Writing and Publishing
Good News for Published Authors: Innovative Content Distribution Companies Amalgamate
Introduction to an exciting journey of Draft2Digital and Smashwords; what it means for indie authors and publishers
How Draft2Digital Transitioned Me to a Better Position as an Author
I believe this announcement will get a standing ovation from indie authors and publishers globally, as the news in my inbox delighted me. Therefore, I decided to create a short post to inform my readers of this exciting development.
As a published author and academic, traditional publishers have published my work for over four decades. However, my royalties were dismal despite hundreds of hours of research and writing time.
Fortunately, with advice from a mentor, I heard about distribution companies, which allowed me to take ownership of my content and create my audience. I saved 1465 hours by writing several books a year while working full time.
This transition put me in a better position financially. One of these distribution companies was Draft2Digital.
I documented my experience of selling many books and earning income from my writing first time in my life. Draft2Digital was one of the catalysts in my success.
I have been using Draft2Digital for several years with absolute satisfaction. They allowed me to publish and distribute my e-books to many large online bookstores such as Apple Books, Amazon, Rakuten Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Scribd, Overdrive, Tolino, Vivlio, Bibliotheca, Baker & Taylor, Borrow Box, and Hoopla.
They provided me with essential tools and easy-to-use processes. As soon as I uploaded my text and book cover by filling in the required fields, Draft2Digital looked after the rest, including payment from those bookstores directly deposited to my PayPal account.
Besides, my satisfaction was with their innovative distribution service and their friendly support system. The support team has been one email away when I needed help.
They usually responded within 24 hours cheerfully and professionally. So far, every ticket I raised has been resolved amicably.
Draft2Digital was founded in 2012 in Oklahoma City. It became the world’s leading publishing platform for self-published authors and independent presses. Draft2Digital offers free, automated, and self-serving tools for authors and publishers.
What I liked about their tools was their simplified approach. The innovative system allows the creation of e-books, print publishing, distribution, metadata management, and marketing services via a self-serving portal.
Purpose of the Article
This article's purpose is to notify my readers of new development in the writing communities.
As a customer, I was informed that Draft2Digital acquired another great publishing and distribution company, Smashwords, earlier today.
I provide my findings and perspectives on this amalgamation.
What Happens When Two Innovative Content Distribution Companies Amalgamate
I am thrilled about this opportunity as both Draft2Digital and Smashwords have served thousands of independent authors, publishers, and literary agents for many years.
Let me briefly introduce Smashwords, which is very similar to Draft2Digital. This innovative company was founded by Mark Coker in 2008, even before Draft2Digital. Smashwords was initially headquartered in Los Gatos, California. However, recently its headquarter has been based in Pacific Grove in, California.
Smashwords’ contributions to the independent writing and publishing communities are remarkable. Their platform is valuable for writers to professionally produce, publish, and distribute e-books at no cost. The company published 590,000 e-books by 150,000 authors, publishers, and literary agents.
Smashwords opened multiple significant retailers and library e-book services to self-published authors.
In addition, the company integrated payment processors and created standards for distribution services. In short, just like Draft2Digital, Smashwords also made an excellent ecosystem of indie-friendly libraries and booksellers globally.
Now, these two companies have amalgamated. More precisely, Draft2Digital acquires Smashwords.
The purpose of this amalgamation is to drive tremendous success for indie authors, publishers, and sales channels by working together in a more extensive distribution ecosystem.
My understanding is that by combining the two distribution companies into a single entity, the new Draft2Digital organization can invest more into research and development to innovate next-generation tools, services, and offerings for indie authors and independent publishing companies.
After the amalgamation on March 1, 2022, the two companies will operate under the name of Draft2Digital.
However, in the meantime, Smashwords will continue to operate under its current name. Later, Draft2Digital will become the name of the entire publishing platform. Nevertheless, Smashwords will remain the brand for the Smashwords Store.
The good news for indie authors and publishers is that Draft2Digital will represent 250,000 authors and publishers after the acquisition. These authors publish around 880,000 e-books and 11,000 print books
. The combined company will employ more than 30 people across the United States and Canada. This looks like a small number of employees but, in my opinion, their supportive staff produces the work of more than 300 people. The new venture will serve the clients from their corporate headquarters in Oklahoma City.
After the amalgamation, Draft2Digital authors and publishers will access the Smashwords Store, coupons, presales, self-serve merchandising, author interviews, and even the Smashwords erotica certification system. These combining approaches will give authors and publishers more options and flexibility.
In addition, after the amalgamation, there will be additional benefits, such as accessing new sales partners. Furthermore, draft2Digital authors and publishers can list and sell books in the Smashwords Store.
In short, the operations and publisher dashboard of the Smashword publishing platform will merge into the Draft2Digital dashboard. So, there will be a single integrated and bigger publishing platform with more functions.
After the amalgamation, Kris Austin, co-founder of Draft2Digital, will serve as CEO of the combined company. In addition, Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords, will join the senior management team as Chief Strategy Officer and board member.
Conclusions and Takeaways
As a published author and content marketing strategist, I firmly believe that the merging of Draft2Digital and Smashwords looks like an excellent value proposition to independent authors and publishers.
Some authors only prefer traditional publishing for various reasons. I was one of them ignorantly for many years. However, those reasons are now obsolete to me. Reputation without any financial gain looks vanity to me.
Twice, in the 1990s, I became a best-selling author. This achievement gave me press releases and radio interviews in Australia. It boosted my ego.
However, my bank account did not get any recognition. Seeing my efforts during sleepless nights, my family members rightly thought that I was naive.
Only after being assertive by owning the copyright of my content and having the flexibility to distribute my books have, I gain some financial advantage.
Nowadays, after reaching a mature age as a semi-retired consultant, I prefer economic benefits to vanity metrics like being called a best-seller author, which does not mean much anymore.
Freelance writers pour their hearts and soul into their content. They deserve compensation. Innovative companies like Draft2Digital and Smashwords open the path by giving independent writers and authors a competitive opportunity.
Outspokenly, we need to take personal responsibility for our products and services in this economic climate, as vanity metrics do not pay our bills and feed our families.
Thank you for reading my perspective. I wish you a happy and healthy life.
If you enjoyed this story and have time, you might also check my experience on other topics.
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