Marketing smashwords?

[Marti Talbott]

I just got my first international bookbub and that made we wonder about marketing to Smashwords. How do we find readers who prefer buying from SW and will the book promotion sites add SW to their email lists?

I am always amazed at how much I don't know.

[alhawke]

Congratulations on your BookBub! You know, SW is not advertised by BookBub. You can advertise there from other promos and you might land a few crossover sales, but I wouldn't focus on Smashwords. If anything, I'd add advertising to Amazon (of course), GooglePlay, Apple, and/or Kobo.

Whenever I run an international BB promo, I run domestic sale promos at the same time to take advantage of the intl BB sale. And this does garner more US sales than without the BB, I think (outside of Smashwords).

I've stopped focusing on Smashwords. I used to advertise there and I'd make some sales, but it wasn't worth the cost. If you sell erotica, I hear it's different. Erotica sells very well at Smashwords. Also, 2x/yr, smashwords runs an inner store sale that sometimes gives me a sale or two.

edit} What I'm trying to say is, ask yourself if it's worth it to focus marketing there and not elsewhere. If you sell really well there, then go for it, of course.

[cecilia_writer]

I really mostly use Smashwords to get to Kobo and Apple etc as until recently I didn't have time to go direct to them. However I've often taken part in Smashwords special events - there is a 'read an ebook week' just coming up - I think it's next week in fact - and I've reduced a few prices with Smashwords coupons (which don't result in price-matching on Amazon). I usually just post some graphics on social media to show which of my books are involved. Smashwords also advertises the event to get a bit more interest going.
I haven't had any spectacular results from this kind of thing, I hasten to add! However, at least I feel as if I've tried something!
(Ps I write mainly mysteries and nothing at all steamy)

[alhawke]

I don't know why I missed that 'read an ebook week' sale. Thanks for mentioning!