12 Jun The Top 5 Ebook Publishing Platforms For Authors
With the self-publishing industry on the rise, it’s clear that anyone with a little know-how can make a name for themselves as an eBook author. But with so many platforms to choose from, how can you know where to publish? Here are the top 5 eBook publishing platforms for aspiring authors to consider.
Kindle Direct
Amazon is by far the most popular eBook retailer worldwide. Publishing through Kindle Direct is a great way to make sure audiences the world over have access to your book. Amazon pays at a rate of 70% for books that are priced between $2.99–9.99 (although the rate is much lower for books under $2.99, at just 35%.) You can also make changes to your book at any time without harming your sales.
There’s also an option to make your books available in the Kindle Lending Library, in which you receive royalties for every time someone borrows your eBook. Overall, Amazon is the most well-known self-publishing option and is also easy and convenient to use.
Kobo
Kobo is by far the platform to consider for global sales. If you are looking to make global sales, Kobo is the go to platform. Their books are available in 190 different countries, making them a great option if you’re trying to reach audiences outside of the United States. They pay 70% of royalties for eBooks priced between $1.99–12.99 and 45% for all other prices.
With Kobo, you can publish your book in just four steps. You retain the rights and have access to sales analytics that can help improve your marketing strategy.
BookBaby
BookBaby has some great resources for the author who doesn’t mind paying a little to get results. They offer several publishing packages and distribute to all of the main eBook retailers, like Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Royalties are 85% of net sales for the lower-end packages and 100% for the premium package, which means BookBaby could potentially be the most profitable option for authors.
BookBaby also offers paid options for cover design and formatting, making it a great solution for the author who might not know how to do that effectively.
Smashwords
Smashwords is one of the biggest eBook distributors in the world. It allows you to upload your eBook to one site and have it distributed on several other sites, such as Barnes and Noble, Scribd, and iBookstore. While they do not currently distribute on Amazon, they offer distribution in 51 different countries which is ideal if you want to make your book available globally.
Smashwords pays royalties of 60% major retailers and 85% from sales directly from their website. They also offer resources about formatting and marketing your eBook, so this is a great platform for new authors who have not yet experienced the eBook publishing process.
Nook Press
Nook is the eBook publishing platform for Barnes and Noble. It’s free to use and allows authors to convert, format, and edit their eBook all in one place. They pay 65% of royalties for books priced between $2.99 and $9.99, and 40% for books priced below $2.99.
With Nook, you’ll have access to Barnes and Noble’s vast audience. There’s also the option to publish your book in print later on if you so choose.
While there are many great eBook publishing platforms out there, the one you choose should depend on your own personal needs. At the end of the day, you should go with the platform that allows you to make the most profit while providing the features that would benefit you the most.
Hope this helps on your publishing journey!
Looking for a good summer read? Check out 46 Book to Read by Women of Color in 2018
Until next time, stay positive and keep writing!
xo
Kim Collier
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