Introduction to Smashwords Presented by Mark Coker, Founder For Digital Debut Tool Time Presented at BookExpo America May 29, 2009 Moderated by Mike Shatzkin Other panelists included Peter Clifton, President & CEO of FiledBy; Hugh McGuire, co-founder & President of BookOven; Neil Jones, CEO of Interread Smashwords, Inc.  Ebook Publishing Platform, Online Bookstore, Distribution 15951 Los Gatos Blvd. Ste.16  Los Gatos, California 95032  On The Web: www.smashwords.com

Intro to Smashwords Ebook publishing platform free and instant ebook conversion and publishing for authors/publishers multi-format, DRM-free publisher controls everything 85% net back to author/publisher Ebook distributor Smashwords.com Stanza Affiliates Other surprises coming soon

Ebook publishing platform

free and instant ebook conversion and publishing for authors/publishers

multi-format, DRM-free

publisher controls everything

85% net back to author/publisher

Ebook distributor

Smashwords.com

Stanza

Affiliates

Other surprises coming soon

Smashwords fun facts Launched May 2008 61 million words published 1,400+ ebooks 650+ authors 12+ indie publishers Many Smashwords books “born digital” & only available on Smashwords Record traffic each of the last 6 months

Launched May 2008

61 million words published

1,400+ ebooks

650+ authors

12+ indie publishers

Many Smashwords books “born digital” & only available on Smashwords

Record traffic each of the last 6 months

Smashwords Meatgrinder

What works best in ebook form? Straight form narrative works best Picture books, complex layout, more challenging Formatting is different holy grail: one book, many devices keep it simple! Pricing is different Avoid DRM Multi-format is essential (see pie chart)

Straight form narrative works best

Picture books, complex layout, more challenging

Formatting is different

holy grail: one book, many devices

keep it simple!

Pricing is different

Avoid DRM

Multi-format is essential (see pie chart)

Why Multi-Format Matters

How ebooks will impact book supply chain remainder Print-publisher W/Distrib customer bookseller E-publisher customer ebookseller E-publisher customer ebookseller E-distributor E-publisher customer E-publisher affiliate ebookseller E-distributor customer printer

Smashwords working to remake ebook supply chain authors & publishers deserve higher margins enable lower cost books yet higher per-copy author/publisher profits lower price to consumer benefits consumer = larger available WW market & larger profits enable serendipitous discovery digital shelves everywhere instant sampling and impulse purchases

authors & publishers deserve higher margins

enable lower cost books yet higher per-copy author/publisher profits

lower price to consumer benefits consumer = larger available WW market & larger profits

enable serendipitous discovery

digital shelves everywhere

instant sampling and impulse purchases

What’s next with Smashwords? Will continue to develop free tools to publish, promote and sell ebooks publisher uploads of pre-formatted files more self-serve viral marketing, promo, selling tools Partnerships with… publishers online communities device manufacturers distribution outlets Local-language Smashwords

Will continue to develop free tools to publish, promote and sell ebooks

publisher uploads of pre-formatted files

more self-serve viral marketing, promo, selling tools

Partnerships with…

publishers

online communities

device manufacturers

distribution outlets

Local-language Smashwords

Q&A Where to find Mark Coker: Web: www.smashwords.com Blog: blog.smashwords.com Email: first initial last initial at smashwords.com Twitter: @markcoker

Where to find Mark Coker:

Web: www.smashwords.com

Blog: blog.smashwords.com

Email: first initial last initial at smashwords.com

Twitter: @markcoker