Best Way to Publish to Multiple Outlets

You'll get many opinions on this topic, from uploading to each sales channel individually, to Draft2Digital, to Smashwords for everything except NookPress. Each self-publisher has to decide for themselves.

I chose to upload directly to Amazon, Smashwords, All Romance and a few titles to NookPress (for specific reasons regarding Smashwords' meat grinder).

Going individually isn't always possible. You have to have a US address to go direct to Nook, and a Mac to go direct to Apple. I use Smashwords and it's fine. You can now upload your own ePub files to Smashwords rather than go through the meatgrinder.

PianoAl said:

My top goal is simplicity.

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One of the main goals of publishing is distribution. So why not distribute to as many resources as possible?

Listen to Will. He is right. I think.

WillSauger said:

One of the main goals of publishing is distribution. So why not distribute to as many resources as possible?

Click to expand...

I could be wrong, but I read what he said to mean his top goal is distributing his work in the easiest way possible, rather than getting the most back. i.e. he doesn't mind sharing revenue with a service that uploads to everyone for him.

In that case D2D seems a good option, + they do seem to be constantly innovating.

D2D is the simplest, and covers the four biggest ebook stores: Amazon, iTunes, B&N, and Kobo. Their interface is so pleasant in comparison to SW and on par with any of the direct options.

It's generally valuable to break from that ultimate simplicity for Amazon and upload direct.

Smashwords is more confusing, but nets you more stores. There are also some minor advantages in royalty rates and options over D2D.

Kobo Writer's Life and B&N's Nook Press are very straightforward, but I actually make more at my low short-story price points by going through SW which I'm doing anyway for the other outlets so I save myself the trouble.

Most troublesome of all is Google Play which is the hand-in-a-blender of uploading experiences. There's no aggregator for this platform so it's go direct (sacrificing a finger or two) or go home.

I'd recommend D2D as well. Avoid Google Play--you have no control over your pricing, and Amazon will eventually price-match.

Google Books is different, and there's no harm in being listed there.