Change Is in the Air!
We're rolling out changes to our newsletter, sharing tips on how to retain control of your book, and more...
Autumn is rolling in, and change is happening all around us. Leaves are turning colors, temps will soon become bearable (sorry summer-lovers), pumpkin spice is making a comeback (did it ever really go out of season?)—and we’re making important updates to our newsletter!
From here on out, we’ll be posting two newsletters per month. That’s right—one on the first and third Thursday of each month. This means more indie author advice delivered to your inbox. Yay! 🥳
We’re also changing the format of our newsletters. From now on, we plan to share complete blog posts, so you don’t need to click away to finish reading.
We welcome your thoughts on these changes. Our DM is open and we can always be reached by email.
Thank you for reading!
Publish with Confidence Your Way
When it comes time to print and distribute your book, it may seem as if many options are open to you. On the surface, this is true. However, a little-known secret in the self-publishing industry is that most of the “publishers” that purport to print and distribute your book for you go through IngramSpark or KDP.
So, why not deal with IngramSpark and KDP directly? Let’s explore some of the benefits of skipping the middlemen and where to turn if you need help.
Stay in Control
When you work directly with IngramSpark and KDP (we recommend using both in tandem), you’re in charge. You can log in to your account to check the status of your book, set your retail price, review sales reports, and choose your distribution channels. You don’t have to depend on a third party to provide you with the information you need to ensure your author business is running as you like. Similarly, you can publish your book on your schedule, not anyone else’s.
Keep Your Files
Staying in control of your accounts also means you stay in control of your files. You don’t need to worry about losing access to your files if a self-publishing company disappears or you decide not to work with them any longer—you oversee every aspect of publication and distribution. If your files have any issues, you can edit and re-upload them as necessary without waiting for a middleman to report the problem to you—if they ever do.
ISBNs in Your Name
In a similar vein, it’s always best to purchase ISBNs in your own name. When a “publisher” provides a “free” ISBN, they’re giving you one of theirs—meaning THEY, not YOU, are registered as the publisher of your book.
Full Access to Necessary Tools
Even before you set up your account, IngramSpark and KDP provide access to pricing calculators, cover template generators, and thorough Help sections. On top of that, IngramSpark shares a wealth of information on its award-winning blog and offers 24/7 customer support.
Note: The pricing calculators reveal the full compensation you’ll receive from every sale, not the lesser “royalty” amount promised by self-publishing companies. Try them out for yourself on KDP and IngramSpark.
Make More Money
Setting up POD/distribution accounts in your name means that you keep all revenue minus wholesale discounts and printing fees. When you work with a publishing company, you not only pay them up front for book preparation services, but they may even take a portion of your earnings off the back end with each sale you make.
Does that make sense to you?
You invested the most time and effort into your book, so you deserve to reap the full rewards. Dealing with IngramSpark and KDP directly enables you to turn the highest profit.
Now, what if you want all these benefits but it still seems daunting because you don’t know the first thing about setting up a book?
There’s really nothing to fear. Author service companies like 1106 Design are happy to help. We’re a highly-rated expert on Ingram’s Resource Page, and we love helping authors. We offer a full suite of services so we can help you through each stage of the publishing process. Better yet, we won’t claim ownership of your files or take a cent of your earnings.
Self-publishing is about sharing your book with the world on your terms. IngramSpark and KDP help make this possible. This is all part of why we continue to recommend IngramSpark and KDP when authors ask us about printing and distribution. If you’re curious about why we recommend both, this blog post can help.
It might seem overwhelming at first, but with the right support, practice, and determination, you can get your titles set up in no time.
Contact us to learn more about how we can help you maximize your profits and take control of your publishing journey.
A version of this article was previously published by IngramSpark on March 1, 2024.
In case you missed it…
How to Avoid Book Production Hell
For this post, we’ll focus on how to make the most of the publishing team you hire.
Latest Podcasts
Peter Anthony—Growth Tales
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Changes like this indicate management is fully focused on their service to their clients.
Good overview. People who work with us don’t self-publish. They are working with experts who know what they are doing. You and I can both tell in 10 seconds books from folks who thought that they could do everything themselves.