Jan 30, 2013 eBookstores Self-Publishing

Smashwords: All Function and No Form - Part 2

In Part 1 of this series I talked about some of the problems I think Smashwords has. In this post, I'd like to offer up some suggestions for ways they can improve.

Here goes.

1. Give the site a facelift

This one is obvious. I railed on the site enough last time. Mark Coker has indicated they're going to give the site some love this year, so we'll leave it at that.

2. Add moderated forums

Smashwords needs forums. Not like the Amazon forums, which run amuck with foul villainy, but forums like those on Fantasy Faction, Kindleboards, or Goodreads. Those forums are moderated by individuals who volunteer their time to keep the trolls from entering the castle. These forums could be a great place for readers to discuss books and for authors and readers to connect.

Attracting volunteers might be an issue. So, as an alternative, Smashwords could form a partnership with someone like Goodreads. Kobo already has formed a sort of partnership since it's possible to display Goodreads reviews and ratings on the Kobo web site. Smashwords could do something similar, pulling in Goodreads forum content.

3. Do more to help sell books

Smashwords falls flat in this area and Amazon… well, Amazon shines. Features of the Week, Deals of the Day, Fiction Hit of the Month. Whatever you want to call it, Amazon does a nice job of highlighting specific books for limited amounts of time. Smashwords should do the same. Except Smashwords, by its very nature, would highlight indie books and not those from the traditional publishers. This would be HUGE for people like me. There exists an absolute sea of titles on Smashwords and elsewhere, and rising above the "noise" is damn near impossible. Smashwords can and should do a lot to help promote individual titles.

4. Advertising

Why the heck not? Goodreads does it in a fairly unobtrusive manner. Why not Smashwords? Use a pay per click model so authors only pay when someone clicks on the ad and this might potentially be another revenue stream for Smashwords. Everyone likes more money (except that baby in the Capital One commercials). This is an untapped gold mine for both Smashwords and indie authors.

5. Improve the filtering

I talked enough about this last time. Suffice to say Smashwords should give us more options for filtering. First and foremost, break the price down more or let it be free-form.

Conclusion

That's it from me. I'm sure Coker is presented many ideas all the time. A lot of people like Smashwords (myself included). We all want to see it get better. I hope someone at Smashwords stumbles upon this post and takes some of the suggestions to heart.