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My background (and biases)
The story behind Smashwords ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
Indie ebooks published at Smashwords * projected, based  on 7/10 runrate 140 6,000 15,000 (July) 50,000 6,700 90 2,700 20,000
A RECKLESSLY BRIEF  HISTORY OF PUBLISHING
In the beginning… … there were no words
… and then Words were invented
…  and then monastic scribes became the first mass production printing presses
… and then monks added illumination
… and then Gutenberg did moveable type
…  which allowed commercial publishers to develop large mass market businesses
PUBLISHERS WERE HAPPY FOR MANY DECADES BECAUSE THEY CONTROLLED THE MEANS OF BOOK PRODUCTION AND OF DISTRIBUTION
BUT THEN THE INTERNET HAPPENED
… and Amazon happened ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
… and print self-publishing happened ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
… and ebooks happened ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
AND INDIE PROPONENTS CHEERED, “INTERNET + CHEAP & EASY PUBLISHING + DEMOCRATIZED DISTRIBUTION = PUBLISHING BLISS FOR ALL”
AND PUBLISHERS RESPONDED,  “IT’S OKAY, BECAUSE WE’RE SUPER FABULOUS”
… and they were right.  Publishers are super fabulous ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
AND THEN PUBLISHERS ADDED,  “BESIDES, SELF-PUBBED VANITY CR*P DOESN’T SELL”
… and they were right ,[object Object]
… but many publishers don’t see the gathering storm up ahead … ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
CHAPTER 2 It’s tough being a publisher ooh, pretty!
… publishers take enormous risks ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
… and shoulder big expenses
…  bean counters come to the rescue to manage operations and cut costs ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
…  and self-preservation kicks in, causing publishers to act less like publishers ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
When publishers act less like publishers, authors start questioning why they need a publisher
Against this backdrop, publishers are ill-prepared to cope with big macro trends on horizon
BIG TRENDS THAT WILL RESHAPE PUBLISHING
TREND:  Bookselling moving to the Web
Bookselling moving to the Web ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
Percentage of book purchases made online vs B&M, P- and E- Brick & Mortar Web Today?
TREND: Ebooks to overtake print
Ebooks to overtake print? Print books Ebooks Today?
Reading moving to screens ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
Ebooks as percentage of overall trade book sales (U.S.) Source: Compiled by Smashwords from Association of American Publishers 2003-2009, 2010 represents annualized January 2010 results reported by AAP/IDPF
TREND: Publishers compete with Authors
Authors become publishers ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
Number of books published indie vs. traditional Indie  books Today? New trad.  books
TREND: Content explosion
Content explosion ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
Content explosion Indie  books Online  alt  content Today? Zombie books New trad.  books
How Publishers can Succeed
Get to know your customer ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
Get closer to your customer ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
Leverage customer as extension of sales and marketing team ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
Do for authors what they cannot (or will not) do for themselves ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
Eliminate friction ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
Final words
Final words ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
Thank you for listening! Q&A Where to find Mark Coker: Web:  www.smashwords.com Blog:  blog.smashwords.com HuffPo:  huffingtonpost.com/mark-coker Twitter:  @ markcoker Email:  first initial second initial at smashwords dot com

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How Indie Ebooks Will Transform Future of Publishing (presented at NYU Summer Publishing Institute)