Self-publishers who have opted out of Amazon’s KDP Select are free to distribute their e-books via other platforms, as well as Amazon.
As I’ve mentioned previously on this blog, Smashwords offers an easy way to make your e-book available through many retailers such as Apple, Barnes & Noble and the library supplier, OverDrive.
Individuals can also purchase e-books directly from Smashwords, from where they can choose to receive the e-book in a variety of formats, for example .mobi for Kindle and epub for Kobo, Nook and tablets.
In order to encourage these individual purchases, Smashwords lets authors create money-off coupons to distribute directly to selected readers (such as book reviewers, competition winners etc.) or more generally via social media. The author selects the discount percentage (up to 100%, thus making the book free), the expiry date and the number of redemptions (for example only the first 100 customers using the coupon will get the discount). Smashwords then generates a discount code for the author to distribute as he chooses.
I’ve been playing around with the Smashwords Coupon Manager and have created a 50% off coupon code VZ95D for Bedsit Three. It’s valid until 31/10/2016 or for the first 50 people – whichever comes soonest.
So, if you’re fed up of Amazon’s supremacy, try buying your Kindle e-book from Smashwords and save some money too!
Sally Jenkins 
#1 by juliathorley on October 19, 2016 - 12:48 pm
I’m bookmarking this for future reference, thanks. I have a couple of stories on Smashwords and i’m hoping to get a book on there soon, too.
#2 by Sally Jenkins on October 19, 2016 - 4:51 pm
Good luck with them, Julia.
#3 by Patsy on October 19, 2016 - 8:40 pm
I tried smashwords, but for me the sales where so few I feel I’m better off with Amazon alone, so I can offer it on kindle unlimited where people can read my books for free and I get a small payment (a bit like papaperbacks in a library)
#4 by Sally Jenkins on October 20, 2016 - 12:36 pm
I have yet to make an impression on Smashwords, Patsy. I think most people don’t think of buying their e-books there. However, I have found Kobo good for ‘Bedsit Three’ sales (not so good for short stories) which is why I’m currently staying out of KDP Select with that book & trying other channels.
#5 by Judy Brulo on October 24, 2016 - 8:41 am
Hi Sally,
Thanks for the tips re. coupons on Smashwords. I’ve got six children’s humorous short story books with Smwds. I’ve had quite a bit of interest and a few sales. I’m going to keep on, keeping on, as Alan Bennett has it.
J 🙂
#6 by Sally Jenkins on October 24, 2016 - 3:48 pm
Well done on the sales, Judy – and yes, all we can do is keep on, keeping on!