How to Distribute Self-Published Books

Before the dawn of online retail, authors found it immensely difficult to distribute self-published books. With no access to traditional publishing outlets, they had to rely on out-of-date methods such as print-on-demand services or selling books door-to-door. However, with the rise of online retail, self-published authors now have numerous options for distributing their pieces; from eCommerce websites and Amazon to digital platforms like Kindle and Kobo.

Nowadays, more than half of book sales occur online. Authors need to be aware of their options on how to distribute self-published books and take advantage of the digital landscape to maximize sales and reach new audiences. Self-publishing has become an increasingly popular way for authors to get their work into the world. With the advent of online retail distribution, self-published authors now have the same access to global book buyers as those who have deals with major publishers.

There is no need to spend a lot of money on a self-publishing service to get your book distributed. You can use Amazon and other online retailers to get your book out there. This is a great way to save money and still be able to distribute your book. Here’s a guide on how to do it.

Distribute Self-Published Books and Ebooks

After you’ve converted your book into an EPUB file, the next step is to look for avenues to sell it. Effective marketing strategies for your product include distributing it across online stores and promoting it through your website. There are some options available, including self-publishing platforms, retailers, and brick-and-mortar stores.

• Working directly with online retailers offers advantages such as higher profits and greater control over the product. You also gain access to more marketing & promotional tools. Nonetheless, this is not always true for every situation.
• When you opt for ebook distribution services, you have to part with a certain percentage of your profits. This is in return for the ease of centralized administration & management of all your titles. Ebook distribution services make it easy to manage all titles in one place, but you’ll have to give up a cut of your profits.

If you go the ebook route, you may have better luck reaching certain markets that you wouldn’t be able to access on your own. Many ebook distributors can help you get your book into libraries. Also, they often provide tools to optimize book sales and marketing. For authors and publishers, the option to choose between working with online retailers and ebook distributors is a great boon. With this freedom comes the ability to identify the best platform for their work while avoiding any exclusivity requirement when it comes to ebook distribution.

For instance, Amazon KDP provides the option to sell directly on its platform or one could consider using a book distributor to reach other retailers. By selling directly on Amazon, you can easily take advantage of their massive customer base and reach a wide audience.

In the end, book promotion is all about considering various factors such as time and resources, titles, and the overall marketing plan.

Print Book Distribution

Print-on-demand technology has opened up new possibilities for book distribution. Instead of investing in a costly print run, authors and publishers can now use print-on-demand technology to print their books as needed. This cost-saving solution makes it easier to distribute books to customers both online and in retail stores, allowing for greater reach and increased sales.

With this method, books are not printed until someone orders and pay for them. This means that authors no longer have to worry about stocking large quantities of books to meet demand, as the books are only printed when an order is placed. Print-on-demand printing can help save authors time and money, giving them the flexibility to produce books on their schedule.

Print-On-Demand is a great way to reduce risk and investment in printing books, but unfortunately, it does not guarantee that the book will be on retail shelves nationwide or even locally. This is the only disadvantage of using POD. It’s important to remember that just because you’ve printed copies of your book, that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to get them into physical retail stores. There’s more to distribution than simply printing copies of your book.

For novice authors publishing their books independently, it can be challenging to get the attention of stores & booksellers due to the lack of a dedicated marketing plan and sales record. This makes it difficult for them to get their books in bookstores. Before investing in a large print run, such as 500 or 1,000 copies, consider if you have existing customers who might purchase them. Also, think about other possible avenues for selling the printed material such as speaking engagements & events.

Distribute Self-Published Books via Print-On-Demand

If you choose to use the print-on-demand service, you may consider two different distributors to complete the printing process.

• IngramSpark – a powerful self-publishing platform offered by Ingram, the largest book wholesaler/distributor in the US. With IngramSpark, authors can get their books into stores quickly and easily with no minimum order requirements. The initial setup fee for each title is $49 and then $25 each time you upload a new version of your book.
• Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) – allows you to publish your book electronically on the Kindle platform without any upfront fees. You pay a royalty on each book sold. This makes KDP an attractive option for authors who want to retain control of their work and earn a higher percentage of royalties.

When it comes to ebook distribution, authors no longer have to choose between being exclusive with either Amazon or other distributors. Authors now have the opportunity to maximize their potential by leveraging the benefits of both traditional and digital publishing platforms. With a combination of Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing and other distributors, authors can optimize their ebooks for a wider audience and reach more potential readers.

We suggest that authors should rely on Amazon KDP for the distribution of their print publications, restricting them to just Amazon, while IngramSpark should be employed to make the books available outside of Amazon’s ecosystem. If you are going to use Kindle Direct Publishing it is highly recommended that you opt out of its ‘Expanded Distribution’ feature. This is because expanded distribution can result in your book being sold on third-party websites at a lower price, which can affect your royalties.

How to Distribute Self-Published Books in the Event of a Print Run

Amazon Advantage was once a great option for self-publishers who had invested in print runs. It provided an easy and cost-effective way to reach Amazon customers, allowing authors to receive higher royalties than what they would have received from traditional book publishing outlets. Yet, since Amazon has changed its policy regarding Advantage in recent years, self-publishers must now consider other options to be successful. and were capable of fulfilling orders from their premises. This allowed them to distribute and sell their books on Amazon, without any intermediary.

If you want to make your printed edition available to other retailers, IngramSpark’s print-on-demand service is the best option. It’s a reliable and efficient way to get your book out into the world and in front of potential new readers. Print-on-demand makes it possible to sidestep the need for purchasing and storing large quantities of books, meaning your initial outlay is much lower and you can concentrate on increasing the interest in your book. With this method, there’s no necessity to lay out money upfront for a huge amount of copies that may not be sold, allowing you to keep your financial investment low while still getting your work out into the world.

Conclusion

Self-publishing has never been easier. With the help of online self-publishing platforms, authors can now publish and distribute their work with little effort and expense. These self-publishing sites provide a platform for authors to upload their work in either print or ebook format, allowing them to reach a larger audience than ever before.

Avoid enticing self-publishing packages that promise to distribute your book to a multitude of locations. Be wary of these offers, as they may be costly and offer little in terms of true value. It is advisable to investigate further before committing to any package to ensure that you get the best deal for your money.