Review: At Last, Someone has made Worldwide Publishing a Viable Option, at Low Cost, Available to the Rest of Us.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 22, 2014
In 2008 an aspiring writer saw an opportunity approaching wherein he could democratize publishing for the rest of us. That man, Mark Coker, did for writers what Jeff Bezos has been doing for readers.Smashwords has become the defector standard for writers seeking sales throughout cyberspace. This 52 page marketing guide is as solid and comprehensive as any 52page booklet can be.Note that it appears not to be fully updated, though. The book states that they are distributing through Amazon, but, their web site indicates that not all books are currently distributed through Amazon due to some hang-ups resulting from Smashwords 200,000 book catalog. It seems that if your book doesn't achieve sales of $2,000, at least, Smashwords will not send it to the online book retailer.As I understand, though, you still can distribute through Amazon yourself, but, beware, you cannot utilize the exclusive 70% royalty provisions if you also go through smashwords.Anyway, however or through whichever distributing method you desire, you will gain greatly by reading Smashwords Book Marketing Guide - How to Market any Book for Free. This is one how-to that no self -publisher should be without.Pas other reviewers have stated, and as the author himself states, many of the points are common sense or are nothing new. But, some of these tips are outstanding, and new.Further, Coker does a good job explaining and demonstrating by example several of the points --- even to the point of, as some have noted, of making this booklet a marketing ploy for his web site and his own books. But, and this point is missed by those reviewers, most of the books he links to are books and guides provided for free, rather than to boons he's trying to sell.I am convinced that Mark Coker is onto something and is letting us all in to reap maximum benefit. This book, as is Coker, is the real deal. I will certainly provide my books through Smashwords and Amazon KDP to maximize potential for sales.Do I recommend Smashwords Book Marketing Guide? Absolutely. Should you choose not to read this booklet, you will be missing a great opportunity and are doing so at great peril.Kudos for helping make publishing worldwide available for the rest of us, Mark Coker.