Mark Coker of Smashwords really “invented” web-based simple ebook creation when he launched Smashwords. Using his online tools, any author can convert a Microsoft Word file into an ebook suitable for widespread distribution. (Smashwords’s system also includes attaching vital metadata to the book and putting it into distribution.) And it can be done for free.

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

9. 82,000+
ebooks published at Smashwords

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