Draft2Digital for Indie Authors

When it comes to digital book distribution, Draft2Digital (D2D) stands out as one of the most author-friendly platforms in the self-publishing world. With a reputation for ease of use, transparency, and automation, Draft2Digital enables indie authors to publish eBooks and print books across a wide range of global retailers without needing to manage multiple accounts. Its dashboard, customer support, and seamless publishing pipeline have made it the platform of choice for tens of thousands of authors since its launch in 2012.

In 2022, Draft2Digital acquired Smashwords—one of the oldest self-publishing aggregators—integrating its massive indie-focused storefront and promotional tools into the D2D ecosystem. Today, D2D offers a best-of-both-worlds experience, combining the distribution power and polish of Draft2Digital with the marketing reach of Smashwords and its beloved storefront. The unified platform continues to grow, serving as a cornerstone of the “wide publishing” strategy for authors who want to maintain control over their rights while maximizing global exposure.

Platform History from Origin to Present Day

Draft2Digital was founded in 2012 by a trio of writers and developers who saw a gap in the self-publishing market: authors needed a simpler, cleaner alternative to platforms like Smashwords and Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). Their solution was Draft2Digital—a sleek interface with automatic formatting, royalty reporting, and consolidated distribution. From the beginning, D2D differentiated itself by focusing on usability and transparency.

Smashwords, founded in 2008 by Mark Coker, had pioneered self-publishing aggregation, enabling authors to distribute eBooks to a wide range of platforms at a time when KDP was still maturing. While Smashwords offered powerful promotions through its own store and distribution partnerships, its interface was often considered outdated by modern standards.

The merger of Draft2Digital and Smashwords in early 2022 unified the best aspects of both services. Today, authors can access the user-friendly publishing tools of Draft2Digital while also benefiting from exclusive promotional capabilities via the Smashwords store. The combined company now serves over 250,000 authors and publishers and offers eBook and print distribution, automation, and promotional options under one umbrella.

How Draft2Digital Fits in a WIDE Strategy

Publishing wide means making your books available through as many sales channels as possible—not just Amazon. Draft2Digital is purpose-built for this model. It allows authors to upload once and distribute everywhere, reducing the time and friction involved in managing individual storefronts. The platform also avoids exclusivity, making it ideal for authors looking to maintain control over pricing, territory rights, and metadata.

Here’s how Draft2Digital enhances a wide strategy:

Rights Control: You retain 100% ownership of your content and intellectual property. D2D requires no exclusivity or binding contracts.
Consolidated Distribution: One upload lets you publish to over a dozen major retailers and library systems, all from a single dashboard.
Global Reach: Draft2Digital distributes to both international retailers and regional stores like Tolino (Germany), Vivlio (France), and Bibliotheca (libraries).
Automated Formatting: D2D converts your manuscript into professional-quality EPUB and MOBI files automatically.
Rapid Updates: Changes to pricing, metadata, or content can be made once and pushed to all platforms instantly.
Backlist Boosting: With metadata management and bulk editing, maintaining a strong backlist is easy and efficient.

What Draft2Digital Offers Indie Authors

Draft2Digital is known for giving indie authors the ability to publish professionally formatted eBooks and paperbacks with minimal effort. The platform supports direct uploads in DOCX, RTF, or EPUB, and transforms them into clean, readable files suitable for wide distribution. Authors can select from multiple trim sizes, page layouts, and cover finishes for print books—and enjoy automatic file conversion and layout tools for eBooks.

Key Features:

Universal Book Links (Books2Read): Create one link that leads readers to your book on every retailer. Great for marketing across platforms.
Auto-Generated Back Matter: Automatically includes links to your other books or newsletters, improving cross-sales and retention.
Auto-Vetter Tools: D2D flags potential formatting issues or upload problems before submission.
Print Publishing: Available via D2D Print, offering paperback distribution to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and libraries via Ingram.
Smashwords Store Listing: Your book is listed on Smashwords.com, where direct promotions, coupons, and author spotlights drive indie-friendly sales.

Terms, Royalties, and Payment Structure

Draft2Digital takes a small commission (10%) from the retail price of any sale it facilitates. This means you earn 60–70% royalties, depending on the retailer, minus D2D’s fee. There are no upfront or subscription fees.

Royalties:

eBooks: Typically 60% of list price after retailer commission and D2D’s 10% cut.
Print Books: Royalties vary depending on trim size, page count, and print cost, but authors keep a competitive percentage.
Smashwords Store: Authors earn 85% of net sale price (i.e., after transaction fees), making it one of the highest-paying outlets.

Payment Schedule:

Monthly Payouts: Royalties are paid monthly, typically around the 15th, once you've earned $10 or more.
Multiple Payment Options: Authors can receive payment via PayPal, direct deposit, or check (U.S. only).
Global Tax Compliance: D2D handles tax documentation, W-9/W-8 forms, and withholding automatically.

Other Terms:

No Exclusivity: You can sell wherever you like, including directly from your own website.
ISBNs Provided: Free ISBNs are available for both eBook and print editions.
Metadata Management: Full control over pricing, territories, keywords, and categories.

Smashwords Store, Tools, and Promotions

The Smashwords store remains one of the most indie-friendly platforms on the web. Unlike Amazon, it promotes indie-first visibility and allows full control over discounting and pricing. Authors can still access the Smashwords Dashboard for in-depth analytics, coupon creation, and feature submissions.

Smashwords Features:

Indie Bookstore: The Smashwords store features curated shelves, genre spotlights, and indie bestsellers.
Coupons: Create unlimited, customized coupon codes for discounts or free books.
Author Giveaways: Support for giveaways, ARCs, and reader magnets.
Sitewide Sales: Major annual promotions (e.g., Smashwords Summer/Winter Sale) with massive exposure.
Enhanced Metadata: More granular tagging and custom sorting improve visibility.

Books2Read: Your Wide Marketing Wingman

Books2Read is D2D’s suite of reader-facing tools that help you manage and promote your books more effectively across wide retailers.

Tools Include:

Universal Book Links (UBLs): Smart links that auto-detect and direct readers to their preferred store.
Author Pages: Free landing pages to showcase all your books in one place.
New Release Notifications: Readers can follow you and get alerts when new titles go live.
Reading Lists: Group your books by series, genre, or theme to guide reader discovery.

Books2Read simplifies wide marketing and reader connection, and it's free for all D2D users.

Platforms Draft2Digital Distributes To

Draft2Digital distributes your book to a wide range of digital retailers and library systems. Here's a snapshot of the current partners:

Apple Books – Apple's official eBook store, embedded in iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
Kobo – A global eBook platform popular in Canada, Australia, and parts of Europe.
Barnes & Noble – Distributes to Nook users through BN.com and their app ecosystem.
Tolino – A German-language distribution network of major European booksellers.
Vivlio – French-based eBook retailer targeting readers in Europe and Africa.
Bibliotheca – A library lending platform reaching public libraries worldwide.
Baker & Taylor – Serves libraries and academic institutions in the U.S.
Hoopla – A library-based digital lending service popular in North America.
OverDrive – The largest eBook lending platform for libraries and schools.
Amazon (Opt-in via D2D Print) – Available for print book distribution, but eBooks should be uploaded directly to KDP for best results.
Smashwords – D2D titles are automatically listed here, expanding indie-friendly storefront visibility.

Marketing Offered Through Draft2Digital and How to Leverage It

Unlike Amazon, Draft2Digital and Smashwords offer flexible marketing tools without exclusivity:

Universal Book Links: Centralize your book's presence across all stores.
Smashwords Coupons: Run your own promotions with personalized discount codes.
Smashwords Sales Events: Participate in seasonal storewide promotions.
New Release Notifications: Alert your fanbase automatically via Books2Read.
Cross-Sales with Auto-Generated Back Matter: Link to your other titles to drive read-through.
Storefront Spotlights: Gain visibility in curated Smashwords features.

These marketing tools help you maintain reader relationships and build long-term sales momentum—without sacrificing your wide reach.

Pros and Cons of Using Draft2Digital

Pros:

One dashboard to distribute everywhere.
Professional file conversion and layout tools.
Smashwords promotional tools and storefront included.
Free ISBNs for eBook and print.
Marketing automation via Books2Read.
Exceptional author support and documentation.

Cons:

10% commission on all sales.
Some retailers (like Amazon Kindle eBooks) must still be handled manually.
Limited visual merchandising on retailer sites.
Print distribution lacks hardcover and color options.

ScribeCount Integration with Draft2Digital

ScribeCount fully supports Draft2Digital. Once connected, you can:

Track sales and revenue across D2D, KDP, Smashwords, Apple, Kobo, and more.
View real-time charts and series read-through.
Segment data by platform, country, series, and title.
Export clean, formatted reports for taxes, ads, or marketing plans.

ScribeCount helps indie authors manage their wide empire with clarity and speed.

Visit ScribeCount.com to learn more.

Conclusion

Draft2Digital has evolved from a clean eBook formatter into a full-service self-publishing powerhouse. With its acquisition of Smashwords, it now offers unparalleled tools for both distribution and discoverability. Whether you're launching your first novel or managing a backlist of twenty books, D2D provides the infrastructure, flexibility, and marketing muscle to grow your publishing business without compromise.

If you're serious about publishing wide, Draft2Digital is not just an option—it’s a necessity.