10 Best Self Publishing Companies

Summary

This video script reviews the top 10 self-publishing companies for books in 2022, highlighting their distribution methods, royalty rates, and unique features. It covers a range of services from e-book and print to audiobook distribution, discussing the pros and cons of each platform, including Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, and Google Play Books. The script provides insights into the best options for authors looking to self-publish, emphasizing the importance of platform choice for maximizing reach and profit.

Takeaways

• 📘 The top 10 self-publishing companies for books in 2022 are listed, with Blurb, Lulu, PublishDrive, Draft2Digital, Google Play Books, Apple Books for Authors, Barnes & Noble Press, Kobo Writing Life, IngramSpark, and Amazon KDP making the list.
• 💻 Blurb is known for its high-quality print options and 100% net profit on eBook sales after conversion fees, but has higher base costs for print books and unclear royalty rates for them.
• 🌐 Lulu offers wide distribution and excellent print quality with unique options, but has a history of slower print fulfillment times and a rocky transition to a new platform in 2020.
• 🚀 PublishDrive stands out for its wide distribution, including to China, and 100% net profits on eBooks, but requires a subscription fee and has questionable effectiveness of some distribution avenues.
• 🔍 Draft2Digital and Smashwords, now one company, offer eBook and paperback distribution with a user-friendly interface and superior customer support, but are still in beta for print distribution.
• 📚 Google Play Books and Apple Books for Authors are Amazon alternatives with wide distribution and set royalty rates, but both have clunky user interfaces and no direct audiobook distribution.
• 🎨 Barnes & Noble Press provides excellent print quality and an easy user interface, but has limited reach and strict standards for print book formatting.
• 🎧 Kobo Writing Life offers eBook and audiobook distribution with a unique royalty structure for audiobooks, favoring higher pricing, and boasts a user-friendly interface and access to OverDrive.
• 🌟 IngramSpark has the widest distribution for print books and offers brick and mortar options, but has a lower eBook royalty rate and issues with transparency and customer support.
• 🏆 Amazon KDP is recognized for its large audience reach, ease of use, and the Kindle Unlimited program, but has a pricing penalty for eBooks outside the $2.99 to $9.99 range and lacks audiobook integration.

Q & A

What is the primary service provided by Blurb?

Blurb primarily distributes ebooks and print books, acting as an aggregate publisher to distribute books to various platforms on behalf of authors.

What is the royalty rate for ebooks published through Blurb?

The royalty rate for ebooks published through Blurb is 100% of net profits after conversion fees.

What are some of the disadvantages of using Blurb for self-publishing?

Disadvantages of Blurb include high base costs for print books, different specifications for print books on various platforms, and unclear royalty rates for print books.

What are the main differences between Lulu and Blurb in terms of services offered?

Lulu offers a wider range of unique print options, including spiral bound notebooks and photo books, and has a 20-year history in the business, while Blurb is known for its stellar print quality and wide distribution.

How does the royalty rate for ebooks on Lulu compare to Blurb?

Lulu offers a royalty rate of 90% of net profits for ebooks, compared to Blurb's 100% of net profits after conversion fees.

What are some of the unique features of PublishDrive?

PublishDrive is a subscription-based aggregate publisher with a wide distribution network, including 30 different avenues and access to the Chinese market.

What is the royalty rate for ebooks distributed through PublishDrive?

The royalty rate for ebooks distributed through PublishDrive is 100% of net profits, with a monthly subscription fee for the number of books hosted on their platform.

Why might an author choose Google Play Books for ebook distribution?

An author might choose Google Play Books for its wide distribution across 70 plus regions, the fixed royalty rate of 70% regardless of price, and the discoverability through book sample indexing on search engines.

What are some of the drawbacks of using Google Play Books for self-publishing?

Drawbacks include a clunky user interface, an inconsistent account application process, and the inaccessibility of direct audiobook distribution.

How does Amazon KDP's ebook royalty rate system work?

Amazon KDP offers a 70% royalty rate for ebooks priced between $2.99 and $9.99, with a reduced rate of 35% for books priced outside this range.

What are some of the advantages of using Amazon KDP for self-publishing?

Amazon KDP has the largest audience reach, an easy-to-use interface, and offers programs like Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) Select for additional exposure.

What is the main criticism of Amazon KDP's pricing strategy for ebooks?

The main criticism is the pricing incentive or penalization system, which reduces the royalty rate to 35% if the ebook is priced outside the preferred range of $2.99 to $9.99.

What is the current status of hardcover book distribution on Amazon KDP?

Hardcover book distribution on Amazon KDP is currently in beta, with distribution available in seven regions and no expanded distribution yet.

Why might an author consider IngramSpark for print book distribution?

IngramSpark might be considered for its wide distribution network, including brick and mortar options, and the use of Ingram Content Group for expanded distribution.

What are some of the cons of using IngramSpark for self-publishing?

Cons of IngramSpark include the requirement to bring your own ISBN, pay-per-upload fees, and issues with customer support and transparency regarding the distribution avenues.

What is the royalty rate for print books on IngramSpark?

The royalty rate for print books on IngramSpark is a variable percentage, ranging from 45% to 65% minus print fees.

What is the controversy surrounding the Kindle Unlimited program mentioned in the script?

The controversy is that authors can become Amazon best-selling authors without selling a single copy due to certain practices within the Kindle Unlimited program.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Top Self-Publishing Companies in 2022

The speaker introduces the topic by sharing their eight years of experience in the self-publishing industry. They list the top 10 self-publishing companies for books in 2022, starting with Blurb, which is known for its ebook and print book distribution and operates as an aggregate publisher. Blurb offers a 100% royalty rate for ebooks after conversion fees but has unclear royalty rates for print books. The speaker praises Blurb's print quality and distribution but criticizes the high base costs for print books and the different specifications required for Blurb's print books compared to other platforms.

05:02

🌐 Aggregate Publishing and Distribution Options

The script continues with an explanation of aggregate publishing and the advantages of using such services. The speaker discusses Lulu, another self-publishing company that offers ebook and print book distribution, with a focus on its wide distribution network and unique product options like spiral-bound notebooks and photo books. Lulu's royalty rates for ebooks are 90% of net profits, and for print books, it's 80% minus print fees. The speaker mentions Lulu's 20-year anniversary, indicating its stability in the industry, but also points out the downsides, such as quarterly paydays and slower print fulfillment times.

10:04

🚀 Diverse Self-Publishing Platforms and Their Reach

The speaker proceeds to discuss PublishDrive, which handles ebook, paperback, and audiobook distribution, and has a wide reach through 30 different avenues, including China. PublishDrive operates on a subscription model, offering 100% net profits. The speaker also covers Draft2Digital and Smashwords, which have merged and offer distribution to numerous platforms, with a royalty rate of 90% for ebooks and 45% for paperbacks minus print costs. The script highlights the pros and cons of these platforms, including customer support and the challenges of print being in beta.

15:05

📈 Google Play Books and Apple Books for Authors

The script mentions Google Play Books and Apple Books for Authors as platforms for ebook and, to some extent, audiobook distribution. Google Play Books is praised for its wide distribution and fixed royalty rate of 70%, as well as its discoverability features. However, it has a clunky user interface and requires an application process for an account. Apple Books for Authors is discussed for its availability to non-Apple users and its wide distribution, but it also has a confusing dashboard system and lacks direct audiobook distribution.

📘 Barnes & Noble Press and Kobo Writing Life

Barnes & Noble Press is highlighted for its high-quality print books, easy user interface, and distribution to 12 regions. However, it has limited reach and strict print book formatting standards. Kobo Writing Life is commended for its user interface, wide distribution, and access to OverDrive without revenue share. The platform offers a 70% royalty rate for ebooks and a variable rate for audiobooks, with higher rates for books priced above $2.99.

🚀 IngramSpark and Amazon KDP - The Leaders in Self-Publishing

IngramSpark is discussed for its wide distribution network, offering ebook distribution with a 40% royalty rate of net profits and print books with a variable percentage paid minus print fees. The platform is noted for its brick and mortar distribution options and print quality but criticized for its pay-per-upload model and lack of transparency. Amazon KDP is recognized as the top platform, with the largest audience reach and easy-to-use interface. It offers a 70% royalty rate for ebooks priced between $2.99 and $9.99 and a 60% rate minus print fees for print books, with expanded distribution options. The script concludes with a critique of KDP's pricing incentives and the lack of audiobook integration.

Keywords

💡Self-Publishing

Self-publishing refers to the process where authors independently publish their work without the need for a traditional publishing house. It is central to the video's theme as the speaker discusses various platforms that facilitate this process. The script mentions several companies that offer self-publishing services, indicating the variety and options available to authors today.

💡Aggregate Publisher

An aggregate publisher acts as a middleman, distributing authors' books to various outlets on their behalf. This concept is repeatedly highlighted in the script as many of the top self-publishing companies function in this capacity. The term is used to describe companies like Blurb and Lulu, which collect a portion of the revenue from sales made through their distribution channels.

💡Royalty Rate

The royalty rate is the percentage of the sales revenue that an author receives for each book sold. It is a key concept in the script as different companies offer varying rates, impacting an author's earnings. For instance, Blurb offers 100% of net profits after conversion fees for ebooks, while Lulu offers 90% of net profits for ebooks.

💡Ebook Conversion Fees

Ebook conversion fees are charges associated with the process of converting a book's content into a digital format suitable for various e-readers. The script mentions these fees in the context of Blurb, where despite offering 100% of net profits for ebooks, there is a cost associated with the conversion process that may affect the author's overall earnings.

💡Print Quality

Print quality refers to the physical attributes of a printed book, such as paper type, binding, and image resolution. The script emphasizes the importance of high print quality as a pro for companies like Blurb and Lulu, suggesting that these platforms offer superior physical copies of books, which can be a selling point for authors and readers alike.

💡Distribution

Distribution in the context of the video refers to the various channels and platforms through which self-published books are made available for sale. Companies like PublishDrive and Draft2Digital are highlighted for their wide distribution networks, reaching numerous regions and platforms, thereby increasing the visibility and sales potential of authors' works.

💡API Integration

API (Application Programming Interface) integration allows for the seamless connection of different software applications. In the script, Blurb and Lulu are praised for offering API integrations that enable authors to include their books in their own websites, enhancing direct sales and personal branding.

💡Ebook Pricing Strategy

Ebook pricing strategy involves setting the price for a digital book, which can affect sales volume and revenue. The script discusses how Amazon KDP penalizes authors with a lower royalty rate if they price their ebooks outside the recommended range of 2.99 to 9.99, illustrating the importance of pricing strategy in maximizing earnings.

💡Audiobook Distribution

Audiobook distribution is the process of making audio versions of books available through various channels. The script notes the limitations of certain platforms, such as Google Play Books and Apple Books, which do not offer direct audiobook distribution, requiring authors to use third-party services like Findaway Voices.

💡Print Fulfillment

Print fulfillment refers to the process of printing, storing, and shipping physical books upon customer orders. The script critiques Lulu for its slower print fulfillment times, which may not meet the expectations of readers accustomed to faster delivery options like those provided by Amazon.

💡Kindle Unlimited

Kindle Unlimited is a subscription service offered by Amazon that allows readers to access a vast library of ebooks for a fixed monthly fee. The script alludes to the potential for manipulation within the program, suggesting that authors can achieve best-seller status without actual book sales, which raises questions about the integrity of the platform.

Highlights

Blurb is an aggregate publisher known for distributing ebooks and print books with a 100% royalty rate for ebooks after conversion fees.

Blurb offers wide distribution including its own bookstore, Apple, Google Play, Kobo, Amazon, and API integration for websites.

Print book royalties for Blurb are unclear, indicating a need for further research or clarification.

Lulu is an aggregate publisher with a 90% royalty rate for ebooks and 80% for print books minus print fees, known for its excellent print quality and unique options.

Lulu offers wide distribution and has integrated with Shopify and WooCommerce, celebrating its 20-year anniversary.

PublishDrive handles ebook, paperback, and audiobook distribution with a 100% royalty rate and a subscription-based model.

Draft2Digital and Smashwords, now one company, offer ebook and paperback distribution with a 90% royalty rate for ebooks and 45% for paperbacks minus print costs.

Google Play Books provides ebook and audiobook distribution with a 70% royalty rate and book sample indexing for increased discoverability.

Apple Books for Authors offers ebook and audiobook distribution with a 70% royalty rate and availability to non-Apple users.

Barnes & Noble Press provides ebook and print book distribution with a 70% royalty rate for ebooks and 55% for print books minus print fees.

Kobo Writing Life offers ebook and audiobook distribution with a 70% royalty rate for ebooks and a variable rate for audiobooks based on pricing.

IngramSpark offers the widest ebook and print book distribution with a 40% royalty rate for ebooks and a variable rate for print books.

Amazon KDP is the top platform for ebook and print book distribution with a 70% royalty rate for ebooks priced between $2.99 and $9.99.

Amazon KDP's cons include a pricing incentive system that can penalize authors for pricing ebooks outside the preferred range.

Kobo Writing Life's audiobook distribution has a unique royalty structure, offering higher rates for books priced above $2.99.

IngramSpark requires authors to bring their own ISBN and has a pay-per-upload model, which may be offset by coupon codes.

Amazon KDP lacks audiobook integration, requiring authors to use other platforms like ACX for distribution.

Transcripts

after spending over eight years in the

self-publishing business i've seen my

share of and used many companies for

self-publishing books

these are the 10 best self-publishing

book companies in 2022. number 10 blurb

now these guys distribute primarily

ebooks and print books they're also

known as an aggregate publisher now to

briefly explain what aggregate

publishing is because we're going to

bring up numerous times throughout this

video they're essentially a middleman to

where they distribute your book to other

avenues on your behalf and usually they

collect a portion of the revenue that

comes back from the sales now for blurb

they distribute to their own bookstore

they have apple bookstore google play

bookstore kobo amazon and also an api

integration you can put into your

website pretty cool the royalty rate for

ebooks is a hundred percent of net

profits after conversion fees more on

that in just a second here now print

books the royalty rate is unclear now

this could probably be on me i probably

should do some better research i should

probably reach out to him my apologies

to you blurb uh if you are watching by

all means let us know what your print

book royalties are it was not easy to

track down now the pros of blurb include

stellar print quality with plenty of

options i mean the quality is

second to none they also have wide

distribution they also have a hundred

percent of net profits after the ebook

conversion fee now i'm going to

bellyache about that here in just a

second but it's a small bellyache and

it's a new picky any rate the cons of

blurb is the base costs for the print

books is relatively high therefore

you've got to drive your retail price up

even higher or you're going to get a

lower payout they also have totally

different specifications for their print

books versus other platforms because i

know i could usually take an interior

and a cover from kdp and put it over

ingramspark and vice versa with no

issues so these different dimensions

also mesh up all together so there's

also these conversion fees for ebooks

now

it's like 4.99

and considering you get 100 of the net

profits i think that's not really

unrealistic or unreasonable number nine

lulu now i've talked about lulu a time

or two and i've even talked with the

lulu team here at some point another big

shout out to chelsea bennett they

distribute ebooks and print books they

are an aggregate publisher and they

distribute over to lulu lulu express

which also has the shopify integration

on your website which by the way they

also launched lulu direct which

integrates with woocommerce that is a

plugin for wordpress meaning that you

can fulfill print books to your website

and if those aren't enough there's

always a website api integration that

you can build out you're gonna

definitely need to get a good website

developer in order to get that going

there's amazon distribution barnes and

noble and they also have ingram book

group distribution now when it comes to

the royalty rates the e-books are 90 of

net profits hey net profits mean since

it's an aggregate publisher the earnings

that come in obviously the people are

going to be taking their cut on that

given platform making the sale and then

it's going to be coming through lulu

who's going to take 10 of that and

you'll get 90 now you get straight 90

though on the lulu store which is kind

of cool print books though it's 80 of

net profits minus print fees the print

costs are kind of steep but i have to

tell you that's what leads me to the

pros they've got excellent

print quality and they have unique

options including spiral bound notebooks

calendars photo books and so much more

you can even do comics what and

magazines yeah lulu's got you covered

they've got wide distribution and here's

the big plus they just celebrated their

20-year anniversary of being in the

business so that means this company's

not going anywhere the cons ah i don't

like their quarterly paydays it just ah

can we make that sooner it'd be kind of

nice to see that you know monthly but i

don't know they also have a little bit

of a rocky pass though they've done

their best to clean it up

i know there was a little bit of a

debacle back in 2020 when they were

switching over to a new

platform and a new layout and it created

some really big problems for the author

community but they've really done their

best to get that cleaned up and they're

actually doing quite well these days

they do have slower print fulfillment

times now understanding that amazon has

absolutely spoiled customers out there

with a two-day delivery it's raised

their expectations so getting a book to

your doorstep in two weeks it's just

absolutely unacceptable to most readers

out there i hope that lulu can address

that issue someday soon number eight

publish drive publish drive handles it

all ebooks paperback and audiobook

distribution now they're aggregate

publishers as well they have 30

different avenues now this means they

have wider reach than you would see in

any other platform because they're

aggregate publishers too they also reach

a different avenue that has really not

reached much and it's china that's

pretty impressive to me now the royalty

rate is a hundred percent of net profits

there's an asterisk next to that because

they don't do revenue share there they

used to but they gave it up a couple

years ago and now they're a

subscription-based aggregate publisher

meaning that you've got to pay a monthly

fee for the publications you host on

their platform and it's per

number of books that they charge you per

month now the pros include they have

super wide distribution you get a

hundred percent net profits and it's

also a one-stop shop you get your ebooks

your print books and your audiobooks all

in one space and i'd really love to have

just one single dashboard but sadly i

probably wouldn't have this top 10 list

now would i now the cons include the

monthly subscription i mean you're going

to have to gamble on yourself on this

one you're going to have to invest just

a little bit if you want to get that

wider reach through publish drive and

you got to pay for it through a monthly

subscription so i anticipate if you have

a few sales per month it'll least

mitigate those costs and put you into

the black as opposed to functioning in

the red some avenues are questionable

for gaining any sales or exposure i mean

some of them i'm like i don't even know

what that is or where that's at i'm sure

maybe someone's familiar in that neck of

the woods or some other region but not

here and i really never seen any sales

come for them and speaking of those

little avenues sometimes they're the

slower ones to de-list your title if you

want to end up going exclusive to one

platform those ones are always the ones

that take their time and it just seems

to take forever until finally a couple

weeks later you'll have it finally

delisted number seven draft digital and

smashwords now i've got to mention both

of these guys together because

draft2digital more recently acquired

smashwords so they're now all one

company they have ebook and paperback

distribution they are aggregate

publishers that reach

dozens of different platforms between

the two of them and it's like it might

be like 17 or something like that it's

it's a lot their royalty rate works like

this ebooks it's 90 of net profits now

it varies per avenue again on how much

you're going to end up seeing they

actually have some numbers that they

crunched on there and they said

sometimes it will be an average of say

60

of the retail price again it varies

usually it takes out to that much but it

just it'll depend paperbacks though it's

45

minus print costs now distribution you

get about 17 avenues including library

distribution free ebooks and you get

print book distribution to amazon and

through the ingram content group what

about the pros and cons of draft to

digital and smashwords well they've got

superior customer support

drafted digital has an amazing free

automated interior formatting tool and

they also have direct integration with

find away voices which does audiobook

distribution now the cons of drafted

digital and smashwords is print is still

in beta they are still ironing out the

kinks they're trying to make everything

right so hang in there if you don't have

access to it i know you can reach out to

them and ask for it but don't expect to

be marveled by everything because

they're still working on stuff and the

recent merge could possibly create some

issues now this is completely

speculative because i don't know the

inner workings of things like that and

that's really it i can't complain about

anything else on these two companies

number six google play books

they handle ebook distribution and to a

certain extent audio books this is an

amazon alternative their distribution

goes to all the google avenues including

the 70 plus regions it's a ridiculous

count the royalty rate is 70 regardless

of the price now the pros of google play

books is well it's google it's the

world's most used search engine so

putting your book on there is just a

given you're going to get a few readers

there the royalty rate is set

with no exceptions they used to have

some

kind of same system that amazon kdp uses

not anymore they said yeah it's 70 screw

it and also they have something called

book sample indexing so if you have a

sample of say the first 10 of your book

they actually take the text in there and

use it in search engines meaning that

your book is becoming more discoverable

through the search engine pretty cool

right now the cons i gotta admit to you

the user interface is very clunky now

also you have to apply to get an account

sometimes

other times you don't

it's

they open it and close it as often as i

care to not even mention at this point

it's just it gets ridiculous after a

while so try to apply for an account if

you can audiobook distribution is

totally inaccessible you want to get

there you've got to use places like find

a way voices to reach google play books

for the audiobook distribution by the

way you're going to see a repeat pattern

over the next few companies i mention

here number five apple books for authors

now again this is e-book distribution

and to a certain extent audio books now

they are another one of the amazon

alternatives their distribution reaches

51 apple stores the royalty rate is 70

regardless of your pricing the pros

include now it's available to non-apple

users for years there you had to have a

mac or you had to do some type of a

cloud thing with apple and blah blah

blah or whatever it was just too much

work now everyone can do it now they

have wide distribution it's really great

royalty rate as well when it comes to

the cons ha there's too many dashboards

and it gets so confusing because you

have to have an itunes connect account

and then you gotta go over and open this

up and you gotta pat your head and rub

your stomach and after a while you just

kind of lost not to mention it's kind of

clunky sometimes

it's like google play books also there's

no direct audio book distribution which

it's just like ah

i can go use find a way voices sure but

man it would be nice to go right over to

apple with my audiobooks number four

barnes noble press they handle ebooks

and print books and to a certain extent

audiobook distribution now they're also

an amazon alternative they distribute

their ebooks to 12 different regions and

print

only to us yeah no 12 regions the

royalty rate works like this ebooks is

70

print books are 55 minus the print fees

now the pros is oh my goodness excellent

print quality i know i've said this

quite a bit but there's a little bit of

an asterisk here okay and i'm going to

get to in just a little bit here but

we're going to stick with the pros it's

got an easy user interface and it's also

great for us authors but there's also

limitations here let's talk about the

cons and that's the limited reach

also the print book formatting is a pain

in the butt like they have really strict

standards and if you don't get it dialed

in you're out of luck also audiobook

distribution is inaccessible same as

before views find a way voices for

distribution there

okay number three kobo writing life they

handle ebook and audiobook distribution

without an asterisk oh that's nice right

now they are an amazon alternative like

those past few i was just discussing

this distribution goes with ebooks to 14

regions with 22 platforms audiobooks

goes to six major regions plus four

distribution sites the royalty rate

works just like this ebooks is 70

percent audio books

this is where it kind of gets crazy we

can pop up the algorithm in front of my

face on this one 35 royalties for

audiobooks priced 2.99 or lower and 45

royalties for audiobooks priced above

2.99 so the lesson is price your

audiobook above 299. so the pros when it

comes to this platform kobo writing life

has access to overdrive with no revenue

share now there's other avenues like

drafted digital and smashwords that you

can get overdrive but through kobo you

don't have to worry about splitting that

cut through overdrive they also have in

my opinion the best user interface of

all the options i mentioned in this

video and they also have kobo plus

subscription it's like kindle unlimited

but for kobo and the nice thing is you

as an author you don't really have to

opt in to an exclusivity program you can

just opt in and that's that and still

publish elsewhere now the cons when it

comes to kobo writing life i've yet to

try direct audiobook distribution i know

that's on me that's not them i just need

to take the time for myself so i'm sorry

kobo i hope you forgive me i

i uh i'll see at the christmas party and

also they've got that weird audiobook

royalty structure but i guess it's

pretty clear just price your books above

299 if you want the best royalty rate

number two ingramspark they handle ebook

and print book distribution and they are

the widest reach of all the platforms in

fact some platforms even rely on their

parent company of ingram content group

to distribute their books these guys are

aggregate publishers now they have a

distribution to six regions and 36

different distributors they also boast

over 40 000 retailers in libraries what

are they we don't know we'll get to that

in just a second here now let's discuss

the royalty rate ebooks you get 40 of

net profits what

40

versus the other platforms where it's

say

90 or 85 or even 70

or even the lower end of 35

but these are 40 of net profits that

doesn't make sense to me i've never used

ingramspark for ebook distribution for

that reason alone because i can go to

some of the avenues straight and just

get my full earnings from them as

opposed to just a little bit of it now

the print books though this is where i

go to them for they have a variable

percentage you'll get paid 45 to 65

percent minus print fees the pros of

ingram spark it is the widest

distribution you can kind of go for

amazon uses the parent company ingram

content group for expanded distribution

so this tells you that they really like

the distribution there you also get

brick and mortar distribution or at

least the option to get there and also

it has great print quality now the cons

include this you got to bring your own

isbn though it's free in the us

you still have to account for the other

thing it's pay per upload you've got to

pay 49 for uploads and 25 dollars for

updates now you could mitigate costs

with coupon codes you can kind of search

around for some of them sometime

but that can't be used in conjunction

with that free isbn the us you can have

one or the other my other big issue with

them includes the lack of transparency

and customer support i've had numerous

viewers who have reached out complaining

about how customer support sometimes

doesn't even get back to them or they

give them an answer that has nothing to

do with what they sent in a support

ticket for and also lack of transparency

i don't like the fact that they tell us

that it's going to 40 000 different

avenues but we don't know what those

ones are why can't we see a list and i

know privacy is a concern but

shouldn't that be a concern of ours as

well considering that that's where our

books are going to be going to number

one amazon kdp i think you knew that

this was the direction that we were

going to they have ebook and print book

distribution and hard cover options are

an open beta right now so that means

they're still working on some things and

i'm sure distribution will start to

increase for those in due time speaking

of distribution e-books reach 13 amazon

regions and the print books well

paperback reaches nine regions plus

expanded distribution hardcover reaches

seven regions with no expanded

distribution yet now the royalty rate

works like this ebooks

you get 70

if you price your book between 2.99

and

9.99 anything outside of that

you get 35

so they will penalize you if you do not

price your ebook where they like it to

be now with print books it's 60 minus

print fees and it's 40 minus print fees

for expanded distribution and as you

remember ingram content group handles

distribution there for them and that

avenue the pros of amazon kdp it's got

the biggest audience reach it's easy to

learn easy to use every bit of

information you can find between this

channel and other people's channels and

even amazon's got a jump start program

you can do 100 free like it's easy and

it's great for newbie authors folks now

the cons i gotta admit i just don't like

that pricing incentive or penalization

system if you will is penalization a

word we're gonna go with that today

hardcover's still in beta i can't

bellyac about that too much i'm just

glad that they finally got it yeah it's

got less reach and yes it's got less

options but i'm sure it'll grow in due

time and the last bellyache and gripe

i've got is there's no audiobook

integration i would really love to one

day see acx being integrated in with kdp

much like they did with createspace into

kdp back in 2018. speaking of amazon kdp

do you hear about their kindle unlimited

program what kind of shenanigans are

going on over there there's a lot of

chicanery going on because you can

become an amazon best-selling author

without selling a single copy i'm not

making this up come see in this very

next video