The Skinny on Paperback Distribution part 1

While no one can dispute that eBooks are popular and have some excellent features (thank God for changeable font size!), lately print has been making a comeback. Many self-published authors may think solely of eBooks for economic reasons, but there are situations in which a physical book can be an advantage to an indie author. And print may not be as expensive as you think.

If you are a nonfiction author you should definitely consider a print edition. Studies show that eBooks are less effective for informational texts (here’s a link to one such article from the Business Insider). If you want someone to remember what you’ve written a physical edition might be worth adding to your publishing plan.

Physical copies are good for fiction authors as well. Another market is always a good thing. Brick and mortar bookstores are an obvious venue, but retailers such as Target and Walmart sell millions of paperbacks each year. On a smaller scale, you can sell hard copies through your website and at author events.

If you decide to sell through brick and mortar stores, Amazon, or to the library market you will need an ISBN. ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number, an identification system introduced in 1967. Each chunk of an ISBN is significant, conveying everything from the title to the geographical location of the publisher.

So, you need an ISBN. Seems simple enough. But, there’s more than one way to get an ISBN and that’s where things get complicated. Some printing options popular with self-published authors offer a free ISBN. But there is one large catch with these programs: you can only sell books with the free ISBNs within the network of that publisher. Company A will not allow books with Company B’s ISBN numbers to be sold through its distribution channels and vice versa. Many retail outlets won’t even consider selling a book with one of these free ISBNs.

There is another choice. It isn’t free, but all distribution channels everywhere will sell books with an ISBN number from Bowker. In fact, Bowker has a monopoly on universally accepted ISBNs in the U. S. If you want the freedom to sell your physical book through any and all distribution networks and to be accepted at any brick and mortar store or library Bowker is the only way to go.

Through Bowker, you can purchase a single ISBN, or you can buy blocks of 10, 100 or 1,000. Why would you need more than one ISBN? For one thing, you can hang onto them and use them for future works. For another, each edition of a book requires a separate ISBN. Any time you update your book you need a new one. Also, it’s cost-effective to purchase in bulk. At this time a single ISBN costs $125, but a batch of ten is $295. It’s definitely worth the money if you ever intend to update your work or publish another book.

Here are two cost-effective options for printing your book once you have your ISBN.

Createspace.com is a subsidiary of Amazon. Your book will be available via Amazon.com and Amazon Europe as well as other affiliates who sell through multiple online and physical bookstores and libraries. Create Space offers the option of printing on demand, by which customers purchase your book directly through Amazon. They offer a free ISBN but remember that a book with a free ISBN can only be sold through Create Space’s network. Set up is free and includes the option of adding an ebook edition. Royalties vary by color, size, and number of pages. There is an online calculator for calculating royalties.

Ingramspark.com is a subsidiary of Ingram Content Group, which is a major player in the book wholesale market worldwide. Should you choose to sell via their print on demand option, your set up cost is $49. You can opt to include an ebook without an extra fee. As with Create Space royalties vary due to color, size, and type of paper, and binding (a hardcover is an option!). The website features a Compensation Calculator to help you determine how much you’ll earn. Unlike Create Space, Ingram Spark sells ISBNs to authors through Bowker at a discounted rate, so your book is not limited to Ingram’s network.

Most companies who offer a print-on-demand service will also do small print runs, allowing authors to have inventory on hand. There are pros and cons to both print options. Print-on-demand means no inventory, it’s environmentally friendly, and upfront costs range from free to inexpensive. On the other hand, having physical inventory allows you to sell via your personal website and at events, or give to reviewers. Printing in bulk, even in small amounts, means a better price per book. Though there are upfront costs for the author, this can definitely work out to your profit in the end. Print books are definitely worth considering.