Thinking of POD book publishing? So are we! When we published Book Design Made Simple, we got a good deal for printing both editions at Friesens in Canada. Offset printing cost us about 62% less than print on demand (POD) at Amazon. We also found a book distributor, which has housed our books and handled all of our orders ever since.
But now we’re running low on print books, and we need to decide what to do next. Should we do another offset print run, or switch to POD book publishing?
We’ve always said that POD is perfect for starting out self publishing. For example, we printed advance review copies to get reviews and test our market using POD at IngramSpark. We also believe that POD book publishing is perfect for backlist titles—books that aren’t new releases but need to be kept in stock as they are still selling well. Now that Book Design Made Simple is no longer a new release, POD book publishing may be a simpler option for us than continuing to print books and then ship, store, and distribute them through a distributor.
#IndieAuthors, is your finger hovering nervously over the Send Files button at Amazon or IngramSpark? We've analyzed the pros and cons for you here: bit.ly/2K5VpQU. Share on XSelf publishing using POD
There are many places where you can get your book “published” using POD, for example, Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Lulu, Infinity, and so on. They all offer to provide you with a free ISBN. Just to be clear, in this article we’re talking about self publishing your book using POD, meaning that you’ll have your own ISBN and not be using someone else’s. You’ll simply be using POD as an avenue for selling, printing, and shipping your print book.
Are POD books different from offset-printed books?
Yes, they do look a little different. Though for most readers it’s very subtle, and they would have to be looking at the offset and POD versions at the same time. Look for the following:
Images might not be quite as clear.- The paper may very well be different, as POD printers basically offer only one kind. We’re hoping that there will be very little see-through in our book, as we have a lot of illustrations.
- The last page of the book has a marker on it, something like the one you see to the right, and the ISBN appears, too. You’d never see this in an offset-printed book.
(See Digital vs. Offset Printing for a comparison on the two methods of printing.)
POD book publishing through Amazon
Of course you want to use Amazon for POD book publishing! There are lots of advantages to doing so, and here are the main ones:
4 great reasons to use Amazon
- Widest audience. There’s no doubt that Amazon has a huge audience and reach. They offer shoppers all kinds of incentives to purchase, including discounts for purchasing multiple items, free shipping on minimum orders, and so on. Chances are good that you already have an account with Amazon and have made several purchases including books!
- Amazon handles currency conversion, shipping, fulfillment, and returns. That’s right, Amazon will do all this for you! You won’t need to print books, store them, collect money in different currencies, package and ship the books, and deal with damaged books and returns.
- Multiple formats. If you expand your print book to include ebook and audio editions, these will all be linked together to offer your readers choices of format.
- Build your author platform. Amazon offers an Author Page where you can include your bio, links to events and blog posts, and of course your book. Readers can follow you to be notified of any changes or updates to your author page. (See Fiona’s author page)
But…there are also a few issues you need to be aware of when using Amazon for POD book publishing:
3 downsides to using Amazon
- Amazon charges a lot for POD book publishing. If your book has a low retail price, you’ll find that after paying for printing, you may only get a dollar or two in sales per book. To estimate your costs, go to Printing Costs and Royalty Calculator and click the Download button to download an Excel spreadsheet. Here is an example for a 200-page paperback listed for $9.95:
The Amazon royalty is 60% of your list price minus printing costs. In the example above, 60% of $9.95 is $5.97, minus $3.25 in printing costs, and your royalty is $2.72. In the case of expanded distribution, the royalty rate is only 40% instead of 60%, resulting in a much lower royalty for expanded distribution.
- Putting all your eggs in one basket. Even though Amazon is a giant company that isn’t likely to go out of business anytime soon, it’s possible that your book could get de-listed or sales could be affected by something that’s beyond your control. If Amazon has exclusive rights to your book sales, you could find yourself not being able to sell books if something goes sideways with Amazon.
- Doesn’t provide industry-standard wholesale discounts or returns. Bookstores and libraries require the standard 55% wholesale discount and, more importantly, bookstores expect to be able to return books up to six months after purchase if they haven’t sold. Amazon, however, only allows returns within 30 days.
That last item—Amazon doesn’t allow returns after 30 days—is a huge downside! If your book, like ours, has a market in bookstores and libraries, you’ll want to use the workaround below.
Best method for POD book publishing
Providing you have your own ISBN, you’re free to use the POD services of more than one company. We recommend using Amazon KDP and IngramSpark. They are both POD giants and there are benefits to each.
Use Amazon KDP for selling on Amazon
List your book through Amazon KDP (formerly known as CreateSpace) and it will always appear “in stock” on Amazon. That’s the big advantage of having Amazon control the listing, printing, and distribution of your book on Amazon. And, of course, if your book is also available as a Kindle or audio book, shoppers will know what formats they can choose from.
But don’t sign up for KDP Select, as that gives Amazon exclusive rights to ALL sales and distribution of your book, and you don’t want that! Why not? Because libraries and bookstores don’t purchase from Amazon. They only purchase where they can get the industry-standard 55% discount, and where returns are allowed for up to six months.
Use IngramSpark for all other distribution
Ingram Book Group is THE major US wholesaler and distributor of books, specializing in library and bookstore sales. They also offer excellent worldwide distribution to IngramSpark users.
List your book through IngramSpark to take advantage of worldwide distribution. But don’t allow Ingram to do any distribution to Amazon since you’ll set that up directly through Amazon KDP. Be sure to set your discount to the industry-standard wholesale rate of 55%, and also to accept returns. That means libraries and bookstores, including Barnes & Noble, will be able to order your book.
Use Amazon and IngramSpark for POD book publishing
We recommend using Amazon strictly for sales on Amazon and using IngramSpark for all other sales. As long as you’re using your own ISBN (and the same ISBN for your book on both Amazon and IngramSpark), then all book sales from all sources will be attributed to your book. You’ll be getting the best of both worlds!
Read more: Amazon updates for book authors » 3 updates: 1) use epubs for Kindle, 2) Amazon KDP prints hardcovers, and 3) A+ Content available for Amazon book product pages.
And more: Digital vs. offset printing » compares the pros and cons of offset and digital.
And still more: How to price your book » helps you figure out the answer to that always tough question.
Book Design Made Simple. You can do it yourself.
I do not have personal opinions or beliefs, but I can provide information. In recent years, book publishing has been impacted by technology, with the rise of e-books and self-publishing platforms. However, traditional publishing still plays a significant role in the industry, with many readers continuing to prefer physical books. The future of book publishing may involve a balance between digital and physical formats, as well as new technologies such as augmented reality and interactive storytelling.
https://book-success.com/cheap-book-edit-services
I have a strange question. I have my print books and ebooks on KDP. My kdp ads are running close to break-even. I want to run the much more effective video ads which requires a brand trademark and seller central account which I now have. However, it seems impossible for KDP to print on demand and fulfill orders with my Seller Central account. It makes no sense but it is what it is. Neither department knows the answer and keep sending me to the other. I know video ads work much better. Our Facebook campaign is lights out with a cpc at around .06. Unfortunately, there is no effective way to track sales once they reach Amazon (except using a landing page on my site first – an extra step which I think reduces sales). I produce film and put together high quality video. I am also not clear if I can POD at Ingram which I use going wide. Excuse the long-winded question, but do you know if this is possible – pod at Ingram – ship to seller central? Video ads definitely break through and I know would help us a lot. I am starting to see book video ads, which are not possible on KDP brand accounts. An article on this would be great too. Thanks for any direction you can give.
Hello DJ,
Thanks for your question. KDP has certainly confused a lot of publishing ventures. Here’s what we think you could do:
Since you’re on Seller Central, you could have your books printed anywhere at all and have them shipped directly to Amazon. You could try using IngramSpark or Lightning Source, both part of Ingram. Lightning Source has a fairly simple program called Short Run Direct, where you could print a carton-load (or more) of books at a time. They would then ship to Amazon. Or you could use an offset printer for a greater volume (and quite possibly a lower cost per unit). You could also use a digital printer that’s not POD. Your choice of printing method would depend on how many books you want at Amazon at any one time and where you’d store them if they were not being shipped to Amazon right away. Whatever you do, we advise you to speak to a customer representative to clear up any questions before making a final decision.
We wish you the best with this, and we’d be very interested to find out what you decide to do and how it works out for you.
Glenna and Fiona
Can anyone help with this? My book is published on Amazon but I want to publish it in another platform. I planned from the beginning to also publish my book with Ingram Spark, but discovered that they have some deal with KDP, so I can’t use the same ISBN that I used with Amazon–even though I bought it.
So I published my book on Amazon and bought my ISBN (expensive!) Only to discover that I cannot publish my book on Ingram Spark using that same ISBN, even though I purchased it! I’m expected to buy another one. This is terrible news as it was my plan from the beginning to publish on both platforms. That’s why I bought the ISBN. But they are pricey.
Ingram Spark told me I need to “remove expanded distribution services and have the title ISBN and files transferred” to my Ingram Spark Account.
Have you ever heard of this?
Also I can’t make editorial changes in my book because Amazon’s system keeps rejecting them so I’d prefer to go with another company that has an easier to use self publishing platform.
Here’s the message I got from Ingram Spark:
“IngramSpark is non-exclusive. You can set up your print book on your IngramSpark account and sell it through our global distribution network, plus you can use other printers, distributors, fulfillment services, or any companies you choose to work with.
With the KDP program, it is our understanding, you can use only Amazon, or, if you select their Expanded Distribution program, “your book’s ISBN must not have been submitted for distribution through another service” (such as IngramSpark) and your book must be available on Amazon.
If you are already using the expanded distribution services KDP offers then your book is already available for sale through some of the markets we offer. KDP has an account with Ingram which is how they can offer expanded distribution services. With our distribution service, an ISBN can only be listed on one account.
If you want your book available through IngramSpark and Amazon, you would have to remove expanded distribution services and have the title, ISBN, and files transferred to your IngramSpark account. You will need to have a fully set up IngramSpark account before requesting the transfer. Then your book could be available through Ingram and Amazon. If you decide to do this, there is a transfer process and an addendum that has to be completed by you, the publisher, and KDP would have to approve the transfer.
Hi Meria, Sorry to hear that you had this issue. Yes, we have definitely heard of it, as it’s a common issue. So common, in fact, that IngramSpark has already sent you instructions on how to fix it. In your message, at the bottom, you included the instructions you got from IngramSpark. There are a few key sentences there that will help you:
“If you want your book available through IngramSpark and Amazon, you would have to remove expanded distribution services [from Amazon KDP] and have the title, ISBN, and files transferred to your IngramSpark account.” The problem is that when you set up your distribution for Amazon KDP, you allowed them to distribute all Amazon sales AND all worldwide sales as well. IngramSpark will not distribute worldwide for you if your ISBN is already in distribution by Amazon. So your FIRST STEP is to remove worldwide sales rights from your Amazon KDP account for that ISBN.
“You will need to have a fully set up IngramSpark account before requesting the transfer. Then your book could be available through Ingram and Amazon. If you decide to do this, there is a transfer process and an addendum that has to be completed by you, the publisher, and KDP would have to approve the transfer.” So your SECOND STEP is to set up an IngramSpark account, and your THIRD STEP is to go through the transfer process and have it approved by Amazon KDP. I’m sure IngramSpark has the online forms required for the transfer process and can provide assistance if needed.
Once the transfer is approved, your ISBN will be available through IngramSpark for worldwide distribution, and through Amazon KDP for Amazon distribution.
It may take some time to set this up, but it’ll be worth it in the long run. And you really want just one ISBN for your title, not two! Regardless of the extra expense, a second ISBN just confuses anyone ordering the book.
IngramSpark is very helpful, and I’m sure they’ve assisted many authors and publishers with this exact issue.
Please let us know how you get on.
Fiona
Thank you so much for such great information!
I have one question:
I have an amazon seller central account and I am wondering if I can link Ingramspark print on demand book services on my amazon seller central book listing.
Thank you and continue your amazing work.
Hello Paula,
To me it still makes the most sense to have your Amazon books printed by Amazon and all your other books printed by IngramSpark. It would save time, money, labor, and transportation.
In our article, we mentioned the cost of printing at Amazon. The cost has since come down in comparison to offset or bulk digital printing.
I hope this helps you decide what to do. Best of luck with your publishing project.
Glenna
Regarding your OWN ISBNs for EBooks, can you confirm that NOW, in 2022, you still need 2 separate ISBNs for AZW3 and EPub? I’m getting mixed info, stating on 1 hand, that you now only need 1 ISBN for both E-Book formats, and on the other hand, I’m reading that you need 2 separate ones. But with Amazon now accepting E-Pub files, and then converting them, do I still need 2 ISBNs?
Hello Derrick,
You no longer need a separate ISBN for various reflowable ebook formats. If the ebook is fixed-layout and you want to submit a MOBI file, you could simply use their ASIN instead. We wrote an updated article on this more recently: https://www.bookdesignmadesimple.com/amazon-updates-book-authors/
We hope this clears up this confusing issue for you.
Glenna
Hi – I am looking to just print about 40 copies of my small book (just 36 pages) and am wondering how to adjust my margin size for such a small spine – right now it’s at roughly 0.32. Additionally, I’m looking for a service where I can just print (with my own ISBN) but also get a proof prior to placing an order. Do you have any recommendations?
Hello Darcey,
You might try Gorham Printing in Washington: https://gorhamprinting.com/products-book-ebook/index.html. Their site says that they’ll be able to give it a paperback spine. Other printers might offer a saddle-stitched (stapled) spine, which looks a little less nice.
You should probably make your gutter margin at least 1/2″ just because your printer will probably require that as a minimum. This might seem like too much when you look at it in InDesign, but it will be just right when it’s printed. The pages will probably be a bit stiff and hard to turn because the book will be so thin, so a wider margin will be easier for readers to deal with.
To get a proof, simply order one copy at first. Digital printers can handle a single copy easily.
Be aware that there is a general paper shortage for books at the moment and production times are slow.
Best of luck with your book and the printing. Let us know how it works out for you.
Glenna
I wanted to self publish with Amazon or Ingram but there are several problems with this. First, the specs they require for margins, doc, and other dimensions are impossible to calculate on a word processor like Word. You.d need a professional book publisher to format for you which means the ‘free” publishing on those sites is not free at all. it’s cheaper to go with a POD publisher who can set up the whole thing for you without the headaches. Second, none of these companies is accessible. If the format info they provide on their site is Greek to you, you can’t talk to a human who can explain in concrete terms what needs to be done At least P OD pubiishers have phone contacts. It seems to me you have to be a professional to format the books. Howmany people can do that?
Hi Robert,
Amazon KDP and IngramSpark both accept Word docs for your book files, but you do need to know how to set up your pages and margins properly. Amazon KDP has some very useful instructions including videos here. Or, if setting up your own Word document feels too daunting, you could consider purchasing a book design template. That way, all the design and formatting work is done for you, and you only need to add your own text. A quick search for Book Design Templates will provide many options, free and otherwise.
Robert, having said that, I totally get your point. Creating your own book from scratch when you’re not familiar with Word or InDesign can seem impossible, and often human help simply isn’t available! POD publishers that set everything up for you are an attractive alternative to doing everything yourself, even though the cost is higher. You’re paying for hand holding and peace of mind, and those are especially valuable when you’re new to self publishing! You could consider using a POD publisher for your first book and, once you’re familiar with the process, figure out the Word doc issues for your next book when things don’t seem so daunting.
Getting started with self publishing requires a HUGE learning curve, and most of us need help with some things, whether it’s writing, editing, document setup, marketing, printing, or publishing. Know where your strengths lie, and handle those aspects yourself. Then find help for the issues that you don’t have the time or inclination for. I hope publishing will become a positive experience for you!
Fiona
Hi Anna,
In your piece you suggests . . .
“List your book through IngramSpark to take advantage of worldwide distribution. But don’t allow Ingram to do any distribution to Amazon since you’ll set that up directly through Amazon KDP. ”
I’m new to self-publishing and this is my plan.
Q: If I publish with IngramSpark, does Ingram actually have a feature that allows users to OPT OUT of distribution with Amazon, and other distribution channels?
I can’t seem to find this info and want to be sure before I hit the Go Button.
Thanks for an informative article!
Best,
Kilgore
Hello Kilgore,
When you set up an account with IngramSpark and send them your book files, you can opt IN to their distribution scheme or not. Many people use IngramSpark simply to print a few copies for proofing or private distribution to friends.
Another issue is ebook format. Amazon sells only ebooks that are in MOBI format for Kindle. So if you don’t convert your book to a MOBI file, you cannot distribute the ebook via Amazon. (All other ebook readers use EPUB format.)
I hope this simple explanation covers the bases for you.
Glenna
Hi Glenna,
Thanks for you comments!
I understand that one can opt IN or OUT of Ingram’s distribution scheme.
My question is this: If I choose to opt IN, would I than have have the option to decide and select which distribution channels (ex. Amazon, Barnes & Noble) Ingram distributes my book to?
John
Hi John: Once you opt in to Ingram’s distribution, you can choose which distribution channels you want. If you do NOT want Ingram to handle your Amazon distribution, you’ll need to opt in to that from your Amazon or Amazon KDP account. Ingram can handle worldwide distribution for you, through many distribution channels such as bookstores, libraries, and so on. I believe you can choose which channels you want to opt in to. Here is a link to their blog post about distribution, where you can also download their ebook about it for more info. Hope this helps! Fiona
“But don’t allow Ingram to do any distribution to Amazon since you’ll set that up directly through Amazon KDP.”
There is absolutely no way to do this. Ingram DOES NOT provide any fine grain control over distribution. You CAN NOT tell Ingram not to distribute to Amazon.
Hi Rufus, thanks for your comment. I don’t currently have any books with IngramSpark, so am not able to walk through the process of setting up distribution. But I did find this article in their help section, which confirms that we are able to distribute through both IngramSpark and Amazon KDP: Amazon: Can I Set Up My Print Book With KDP and IngramSpark?
Fiona
I’m concerned about accepting returns on my book, especially as I have priced it very competitively so my profit margin is quite low. Here is what IngramSpark says about returns: “Publishers must weigh the risk of returns against the potential for increased sales and be prepared to reimburse booksellers for the cost of returns as they occur. Returns can be very costly, and publishers should be prepared for this expense when making a book returnable. If a publisher is not sure which return option to offer, consider starting with non-returnable. Publishers can always change the return option later if needed.” (My cost would be $2 a book for my paperback and $10 a book for my hardcover edition.) Your thoughts?
Hi Carl, your question about whether or not to accept returns is a good one. And IngramSpark’s advice is excellent. If your book will sell well in bookstores, it’s worth accepting returns. Bookstores have up to six months to return unsold books. If your books will be snapped up long before six months have passed, then you have nothing to worry about.
In our case, we found that readers weren’t browsing for Book Design Made Simple in bookstores. They are much more likely to find and purchase it online. When our book was first released, bookstores ordered lots of copies. Bookstores have nothing to lose because they return any books that haven’t sold in six months. And that’s what happened. Six months after our initial promising “sales,” many of the books were returned at our cost. The returned books can’t be resold because they’ve been used (thumbed through in the bookstore) and classified as damaged.
So it really depends on the genre of your book, and whether it will sell successfully in bookstores. If you’re in doubt about how your book will sell in bookstores, visit your local bookstore and ask for their advice. Do they stock books like yours? More importantly, do they SELL books like yours?
I hope this helps! Fiona
Hi Carl,
Fiona’s reply is very sound. But I found an article that might give you a bit more information, so check this out from Publishers Weekly:
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/pw-select/article/71886-returns-101-what-new-authors-need-to-know.html
Good luck, whatever you decide.
Glenna
Dear Fiona and Glenna,
Thanks for this clarifying article and your conscientious replies to each person with their individual quandary. This type of cross-company information is essential. Please be encouraged.
I feel like I’ve understood important concepts that I couldn’t get my head around before. Basic, once you know, but nothing you get born and suck out of your thumb…
Dear Janelle,
Thanks! We do try to help as many people as we can, and it’s nice that you’ve noticed. Good luck with your publishing adventure!
Glenna
Thank you for the article and responses to questions. It’s 2021, and still useful.
Thanks for your comment, Niva. We are so happy to be relevant still!
Glenna
Hi! This article is so helpful.
I’m POD Publishing a book that is to be sold in Australia and the US. It’s been recommended to me to use both Amazon KDP and Ingram Spark (Amazon for Amazon fulfillment and Ingram for bookstores), but I find it hard to believe that Amazon would be able to provide the book as quickly and inexpensively in Australia as Ingram, considering that Amazon does not have any printers in Australia.
I am on an offset-publishing type of budget, so within reason, money is not an object.
What do you think? If you were me, would you use them both or would you just start with Ingram Spark?
Hi Anna,
As you read in our blog post, we usually recommend using Amazon KDP for Amazon distribution and Ingram for everything else. But for Australians, this isn’t necessarily the best choice. Amazon doesn’t currently have any printers in Australia, and recently Australians have been unable to order printed proofs or author copies. Often books must be ordered on Amazon.com (USA) and shipping costs to Australia are more than the price of the book.
The usual benefit of giving Amazon distribution is that your book always shows as “In Stock” on Amazon. If Amazon distribution is through Ingram, then your book will show as “Ships Within 2 Days” or something similar. For Australians shopping on Amazon, getting lower-cost shipping in just a few days is actually a benefit, not a problem!
If I were you, I’d start with Ingram Spark. Ingram is a reputable worldwide distributor and low-cost POD printer, and they are well accustomed to distributing via Amazon. Later on, if Amazon starts printing in Australia and you feel it’ll be beneficial to switch distribution to them, you’ll be able to do so.
I hope this helps! Let us know how you get on.
Fiona
I believe Amazon is now printing in Australia
Hi Karen, yes Amazon KDP is now set up for printing in Australia. Great news for everyone! They’re asking authors to check their book prices as the cost of printing is higher there than in the US. Fiona
Hi! I’m looking to print a comic book as POD, so that people can buy and get my printed books, with a good shipment option, and I can sell them without having to think about payments, purchases, stocks, prints, logistics etc.
To do that, Amazon KDP is the best choice. But, I’ve heard that Amazon KDP is not recommended to print comic books and that I should use Ingram Spark. So I need to use Ingram Spark to print them and sell on Amazon.
I understand that I must have my own ISBN to use on Amazon and Ingram Spark, but I can’t figure out how I can print using the POD services of Ingram Spark and sell with Amazon KDP.
I tried to see how it works on the Ingram Spark website, but their site is very confusing, so I can’t understand a thing of what they say.
So what should I do?
And being in France and selling worldwide, having only a French ISBN is enough? Or do I need an US one too?
Thanks in advance!
Junior
Hi Junior, first to answer the easy part of your question … an ISBN is an international number, so you only need to get one, and you are only able to obtain an ISBN in your own country. So your French ISBN is perfect for you.
You can definitely print at IngramSpark and sell through Amazon. You wouldn’t be selling through Amazon KDP as that is Amazon’s POD program. Instead, you’d be printing through IngramSpark’s POD program, and selling to worldwide markets including Amazon. Does that make sense?
When you upload your title to IngramSpark, you’ll be able to choose all the different channels of distribution that you want, and one of those choices is Amazon. If you want to learn more about distribution through IngramSpark before uploading a title, read their blog post Book Distribution with IngramSpark first. You can also download their Book Distribution Guide on that page.
We hope this helps! Fiona
I understand that I can use both Amazon KDP and Ingram Spark to distribute my books. I have my own ISBN. I know I cannot sell my eBook with anyone other than Amazon if I choose Amazon select. My question is; if I don’t choose KDP select for my Amazon distribution can I then sell both my eBook and my paperback to both distributors?
Hello Talek,
The answer to your question is yes. If you want to sell your ebook to both outlets, you’ll need a MOBI file (for Amazon) and an EPUB file (for Ingram). You will need to use a separate ISBN for each ebook edition, in addition to the one you use on your printed book (no matter who sells it for you.) This makes a total of 3 ISBNs for the one book.
I hope this makes sense. And best of luck selling your book in all its forms.
Glenna
I currently use Lulu, but the new formatting is such a headache for the tech-challenged! I use their free ISBN. This is the first time I’ve tried to use the new programm – I left teeth marks in my desk and still got nowhere *sigh*
I’m wondering if I am able to use both KDP as well as Lulu for POD for the same book, using Amazon’s free ISBN for the Amazon book, and Lulu’s free ISBN for the Lulu book. I can’t seem to find a straight answer anywhere I look on the internet, and Lulu isn’t answering emails in a reasonable amount of time. I know they’re having issues with their new program.
So, do you know if I can use 2 separate distributors for POD for the same book?
Thanks (heads about to excplode)
Hello Ang,
We always recommend getting your own ISBN. There are a few reasons for this:
1. The publisher’s identity is embedded in the ISBN, so if you get one from Amazon, Amazon will be identified as the publisher. Then if you get another one from Lulu, Lulu will be the publisher. It is so much better if YOU can be the publisher. You can still use both companies as your PRINTER, though.
2. If you get a bunch of ISBNs, you will be all ready to publish your next book or alternate format (see below) with one of your numbers.
3. A book should not have more than one ISBN. It causes too much confusion. However, if you have an ebook for Kindle (MOBI format), another ebook for other devices (EPUB format), a paperback, a hard cover, and an audio book all for the same title, you’d need 5 different ISBNs. Preferably all would be from the same publisher (i.e., using the ISBNs that you bought).
4. ISBNs are not free in Australia, but they are less expensive than in the U.S. If you want to be professional about this, you should make the investment.
I hope this helps cut down on the confusion. Please be in touch again if you need clarification or other help.
Glenna
I was hedging between Amazon and IngramSpark, so thank you this article is very helpful. I’m going to put my book on both. It seems as if Ingram Spark has a chat support but I didn’t see phone support. I believe Amazon has phone support for POD. Is that correct?
Jackie
Thank you so much! This is my first time self-publishing and this helped me tremendously! I believe I will opt to go the Amazon and Ingram route. Still deciding between Ingram and Draft2Digital. Any thoughts of draft2digital compared to Ingram? Again, thank you!
Hi Taylor, thanks for your kind words! I don’t have any experience with draft2digital, so can’t say how they compare to Ingram. They do, however, seem to specialize in ebooks and their POD is currently in beta, so you’d want to see a sample of a print book before committing to their POD. And it’s pretty hard to beat Ingram for distribution, since that’s what they specialize in. All the best for your first time self-publishing! Fiona
In the experience of this community, is there a consistent difference in quality between KDP and IngramSpark?
Hello Stephan,
Both companies use the same equipment. However, they both also have various locations, and some of the facilities do a better job than others. So you can’t be sure of the results either way. I wish I could give you a better answer than “it’s a crap shoot,” but that’s the way it is.
Best of luck!
Glenna
I’m actually interested in KDP and trying Kindle Select first to see how my fantasy novel sells with Amazon on Kindle Unlimited. I want to definitely sell my paperback to other resources like Barns and Noble (through IngramSpark) but I want an easy option to leave Kindle Select and to distribute the ebook elsewhere if Kindle Unlimited doesn’t work out for me. What would be the best way to do that? Can I purchase the option for print and ebook though IngramSpark, but not activate the ebook part until I’m ready? I assume Amazon remains a separate entity, printing my book through their services while everywhere else uses IngramSpark?
Hi Christine,
I believe you can purchase the package for print and ebook through IngramSpark, and then initially choose distribution rights for just the print book and not the ebook. Do double-check that though, as it’s been a while since I used IngramSpark for ebook distribution. The Kindle Select program is available for 90-day periods at a time, so you could start by granting exclusive distribution of your ebook to Amazon, and change your mind anytime your existing 90-day period expires. Whenever Amazon no longer has exclusive distribution for your ebook, you can upload your epub to IngramSpark and distribute the ebook through them too. I do think it’s worthwhile trying Kindle Select and Kindle Unlimited first, and then have IngramSpark as a backup if you decide to expand your reach.
Fiona
For a paperback in KDP the book is available for purchase by default in Amazon. Is there a default location for IngramSpark? I understand that the retail and online store partners have to specifically request the book from IngramSpark.
Hello Raj,
As you suspect, Ingram is one of the world’s largest book distributors, and retailers and libraries order from them. IngramSpark does not have a retail outlet.
I hope this helps you decide where to print your book. You can use both IngramSpark and KDP, if you like.
Glenna
Can both amazon and Ingram be used (with Ingram supplying higher priced hardcovers to different markets and countries)
Their cost to print hardcovers compared to offset makes me want to rely on Amazon for the US market other than brick and mortar distribution.
Trying to price their pod books close to my Amazon price has me paying $ to sell my books. Thanks Lion with his colorful kids books
Hello Lion,
Yes, you can use both as your printers, and many folks do. Offset and digital printing are both less expensive per unit than Amazon and Ingram POD printing, but then you have the problem of what to do with all those books before they’re sold; that’s where POD printing finds its value for authors. Sorry to hear you’re losing money, though. Can you adjust your pricing?
Glenna
I am trying to sale distribute my some books among nine already published, if possible free of any cost. Thanks.
Hi Roshan, your print and ebook files can be uploaded to Amazon KDP, free of any cost. I hope this helps.
Blurb takes only fee – you not paying anything BEFORE distribution.
I recently uploaded my book on KDP and IngramSpark, and ordered a proof from each. The one from Ingram was clearer and better formatted. Is there a way for me to use Ingram as my printer/ distributor even for orders that come in through Amazon? Or would I have to completely pull the book from KDP?
Hi Hend, you can use IngramSpark for printing and distributing orders from Amazon, but you’ll need to pull the book from KDP and give IngramSpark exclusive distribution for Amazon orders. This means that your book wouldn’t show as “In Stock” at Amazon, but I believe the listing would otherwise remain the same. I hope this helps!
Which would you recommend I use to print a personal copy for proofreading and why?
To just print one copy for proofreading, you’re probably best to go with Amazon KDP because it’s free to upload your files. Also, you’re very likely to use KDP for distribution on Amazon. I hope this helps!
Thank you for this helpful article.
I recently released my “Selected Poems” in paperback and e-book using Amazon. Having just read your article I would, in retrospect have used more than one distributor and purchased my own ISBN (rather than using the free one provided by Amazon).
Whilst (as you point out), the advantage of POD is that you don’t need to hold copies of your book, I always purchase a number of author copies to give away to close family and friends. The advantage to using Amazon’s POD service is that authors only pay the cost of printing (rather than that paid by readers purchasing your book).
As someone who is registered blind and a screen reader user, I appreciate the fact that you describe the graphics in this post.
Best, Kevin
Hi Kevin, glad to hear this article was helpful!
It sounds like your poetry book will do just fine on Amazon as a paperback and ebook. The worldwide distribution through Ingram is helpful for selling to bookstores and libraries, but you may find that your poetry book reaches your market better online via Amazon than it would in bookstores. That’s been our experience with Book Design Made Simple; most of our target market is purchasing online via Amazon, and when bookstores have stocked a copy or two, those copies have invariably been returned several months later.
Also glad that our described graphics help! We’re trying to make our blog as accessible as possible.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Fiona
I’ve tried this but get a message that says the isbn is already in use. Maybe that’s why people are using two isbns, cause that’s about what I’m ready to do.
Hi Jb, it’s really important that permission isn’t given to Amazon for any distribution other than Amazon. If any other distribution rights are given to Amazon, you won’t be able to use IngramSpark for distribution and they’ll reject your ISBN (because you’ve already granted distribution rights elsewhere). If this is the reason IngramSpark is rejecting your ISBN, then you’ll need to go back into your Amazon account and disable worldwide distribution.
The same goes if you’ve granted distribution on Amazon to IngramSpark. Amazon will reject your ISBN if distribution rights are granted elsewhere. In that case, you’ll need to revoke IngramSpark’s rights to Amazon distribution, and then try your ISBN again on Amazon.
I hope this helps!
I am interested to see that you recommend authors use the same ISBN for their book on both Amazon and IngramSpark. I have worked with authors who ask for two versions of their book – one for Amazon and the other for IngramSpark, and the only difference is two different ISBNs. Can you explain the logic of using the same ISBN and using different ISBNs?
Hello Nina,
Thanks for your question. This is an interesting issue.
I don’t know why anyone would use different ISBNs for 2 identical books. That would simply confuse booksellers and librarians. The identity of the printer is irrelevant.
The idea is to use a different ISBN for different formats: an ebook, an audio book, a hard cover, and a paperback version of the same book. Also, a second edition gets a new ISBN.
I hope this helps clear up the confusion. For more information, check out this web page from Bowker, the US ISBN provider:
https://www.myidentifiers.com/isbn/main
Glenna, coauthor