When it comes to self-publishing, there are a number of options to choose from. If you thought that Amazon Kindle was your only choice, then you will be relieved to find that there are plenty of alternatives out there. The best part is that you don’t have to marry any of them. You can choose which ones you want to work with or not. Ultimately, you can work with various platforms of just one. It is entirely up to you.
One of the most important things you must look into when selecting a self-publisher is the reach they possess. In this regard, it’s highly important to consider the number of readers and subscribers they have on hand. The larger the subscriber base, the greater your chances of making good returns.
In this article, we are going to look at the top three self-publishers today. You can choose to work with only one, or a combination of all three. The best thing is that you have the opportunity to truly make decent returns in exchange for your hard work and dedication to producing useful and entertaining content.
Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
So, KDP from Amazon is the big show in town. There is no question about that. Amazon offers the largest online marketplace in the world. Amazon gobbles up about 80% of the market share in the book business. Moreover, it offers the best opportunity for you to cast a very wide net. Typically, KDP is available on all Kindle devices. However, it is not limited to simply Kindle devices. Any subscriber can download the approximately on any device and access the largest book repository on the planet.
The great thing about Amazon is that it enables readers to choose between digital and paper versions of books. This is great because you can sign up for CreateSpace. CreateSpace is Amazon’s print-to-order service. So, you can sign up for your books to be available both in print and eBook format.
When it comes to digital formats, KDP pays royalties ranging from 35% to 70%. The lower-priced books, roughly $2.99 or less, pay the lowest royalty. Books with a higher price tag, $9.99 or more, pay up to 70%. CreateSpace books pay a 40% to 60% royalty. This is a huge contrast to traditional publishers. Traditional publishers pay writers anywhere from 5% to 10%. That’s a world of difference.
iBooks
Apple made a name for itself with iTunes back in the day. However, you can also sign up for iBooks. Apple users have a vast library at their fingertips. While it may not be as large as Kindle, it is quite robust. Apple is the number two player in the game. It accounts for more than 10% of the market share. When you consider the sheer volume of the book market, it is nothing to sneeze at.
Apple books work the same way as Kindle. But there is a huge difference. Apple pays a flat 70% royalty schedule. Besides, authors can discount their books any way they like. So, if you are keen on putting your books at a discounted rate, you can do so easily. This is something that Kindle does not allow you to do very often.
Barnes and Noble Press
Barnes and Noble ran their self-publishing business unit under the name of Nook. It is the third-best player in the game. It accounts for about 5% of the market share. Like Apple, 5% may not sound like a lot. But when multiplied over the scope of the market, it is worth looking into. Barnes and Noble offer a 40% to 65% royalty depending on the book’s price.
Now, if you published on Kindle, Apple, and Nook, you would have access to 95% of the world’s book business. That is worth shooting for any day of the week!
