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The ABCs of Self-Publishing Platform Google Play

GOOGLE PLAY

https://play.google.com/

Google Play offers ebooks and audiobooks (in certain countries/regions). They allow preorders.

Cost: There is no cost to upload your files. There are no delivery fees on books priced below $2.99 or above $9.99.

Rights: You retain all rights. You can make changes. You provide the ISBN number or they will provide a Book ID number.

Distribution: They distribute worldwide on their platform and advertise 75+ countries and 2 billion Android users.

Services: You upload your own files in EPUB or PDF format. You can upload an audiobook you created through another vendor.

The creation and marketing are all on you. You need an associated Google account. If you don't use Gmail, you’ll have to create a Google account.

They do offer promotion opportunities and promo codes for free or discounted books. You put a link to the Google Play site for your book and they say to mention your book on their site in your promotions. They mention promo code campaigns.

Payment: Except in cases where Google is acting as your agent or where Google is required to sell at a price set by the publisher, Google has the discretion to set prices as it sees fit.

They share the revenue from any sales according to the list price that you provide. Google Play “price-matches” your book if they see a lower price available elsewhere.

For percentage off and fixed price promotion codes, the author will earn the usual 70% royalty on the final price of the ebook after the discount. The default revenue split is 52% for partners who have not accepted their updated TOS and for ebook sales in certain countries.

Sales reports are available each month but because of all the variables won’t necessarily match the payments for that month.

Payments are made via direct deposit or wire transfer. They report your income to the IRS but they do not collect taxes.

Google pays on the 15th day of each month, or on the next business day. This payment is based on sales, refunds, and chargebacks which occurred during the previous calendar month and must exceed $1 US.

Next week, we look at Ingram Spark.

As always, if you find this information helpful, share it, like it. If you want more free information, sign up to follow the blog on blogger or the Story Building Blocks Facebook Page. Free tips and tools are also available on my site https://dianahurwitz.com/.

The ABCs of Self-Publishing Platforms Draft2Digital/Smashwords

Draft2Digital and Smashwords are now one company.

https://www.draft2digital.com

Draft2Digital offers ebooks and paperbacks. They don’t require exclusivity. You have an author page on their site which directs buyers to different stores. They have a zero plagiarism policy and do check lines from your book.

Cost: You can upload your covers and files at no charge. There are no fees for reformatting or updating your book. There are no up-front charges for formatting, conversion, distribution, and sales tracking.

Rights: You retain all rights. Draft2Digital offers free ISBNs numbers when uploading through their site. Their ISBN can only be used for their versions and approved vendors.

Distribution: They offer distribution through Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble Press, Kobo, Scribd, Smashwords, Tolino, OverDrive, Bibliotheca, Baker & Taylor, Ingram, Hoopla, and Vivlio, BorrowBox, Odilo, Palace Marketplace, and Gardners. You choose the distributors you wish to use.

If you sell a print book with Amazon KDP Print Expanded Distribution or Ingram Spark, they do not recommend you use D2D. If you did not select KDP Expanded Distribution, you can use D2D Print.

You can price your ebook for free to every store except Amazon. Your book will be submitted to Amazon at $0.99 (99-cents USD). Amazon may choose to price-match to bring prices in line with other vendors at their discretion.

Services: They have automated conversion and layout templates. They offer promotional opportunities through Books2Read. You can schedule price promotions and free promotions, except through Amazon which does not allow books to be free.

They offer information on audiobooks, editing, cover design, marketing programs, Author Advocate partners, directory services, and a digital storefront.

You can download their converted PDF and EPUB files without selling through D2D. They offer customer support if your files don’t turn out right.

You can set up pre-orders for print and ebook as far out as a year in advance of your chosen release date. However, they cannot support ebook pre-orders through Amazon.

Payment: Their fee at most digital stores is approximately 10% of the retail price (technically 15% of the net royalties). They get reports from the distributors and must wait to be paid from each storefront before they pass along the payments to you minus their cut and any expenses the vendors incur for printing, delivery, etc. Most stores pay authors 60-90 days after the sale happens. As soon as Draft2Digital receives payment from their partners,they send payment to you in your next monthly payment on or around the 15th of each month. The minimums for each accepted method are: Paypal ($0 USD minimum), Direct deposit ($0 USD minimum), International Direct Deposit ($10 USD minimum), Payoneer ($20 USD minimum), Check ($100 USD minimum). Draft2Digital delivers payments once a month once the threshold for payment has been met. They report your earnings to the IRS but do not collect taxes.

Next week, we will look at Google Play.

The ABCs of Self-Publishing Platforms Blurb

BLURB

https://www.blurb.com/self-publish

Blurb creates more personal printed products like photobooks, trade books, magazines, soft cover and hard cover, and flat layout books. They do not require exclusivity. It is a good option for specialty books like photobooks, scrapbooks, etc. They do not offer a rush service. There are minimum and maximum page limits. It is an option if you want to do something other than a novel.

Cost: Cost for books depends on type of trim size, color versus black and white, page length, and quantity ordered, and shipping. The print prices are quite high. They charge a 25% "Custom Logo Fee" to have their logo removed from your book.

Rights: You retain your copyright.

Distribution: You can sell and distribute at scale through the Blurb Bookstore, the Blurb Bookstore on Amazon, and in over 39,000 stores with Ingram’s worldwide distribution. You can presell through Kickstarter.

Services: They offer file creation through Bookwright free downloadable software. You can use a plug in for Adobe InDesign. You can upload a PDF. There is integration with Lightroom Classic for photo books.

Payment: The book's cost is your base price. This is determined by your book specifications, such as paper and cover type, and the unit volume of your order. Amazon and Ingram have distribution fees, which are part of the retail price. You set your profit margin per copy, which becomes part of the customer-facing retail price. You can have payments sent to you monthly via Paypal or paper check, once you meet the minimum threshold.

Next week, we will look at Draft2Digital/Smashwords.

The ABCs of Self-Publishing Platforms Book Locker

BOOK LOCKER

https://publishing.booklocker.com/

BookLocker is a slightly different type of publishing platform. You must submit your book for their approval. Your book may not be approved. They have a non-exclusive publishing contract with the author. They offer print on demand paperbacks, hardcover, children's books, and ebooks.

Cost: They have a list of services you purchase from $199 to $1350. They have service packages. There is a further fee for inclusion in the Ingram catalogue. Ebooks are listed at no additional charge. There is an annual fee ($18) to keep your book listed on their print-on-demand service and through Ingram.

There are fees to change and re-upload files. A 25% cancellation fee applies to all fees that were paid. However, if any file transmissions have occurred, or work has begun on your book or cover art, no refunds are permitted.

The expedited plan includes original paperback cover design and gets a book to market within 2 weeks of the author submitting their final file to them. You can request the hardcover add-on at a discount with the program but black-and-white-interior paperback is the only format eligible for the Expedited program.

Rights: BookLocker does not include copyright and library registration. They provide an ISBN and bar code or you can use your own in your print book. You retain all rights.

However, authors using the Payment Plan Program agree to only sell their book through BookLocker until their balance is repaid. Those authors can, of course, purchase print copies at their author discount, and re-sell those.

You can terminate your contract same-day by contacting them through your author account. Payment Plan authors need to reimburse their balance to the company before their book can be terminated. You own the rights to the production files.

Distribution: BookLocker's home page directs traffic to 30+ advertised titles. If you pay the fee, the book is submitted to Ingram. Print books are currently listed on Amazon, Barnes&Noble Press, Booksamillion online, Indigo, and many other smaller, online bookstores across the globe. Ebooks are on Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Apple, Kobo, Overdrive (which sells ebooks to more than 40K libraries and schools in 70 countries), and BookLocker.com. They do not have a physical store or reading app.

Services: You will receive your final interior file (PDF) for approval. You will also receive the first printed and bound copy of your book to approve.

BookLocker offers a distribution database listing, custom cover, ISBN, set-up, and internal/external layout. They offer interior formatting and cover design.

Authors are responsible for promoting their own books. All authors are provided with a free copy of their how-to-market booklet. BookLocker does not offer promotional and marketing add-on services but they will happily advise authors on a one-to-one basis in these areas.

Payment: Only available to USA clients. Print Royalties are 35% of the list price for public sales of print books sold through BookLocker.com and15% of the list price for print books sold through other distributors/retailers/etc.

Ebooks earn 70% of the list price for ebooks priced $8.95 or higher and 50% of the list price for ebooks priced under $8.95. Third-party Ebook Royalties (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple and Kobo) are 65% of the net amount. BookLocker.com is paid for each ebook priced $10 or higher and 55% of the net amount. BookLocker.com is paid for each ebook priced under $10.They pay royalties on the fifth business day of the month to authors with an unpaid royalty balance of $40 or more on the last day of the previous month. You can access your account at any time. Their sales dashboard includes all sales for which they have been paid, BookLocker.com-direct sales are credited instantly, and a list of all payments made to the author within the last 24 months.

Next week we look at Blurb.

The ABCs of Self-Publishing Platforms Book Baby

BOOK BABY

https://www.bookbaby.com/

Book Baby is a pay for service model. It is an expensive way to go. If you have the money (thousands) and feel your platform is big enough that you will earn it back, then this might be the option for you.

They handle ebooks, print-on-demand paperbacks, hard cover, photo books, children’s books, in color and black and white. They are geared more toward selling services for writers who need help with design, editing, etc. though they do have a small digital storefront. They have an in-house printing company. They do not require exclusivity, though they advertise uploading to Kindle Select which does require exclusivity.

Cost: Prices for service packages currently run from $1000 to $3500. There are additional charges for any type of change. Every additional service can add to the cost. Any time you wish to update or change anything, it has to be done through them. You pay for printing paperbacks and hard covers.

Rights: You retain all rights. They sell ISBN numbers for $39 or you can provide your own.

Distribution: Through their distribution services, your book will be listed across major retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, Kobo, Walmart, and other wholesale distributors. Book Baby gets a percentage of profit in addition to the third-party distributor.

Orders are fulfilled by the retailer or by BookBaby. The books can be shipped directly from the retailer or wholesaler or BookBaby if purchased through BookBaby's bookshop. Your book will be made available in any territory in which a given bookstore operates. You can opt in or out of any of their partner stores. You can restrict your distribution service by country. Your book will be available to any third-party bookstore their partner provides digital content for.

Services: Book Baby offers everything from editing to cover and interior design to marketing package options for a fee.

Ebook file conversion costs start at $99.

They offer bulk printing and print-on-demand. You can print limited runs of books for personal use, as opposed to selling your book to the public. You can upload your existing audiobook for $99 and sell through BookBaby’s online shop. You earn 75% royalties on each audiobook sale after the distributors' cut and cost.

They will produce and upload Facebook and Instagram Ads for $199 and an ad budget for a minimum of $100 per week. You can do those ads on your own and set your own budget.

They sell bookmarks and posters. They use a company called Smith Publicity for marketing assistance. You can pay for proofreading, copy editing, line editing, and cover design.

Payment: Payments are delayed since Book Baby distributes through other venues, usually 90 days. They will post your BookShop earnings in your account in the week following all invoiced transactions.

Book Baby collects payment from other distributors and sellers, deducts any printing or selling cost, and then pays you the net sales.

There is something to be said for uploading direct to Amazon and B&N yourself, therefore keeping more of the royalty. Depending on the retail price of your title and the specs of the book, most titles will generate between 10% to 30% royalties. Sometimes, sales will fall outside of these royalty targets depending on international currency conversion rates, the manufacturing costs associated with production of your titles, and the fluctuation in retailer distribution charges. Book Baby reports income in excess of $10 to the IRS.

Next week, we look at Book Locker.

The ABCs of Self-Publishing Platforms Barnes & Noble Press

BARNES & NOBLE PRESS

https://press.barnesandnoble.com/

Barnes & Noble is owned by Elliott Advisors (UK) Limited and run by CEO and bookseller James Daunt, who is also Managing Director of Waterstones bookstores in the U.K. and founder and owner of Daunt Books.

Barnes & Noble obtains print-on-demand titles through a third party, Lightning Source/Ingram. Barnes and Noble's relationship with Lightning Source/Ingram facilitates their connection with many print-on-demand publishers/vendors. When your title is available through Lightning Source/Ingram, Barnes & Noble's customers will be able to order it in their stores and through bn.com.

They offer print-on-demand paperback, hardcover, and ebook options. They have the Nook ereader and the Nook Reading App for iPhone, iPad, Android devices, and tablets.

They do not require exclusivity. Their dashboard reports sales and payments.

Cost: It is free to upload your cover and interiors. There are no charges for changes or reuploads. With no delivery fees or production costs, B&N Press is free to use.

Rights: You retain all rights. They will provide a free ISBN exclusive to their paperback book versions or you can use your own. No ISBN is required for ebooks. They assign a book identification number.

Distribution: Distribution is through their online store. You can submit your book for consideration to be displayed in physical stores. That is not guaranteed. But if you want to do a book signing, it may give you a better chance to publish through them over other platforms. Books the stores order must be returnable and that option is not available through Barnes & Noble Press. Print on demand books can be ordered at any of their physical stores. They do not offer returns or exchanges for print books due to the highly-individualized nature of the orders. Be sure to pay close attention when approving your proof online. B&N provides refunds to customers who are unsatisfied with their online book purchases at the discretion of Barnes & Noble customer service. Returns will appear on your sales reporting and will be deducted from your next payment.

Services: B&N Press offers ebooks, paperbacks, and hardcovers. They have promotional opportunities and offer select B&N Press books in emails, online sales & promotions, and other exclusive marketing programs.

They have partnered with Reedsy to offer editorial assistance, BookTrib for publicity assistance, Incubate for marketing assistance, and 99designs for cover and interior formatting. They have expanded their array of merchandising options, including curated ads on BN.com, better email placement, and social media and blog exposure on Barnes & Noble Press and NOOK channels.

B&N press allows you to create Personal high-quality paperbacks or hardcovers book for your friends & family, your business, fans of your book, prospective readers & reviewers, and yourself. This is different from a “published” book on sale to the public. They deliver them to your address in about 10 days with exceptions. You can modify the books online. They come in paperback, hardcover, and jacketed hardcover. Cost depends on paper, cover, size, page count, etc.

Payment: Barnes & Noble Press offer publishers a flat 70% royalty rate on ebooks and a competitive royalty rate on print books. Print cost and delivery fees are deducted from the list price. You are paid 30 days after purchase. Payments in excess of $10 are paid by direct deposit. If your sales are lower than that, you receive biannual payments. You can view sales reports at any time. They report your income on IRS Form 1042-S and they do not withhold taxes.

Next week, we look at Book Locker.

As always if you find this information helpful, share it, like it. If you want more free information, sign up to follow the blog on blogger or the Story Building Blocks Facebook Page. Free tips and tools are also available on my site https://dianahurwitz.com/.

The ABCs of Self Publishing Platforms: Apple Books

APPLE BOOKS FORMERLY iBOOKS

https://www.apple.com/apple-books/

Apple Books offers ebooks and audiobooks. They have a reading app for Apple products. They do not require exclusivity. Apple dominates the Australian market.

Cost: It is free to upload your cover and files and you can make changes. No delivery fees. You can make your book free for promotions. There is no price matching.

Rights: You maintain all rights. They will provide a free ISBN exclusive to their book version or you can use your own. No ISBN is required for ebooks. They assign a book identification number.

Distribution: Distribution is only on Apple Books. There is no exclusivity.

Services: They offer tips on writing your book, design, publishing, audiobooks, and marketing. They have videos on how to launch and market your book.

You can use their Pages tool to customize your design, add images, and prepare your file for Apple Books. You can use Microsoft Word. You can convert your book to EPUB. They also partner with EPUB file conversion service providers: Bookwire, De Marque, Draft2Digital, Ingram/CoreSource, Lantern, OTOBANK, PublishDrive, and Zebralution.

You can set up preorders.

They offer an Affiliate Program for you to earn revenue when you promote other books by sharing links on social media, your website, email newsletters, and other marketing efforts. This revenue is in addition to your royalty payment for the sale of your book. It’s a simple way for you to maximize your income on Apple Books.

Payment: Apple pays 70% royalties 32 days after the end of the month in which you sold books using direct deposit into a bank account set up on iTunes Connect. If you sell directly through Apple, you can monitor the performance of your titles with daily sales reports. Sales They report your sales to the IRS on a 1099.

Next week, we look at Barnes & Noble Press.

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