Amazon KDP Is Not The Only Gig In Town
Virtually every #author self-publishing #books today knows about Amazon KDP. This post is not intended to bash the DIY publishing platform. I use it myself.
I'll reiterate this: There's nothing wrong with using Amazon KDP to publish your print and e-books. However, there may be times when you want to go a different route. The following publishing options will work with self-publishers who want a more premium service than publish-on-demand. And the beauty of it is you can still sell your books on #Amazon and through every other available channel open to independent authors.
Image from Pixabay.
5 Alternatives to Amazon KDP for Self-Publishing Print Books
It's important to point out (again) that with each of the below options you can still sell your books on Amazon. Book distribution is different than book publishing. As a publisher, you've got to pick the options that are best for you and your book, and that includes printing, editing, book cover creation, and formatting, as well as sales and distribution.
1. Authority Publishing
One thing you don't get when you publish through Amazon is assistance with marketing and promotion. There's no consultation at all. When you publish through Amazon, you are taking on the entire process yourself with no outside assistance other than what you solicit for yourself. That can be be a good thing if you know what you're doing. If you're new to self-publishing and don't have a clue about ISBNs, book distribution channels, marketing your book to the right audience, and everything else that goes along with publishing, you might benefit by hiring a consultant to walk you through the process. That's what Authority Publishing is.
Mathematically, you can publish through KDP and it costs you nothing. If you make no sales, you've also gained nothing. If you sell 100 books, you'll make a little bit to show for your efforts, and you'll be profitable. But a publishing consultant can increase your chances for greater success. Warning: It's not cheap, but value has nothing to do with price.
Authority Publishing is owned and operated by Stephanie Chandler, who parlayed her own self-publishing efforts into a nice consulting business. Known as a "hybrid" book publisher, they take care of the details for you while teaching you how to do it yourself. They handle book cover design, typesetting and layout, proofreading and editing, indexing (if you need it), ISBN and barcode assignment, distribution, marketing consultation, and more. Your name goes on the book, you own the material (including the ISBN), and you get professional book publishing consultation. This is a great option if you are an entrepreneur with a successful business that you want to leverage to increase your #authority perception.
It's also a good option for corporations that want to get into book publishing.
2. Author Imprints
Author Imprints is a service much like Authority Publishing. However, instead of focusing on business books and #nonfiction, they'll work with authors of any type of manuscript. They also help you with the business of publishing, including setting up your own author publishing imprint--hence, the name.
This service is considerably less expensive than Authority Publishing, and they take no royalties. Their service levels include doing it all for you or consulting with you as you do it yourself.
The service include the book publishing process, distribution, marketing, and more.
3. BookLocker
BookLocker is much like Authority Publishing and Author Imprints, but it is a much less expensive service. Where Author Imprints charges $1200 for book publishing services and an additional $800 for a book cover (a bit on the pricey side), BookLocker charges $875 for the full service. They also have a DIY option for $78. Their hardcover add-on for both services is $499, more than reasonable.
Like Author Imprints, BookLocker will work with authors in a variety of book categories and genres. One advantage is they also have a bookstore where you can list your book for sale.
One thing I like about BookLocker is it is run by Angela Hoy, who has a very helpful newsletter for writers at any stage of their careers, and she offers great tips for writers of any level. I know this because she's published some of my articles in her newsletter.
4. IngramSpark
IngramSpark is the print-on-demand (POD) publishing arm of Ingram, the largest book distribution service on the planet. While the service is dirt cheap, $49 for book and e-book services, it's still more expensive than Amazon's KDP, which is free. And there's no added advantage to having your print book published through IngramSpark so that it can have access to all the same publishing channels as traditionally published books with Ingram's book distribution channel. Amazon KDP will distribute your book through those channels also (although, they do take more of your royalties for doing so). In fact, all of the publishers on this list will distribute your book through Ingram.
So why would you publish your book through IngramSpark? If you don't want to go the Amazon KDP route and you don't want to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a book publishing consultant, IngramSpark is a quick and inexpensive DIY option. Furthermore, while Amazon will distribute your books through IngramSpark, they'll take some of your royalties for as long as you're with Amazon KDP. If you sell enough books, that amount will be significantly greater than the $49 price for book publishing at IngramSpark.
5. Lightning Source
Lightning Source used to be an independent self-publishing, DIY, POD printer for authors who wanted to do it themselves. They are now owned by Ingram. They work with a lot of independent publishers and are at ease with large accounts. That's why they can handle wholesale book distribution better than most POD publishers can. So if you do a lot of selling to bookstores, or you want to, then Lightning Source could be an option for you.
While all of the publishers on this list can get your book in the digital catalogs that bookstores use for special orders, Lightning Source seems to be better at actually getting books onto book shelves. So there's your advantage.
Perform Your Own Due Diligence
I'm not endorsing any of these services in particular. I think it's important to perform your own due diligence. You might find that one of these services is better equipped to help you reach your goals as an author. If you're a public speaker, for instance, Authority Publishing has done well helping business speakers expand their influence through self-publishing. If your specialty is religious books, or science, or #fiction, you might do better with another service.
I'll also point out, as a disclaimer, that I haven't personally used any of these services. I have used Amazon KDP, when it was CreateSpace, for publishing my nonfiction book and fiction through my speculative fiction imprint. I also use it for e-books. It works for me. It can work for you too if you want to format your own books and get them listed on Amazon and the major book sellers. It's quick, it's easy, and it's free. But sometimes quick, easy, and free isn't what will carve the turkey. You'll have to do what's right for you.
As a final note, I also want to point out that I perform book publishing consultation with nonfiction book authors through my business Taylored Content LLC. I can ghostwrite books, edit books, and consult with nonfiction authors on their publishing options.
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