. Army of super-hero ninja squirrels ?
  • 14. Did we shake down authors?
  • 15. No. We provide FREE publishing and distribution tools We never stop making our tools faster, simpler, better
  • 16. Here’s how we make books
  • 17. Step 1: BYO Word Processor & Manuscript Microsoft Open Office Word Writer
  • 18. Step 2 – Implement our Formatting Tips (over 120,000 copies downloaded!)
  • 19. Step 3 – Instant, FREE Conversion Smashwords Meatgrinder High-quality multi-format conversions for narrative & narrative + images, fast/free updating
  • 20. Meatgrinder creates quality books that make readers happy …  Reflowable  Custom styling  Hyperlinks  NCX navigation  Automated formatting error detection and correction  EPUBCHECK compliance  Instant updates/revisions
  • 21. Meatgrinder limitations • Doesn’t support direct .epub/.mobi/.pdf/ etc uploads of pre-formatted files • Drop caps weak • Support for bullets and numbered lists needs improvement • Hand-coded books will always provide more precise control (but do readers really care for simple books??)
  • 22. Step 4 - Distribution to Apple, B&N, Kobo, Sony, Diesel, others
  • 23. Final Thoughts • Simple works great for vast majority of books readers want to buy • fiction • narrative non-fiction • Simple is good for books, good for authors/publishers/agents/retailers • cuts production costs/risks • faster time to market • enables lower prices for consumers
  • 24. Thanks for listening! Connect with Mark Coker: Web: www.smashwords.com Blog: blog.smashwords.com Twitter: @markcoker Email: mc@smashwords.com