If you’re a self-published author, you might have been screaming at the screen and wondering why I failed to mention the other platforms (I don’t think authors are that intense, only our characters). Well, truth be told, Amazon and Barnes & Noble are two platforms I am most familiar with because I have used them. However, since I went exclusive on Amazon, I haven’t needed to explore the other platforms out there.
There are two types of platforms I’ll speak to in this blog. Direct (like Amazon KDP) and Indirect (called aggregators). Remember when I said I chose to stick with Amazon because I didn’t want to manage my books across multiple self-publish websites? Well, aggregators are a solution to that very problem. If I had decided not to go exclusive on Amazon, I would have explored these other options (note: you don’t have to go exclusive for your print books with Amazon).
Self-publish Websites: Going Direct
There are a lot of benefits to going direct. The main thing is control. If you need to update your books, you can easily do that through the author dashboard. But if you want to change anything if you go through an aggregator, you have to do it through them, and that can be a pain (so I have heard but don’t take my word for it). Also, you set royalties, usually a 30-70% cut + book printing costs. Aggregators charge a fixed fee and/or a percentage of sales.
Aside from Amazon KDP and Barnes & Noble Press, the other two direct distributors you can look at include Apple Books and Rakuten Kobo. Apple Books, you have to have a Mac, or else you’ll have to go through an aggregator. Kobo, I have heard a lot about it, but I have not used it. This sponsored post by Kobo on The Urban Writers has a good high-level breakdown of publishing with Kobo.
Self-publish Websites: Going Indirect
Now if you want to obtain the broadest reach for your books (including libraries and physical stores) and aren’t too concerned about sacrificing a bit of control, using an aggregator might be the best route for you. What’s nice about using an aggregator versus going direct is that everything is in one place. You don’t have to manage your books across multiple platforms.
Here are some of the top aggregators out there:
There are many good resources on this subject regarding the differences between the aggregators. This article released by selfpublishing.com provides a good overview of the top self-publishing platforms with links to deeper content.
Closing Thoughts
I wish I had more to offer on this subject, but I had to mention these options. No matter what you decide to do, the self-publishing journey is an ever-learning experience. Just from writing the story to publishing a completed book takes an enormous amount of work, and that’s only half the battle, as you’ll need to learn how to market it on your own.
My recommendation…
Don’t try to do it all at once. There’s a wealth of knowledge and perspectives on everything that will quickly become overwhelming. Learn what you can across the different areas (writing, marketing, building a readership, etc.) and build upon it each time you release something. I have learned a lot in the last two and half years since I started, and I still feel I have more to understand and improve. But in that time, I’ve started growing my newsletter, dabbled with marketing on multiple platforms, and started this blog! I could not have done all of that out of the gate.
So take your time (don’t rush your writing process), manage burnout (don’t forget to live life), continue to learn (focus on an area you want to become more versed in, such as marketing on Facebook), and try new things (find what other authors are doing and experiment with it yourself).
Good luck! And just like how I end my newsletter emails, happy reading (and writing)!
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