Smashwords has released a new feature called asset less preorders, which allows authors and publishers to list an upcoming title as a preorder without requiring a completed manuscript or cover image.
These titles can be listed up to 12 months in advance of a title’s on sale date and will be distributed to iBooks, Barnes & Noble and Kobo. Smashwords CEO Mark Coker explains more in a blog post. Check it out:
Despite the poor adoption, over the last 12 months Smashwords books born as preorders accounted for 7 of our top 10 bestsellers and 67% of our top 200 bestsellers. When you consider how such a small fraction of books accounted for an outsize percentage of bestsellers, you begin to realize something special is happening here.