M.K. Williams | How to Self-Publish Hardcover Books | Print On Demand Hardcover Options @1MKWilliams | Uploaded May 2024 | Updated October 2024, 2 hours ago.
Why have a hardcover option?
Some people like it
Makes the paperback look more attractive. Consider a book with a hardcover for $29.79 (so it’s $30) or a paperback that is $18.99. That’s a ten-dollar savings just for the paperback. Yeah, I’ll get that one. Having options makes it easier for a reader to say yes to your book (it’s also why you should have an eBook and audiobook).
Trad pub usually puts out hardcover and eBook first and after a year of solid sales will release a paperback. They make the lion's share of the hardcover because they usually cost a lot more. But they also cost A LOT to produce, and that is for traditional publishers who have the money to invest in offset runs of the books and can get better economies of scale. For us self-publishing authors we have print on demand which is more expensive.
Explain Print-on-Demand
Print on demand, I don’t want to sound like I’m oversimplifying, but it is literally printed when it is demanded. The retailers don’t keep stock. Someone orders your book, pays for it, and the self-publishing platforms print that one copy and mail it out.
Where can you upload your hardcover and have it available to readers?
Amazon KDP (case laminate only)
B & N Press (with jacket or without)
IngramSpark (with jacket or without)
LuLu (with jacket or without)
BookVault (case laminate or cloth laminate, no jacket)
(I swear Draft2Digital is going to add this option the second this video goes live)
Amazon KDP and B&N Press are direct self-publishing sites. As in, you upload to Amazon KDP and your hardcover shows up on Amazon.com and only Amazon.com. You upload to B&N Press and your hardcover shows up on Barnesandnoble.com
When you go with IngramSpark, LuLu, or BookVault - these are aggregators. They can push your hardcover to multiple retailers and once and even LuLu and BookVault offer integrations to sell directly to readers. However, a few notes:
If you pick an aggregator ONLY pick one and do not accept distribution to any retailers you already have a direct listing with.
Double-check that the exact trim size and format you want are enabled for global distribution. I’ve seen a few authors get tripped up on LuLu when the exact trim size and format they wanted could only be sold directly and was not eligible for their global distribution.
Questions? Thoughts?
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Why have a hardcover option?
Some people like it
Makes the paperback look more attractive. Consider a book with a hardcover for $29.79 (so it’s $30) or a paperback that is $18.99. That’s a ten-dollar savings just for the paperback. Yeah, I’ll get that one. Having options makes it easier for a reader to say yes to your book (it’s also why you should have an eBook and audiobook).
Trad pub usually puts out hardcover and eBook first and after a year of solid sales will release a paperback. They make the lion's share of the hardcover because they usually cost a lot more. But they also cost A LOT to produce, and that is for traditional publishers who have the money to invest in offset runs of the books and can get better economies of scale. For us self-publishing authors we have print on demand which is more expensive.
Explain Print-on-Demand
Print on demand, I don’t want to sound like I’m oversimplifying, but it is literally printed when it is demanded. The retailers don’t keep stock. Someone orders your book, pays for it, and the self-publishing platforms print that one copy and mail it out.
Where can you upload your hardcover and have it available to readers?
Amazon KDP (case laminate only)
B & N Press (with jacket or without)
IngramSpark (with jacket or without)
LuLu (with jacket or without)
BookVault (case laminate or cloth laminate, no jacket)
(I swear Draft2Digital is going to add this option the second this video goes live)
Amazon KDP and B&N Press are direct self-publishing sites. As in, you upload to Amazon KDP and your hardcover shows up on Amazon.com and only Amazon.com. You upload to B&N Press and your hardcover shows up on Barnesandnoble.com
When you go with IngramSpark, LuLu, or BookVault - these are aggregators. They can push your hardcover to multiple retailers and once and even LuLu and BookVault offer integrations to sell directly to readers. However, a few notes:
If you pick an aggregator ONLY pick one and do not accept distribution to any retailers you already have a direct listing with.
Double-check that the exact trim size and format you want are enabled for global distribution. I’ve seen a few authors get tripped up on LuLu when the exact trim size and format they wanted could only be sold directly and was not eligible for their global distribution.
Questions? Thoughts?
Join this channel to get access to perks:
youtube.com/channel/UCjvBO4kjuBSYe6Bi3RYQAQA/join
Music from: Wondershare Filmora Sounds: "Something Cheer You Up"
Stock video and images from Wondershare Filmora and Pexels
How You Can Support This Channel and My Work:
👍Like, Subscribe, and Comment on this video!
✉️Subscribe to my monthly newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/52c7cd246b5b/authoryourambition
➕Follow me on my other channels: FB | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads
facebook.com/1mkwilliams
twitter.com/1mkwilliams
instagram.com/1mkwilliams
goodreads.com/author/show/14420756.M_K_Williams
☕️Buy Me A Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/1mkwilliams
📚Check out my books and purchase them or request them at your library: 1mkwilliams.com or payhip.com/MKWilliamsPublishingLLC
Author Your Ambition Merch on Etsy:
📖etsy.com/shop/AuthorYourAmbition
Partnership Opportunities:
Interested in working together to collaborate on an upcoming video? Let's connect: authoryourambition.com/partnership-opportunities
DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you, but it can help me continue to create and put out more content. Thank you for supporting my channel so I can continue to provide you with free content each week!
