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Post by Ted on Nov 7, 2017 8:54:42 GMT -8
Draft to Digital aka D2D has announced the addition of Amazon to their list of retailers. If you are a new author this may save you a few steps, but then again you are dealing with Amazon and you always end up playing their game.
Here are a few of the tripwires to watch out for:
1) If you are an existing author on Amazon you'll have to delete your works before signing with D2D distribution to Amazon. You will likely lose all rankings and reviews.
2) You can list your book for free on D2D but it will be listed as 99 cents on Amazon.
3) No pre-orders on Amazon through D2D.
4) No KDP Select option when using D2D to distribute your work to Amazon.
5) No mention by D2D if Kindle Unlimited is included in distribution agreement with Amazon.
The D2D blog has comments wishing for things like pre-order, but this is something Amazon will likely keep for themself forever. There would be no competitive advantage to letting other distributors like D2D have this option.
This announcement from D2D might be of interest to some new authors. I don't see any benefit to existing authors on losing their ebook rankings/comments and ability to test-run KDP Select by switching to D2D. Or for that matter new authors, who may feel KDP Select is one way to gain recognition in an overly crowded and constantly growing field of ebook authors.
Overall I feel this announcement is pretty much a yawner. The faithful D2D followers will gobble it up and be thankful for the brilliance of adding Amazon. Amazon will sit back and laugh.
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chelsfield
SWF Writers
Posts: 700
Joined: Mar 28, 2012 3:07:24 GMT -8
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Post by chelsfield on Nov 8, 2017 0:05:53 GMT -8
Am I write in thinking that discussions about D2D in the past on this forum have not always been favorable? Same for KDP Select-I seem to remember people trying it then dumping it. Now if D2D are distributing to Amazon, what about Smashwords...
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Post by Ted on Nov 8, 2017 0:33:21 GMT -8
Smashwords distributes to Amazon but only for the cream of Smashwords, and has done so since I first joined Smashwords a billion years ago or so. Amazon only wanted the top sellers on Smashwords to be distributed on Amazon, and that was the agreement. When the gorilla says give me cream and nothing else then you give the gorilla cream only.
D2D has had favorable and some not so favorable comments. KDP Select has had comments in the unflattering area.
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Post by Julie Harris on Nov 9, 2017 1:02:02 GMT -8
D2D used to distribute to KDP, but it didn't last long. Who knows how long this term will be. No KU via D2D, no pre orders either. I am waiting patiently for KU to implode.
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Post by David Ellis on Nov 10, 2017 20:31:13 GMT -8
Thank you for the update.
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chelsfield
SWF Writers
Posts: 700
Joined: Mar 28, 2012 3:07:24 GMT -8
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Post by chelsfield on Nov 10, 2017 23:35:40 GMT -8
D2D used to distribute to KDP, but it didn't last long. Who knows how long this term will be. No KU via D2D, no pre orders either. I am waiting patiently for KU to implode. That frustrated with it, huh?
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