The traditional publishing model was once the only way authors could get published. No longer! Thanks to the Internet, there is now increased competition between independent authors and traditional publishers. Self publishing is now the path for talented authors to reap the most benefits for their work! Want to know the best sites for self publishing? See below!
AUTHORHOUSE
AuthorHouse is one of the oldest self publishing organizations. It was founded in 1997 by an aspiring author who recognized the need for a simple and effective self-publishing process. The company is not the cheapest, but it claims to be the world’s largest self-publisher. The company offers a high level of customer service and every author is assigned a publishing consultant who spends hours guiding them through each step of the publishing process.
CREATESPACE
As we discussed in a previous post, CreateSpace is part of Amazon. This on-demand publishing platform helps authors who want to see your book downloaded on Kindle or printed in an attractive format. Unique attributes include being able to publish in multiple formats, such as MP3, DVD’s and CD’s. Of course, networking is the name of the game and with legions of writers ready and willing to help you in the CreateSpace community, you will find a lot of support. CreateSpace is one of the best sites for self publishing.
KINDLE DIRECT PUBLISHING
As you may have guessed from our previous posts, Kindle is our favorite online publisher. Amazon entered the business well before everyone started becoming indie authors. Kindle is not only the world’s favorite e-reader, it offers a huge opportunity for authors to sell through their Kindle store and online at Amazon.com.
See our how-to article about Kindle Direct Publishing.
IngramSpark
If you are like most authors starting out, you should use IngramSpark. IngramSpark is available to anyone and is very affordable. There is a $50 setup fee per title. This fee includes both an e-book and a print copy. You will need to buy your own ISBN through Bowker and bring to to Ingram. There you can either pay for additional services such as cover design or upload your own cover art like we did. If you want to be carried by Barnes & Noble and you don’t want to pay an arm and a leg, you should use IngramSpark. Of course, using a POD publisher like IngramSpark means that you are 100% responsible for selling your book. Regardless, we like IngramSpark and believe it is one of the best sites for self publishing.
iUNIVERSE
iUniverse offers special recognition programs which support titles that show a high level of quality and marketability. These programs are want make iUniverse a leader in the self-publishing industry. The company also has a program that helps authors get into Barnes & Noble bookstores.
LULU
One of the best known self-publishing platforms is Lulu. Since 2002, Lulu has published nearly two million publications in over 200 countries. Lulu is a one-stop-shop where authors can create, publish and sell your book. By self publishing, you do most of the work which lowers the cost to print. Lulu’s pricing is pretty straightforward. Lulu offers print-on-demand so you can order fewer than 50 copies for a higher price.
SelfPublishing.com
Selfpublishing.com is one of our preferred publishers. They offer a lot of support to authors and can assist you with everything from cover design to printing. The company claims to be the #1 self publisher on the Internet and it is easy to see why. They can help authors take their manuscript to finished product for a very fair price. Because of the huge amount of help they offer to authors, we believe that SelfPublishing.com is one of the best sites for self publishing.
See our article about using an editor through SelfPublishing.com.
SMASH WORDS
Smash Words started in 2008 and has published over 360,000 titles. Smash Words will distribute your e-book via the most beneficial channels The company also offers a great level of support to writers who need assistance.
XLIBRIS
XLibris empowers authors to self publish their work. The platform is well-designed and easy to use. The company also offers a plethora of advice, author testimonials and special events.
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