Print-on-demand publishing
The final step of the self-publishing journey (…marketing is a continuum) is the publishing and distribution of your book which entails establishing a business relationship with a reputable integrated printer/distributor and ebook aggregator.
There are many book distribution services available to self-publishers, giving you access to retailers, libraries, apps, subscription services, and more – the most reliable amongst them is IngramSpark.
IngramSpark is the self-publishing branch of Lightning Source, a world leader in print-on-demand (POD) technologies and distribution. It is owned by the Ingram Content Group – offering access to more than 2 million titles.
You can feel confident that IngramSpark will produce great quality books — as long as your cover design and interior formatting have been completed by a professional book designer.
*Please note – Most other print-on-demand (POD) services actually use the Ingram Content Group’s extensive network to distribute their books.
Long gone are the days when self-publishers filled their garages with boxes of books to sell. POD publishing has revolutionised the book industry and empowered independent authors, everywhere.
Now, when a customer purchases your mind, body, spirit book online or a retailer orders it for their brick-and-mortar store, the printer prints. This is better for you and the environment.
IngramSpark can distribute your mind, body, spirit book to an extensive global network of brick-and-mortar bookstores (over 40,000) and online book retailers and provide you with accounting and payment services.
Royalty payments are made each month and go directly into your bank or PayPal account. From a single dashboard, you can manage all of your print and digital files, track sales, and view orders.
*Please note – Distributors will only list your book for sale. It is you to convince bookstores to stock your book.
IngramSpark & quality control
Printed books by Lightning Source/IngramSpark look better than those by other PODs like CreateSpace (owned by Amazon). That’s a fact. The print quality is superior, colour prints are cheaper and IngramSpark offers hardcovers and many other book options.
To ensure quality books, IngramSpark is more discriminating than other PODs when it comes to book file requirements. Your book files will need to work across multiple platforms and devices. (Be sure to ask your book designer about the file formats they provide.)
The process:
- To start, open an account with IngramSpark
- Upload your print cover PDF
- Upload your print interior content PDF
- Upload your ebook cover file (JPEG)
- Upload your ebook interior content file (EPUB)
- Enter all your metadata & keywords
- Enter your RRP
A good place to start when determining your book price (for print and ebook) is to take a look at what your competitors are pricing their mind, body, and spirit books at and make your price similar (or slightly less). Enter your RRP in US dollars and make foreign currency conversions.
Make sure the metadata is crafted with keywords that optimise online searches.
Review the metadata:
- Title
- Author name
- Publication date
- Author biography
- Book description
IngramSpark doesn’t have an active retail partnership with Google Play Books which is one of the larger ebook retailers in the world; available in 75 countries. Therefore, you will need to open an account for your ebook directly with Google Play.
Australia: Australian mind, body, spirit authors/publishers are required to organise legal deposits of their books with the National Library of Australia and State Library.
*Please note – It is now free to upload your book to Ingram Spark.
WILARA PRESS
