Question: could you sell the same book through KDP and through lulu separately so you could say do the spiral on your site but but the regular paper back through kdp do either of them have rules against that
Great question! Yes, you can publish on both platforms, BUT if you choose to use KDP's free ISBN option, you aren't allowed to publish your book elsewhere. I'm not familiar with Lulu's ISBN policies yet. There is also the option of purchasing an ISBN so you can publish your book on multiple platforms.
Haha, I know! There seems to be no perfect platform, but please report back if you decide to give Lulu a try. That's where I'm going to go to get my coil bound book done.
@ I will but I signed up for Ingram today and then for some reason couldn’t submit anything, so I moved onto buying 100 ISBNs instead. Now I’m a bit scared! 😜
This information is sooo timely for me. I'm in the process of creating my first "middle content book" and I wanted to know about alternatives to KDP that offer "coil binding". I just downloaded the comparison chart. Thank you so much 😎👍
Thanks for watching! If you're in the US, go to Bowker.com. Each country will have it's own place to get one, so just Google it if you're outside the US.
Depending on what you're looking for! I'm excited to try out Blurb for an upcoming project, so I'll keep you posted on my results! Curious if your approach is publishing at scale, as a contained business model, or if your interest is in only publishing a small handful of books to support other offers in your business?
Great value and presentation as always Rachel. I'll be looking out for the platform you eventually use for your LCK. Thank you for the info. Cheers, it's Yetty!
Hey Rachel, something I've realized is the importance of customer support. I've published a couple of low content books - my own unique content and still live; however, I submitted another couple of low content books [again my own unique content] and they got blocked. I've tried multiple times to get an answer as to why and I get their standard bot response. I've tried calling, chat, anything I could think of and still getting the bot response. So I'm trying to find an alternative, but comparable POD. Any suggestions?
Yes! Unfortunately, KDP is not known for their outstanding customer support, which usually consists of vague canned responses. I haven't tried any of the alternatives in the video personally yet, but I'm currently working on a project and plan to try out Lulu for their coil binding option. I'll report back once I have the results!
Depends on the printer and if they require a minimum print run, what the print cost is, etc. You'd also need too carry the inventory and ship it yourself, unless you signed up for Amazon FBA, which is expensive and potentially not worth it.
HI there! Yes, an invoice book would be considered a LC boook. They are allowed on KDP; just make sure you check the box for low-content book when publishing. Here's some more info from KDP: kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GGE5T76TWKA85DJM
Currently, I’ve only used Amazon KDP. I tried Barnes & Noble Press once but wasn’t completely happy with the end product or their process. I feel like their paper is inferior to what Amazon offers. And the process was kind of tedious. I’ve always been a little interested in a coil binding, or a more upscale cover, like linen. I’m really interested in hearing more about your new venture with your own branding and possibly the publishing route you end up taking. I’ve kind of been out of the loop a lot lately with any publishing at all, but I hope to get back into the swing again soon. Thanks for all your excellent advice. Much appreciated.❤
Thanks for watching, Laurie! And thanks for sharing your experience with B&N; good to know! I think I'm going to give Lulu a bash, so I'll keep you posted about the process and the results. :)
You can, you just need to make sure that you do one of these things: 1. Use your own ISBN. If you use one of KDP's free ISBNs, you're not permitted to publish your book anywhere else. 2. If you do use one of KDP's free ISBNs, the workaround is that you can sell your book from your site, but when someone clicks on the link, they're taken to Amazon. (So, you're not technically selling from your site, but you're still listing it there.) If you truly want to sell your book from your site, and you want to use print-on-demand, you'll need to use something like Lulu or Blurb so you can use their print API.
The one caveat I'd mention here is that if you ever want to publish your novel on another platform, you won't be able to if you decide to go with KDP's free ISBN. So, if publishing on multiple platforms is something that's important to you, I'd recommend buying an ISBN of your own (Bowker, if you're in the US) so you're not forced into exclusivity with KDP when you publish there.
A big problem with KDP for novels is that many books are being pirated. KDP will suspend your account accusing you of selling exclusive content to other platforms. Many writers are experiencing this and even when they do manage to get through to KDP and prove they've been pirated KDP does nothing to go after the pirates or support the author. If you want to put up a first book in a series to entice readers or fast fiction it might be okay but to continue a series or maintain your own customer list KDP isn't a good business partner.
Have you had any experience publishing on the self-publishing platforms I covered in this video (or any I didn’t cover)? Let me know in the comments!
Question: could you sell the same book through KDP and through lulu separately so you could say do the spiral on your site but but the regular paper back through kdp do either of them have rules against that
Great question! Yes, you can publish on both platforms, BUT if you choose to use KDP's free ISBN option, you aren't allowed to publish your book elsewhere. I'm not familiar with Lulu's ISBN policies yet. There is also the option of purchasing an ISBN so you can publish your book on multiple platforms.
Good to know thanks! I was getting excited about IS until you mentioned the no coiling .. damn! Almost a clear winner 😅
Haha, I know! There seems to be no perfect platform, but please report back if you decide to give Lulu a try. That's where I'm going to go to get my coil bound book done.
@ I will but I signed up for Ingram today and then for some reason couldn’t submit anything, so I moved onto buying 100 ISBNs instead. Now I’m a bit scared! 😜
Great video. Thanks Rachel.
You're so welcome! Do you think you'll try out one of the platforms I covered?
This information is sooo timely for me. I'm in the process of creating my first "middle content book" and I wanted to know about alternatives to KDP that offer "coil binding". I just downloaded the comparison chart. Thank you so much 😎👍
Perfect! Let me know what you decide! I think I'm probably going to try out Lulu for the coil binding on my first project outside of KDP.
Happy I found you!!! Awesome and helpful video 😊if I may ask how do I obtain a isbn
Thanks for watching! If you're in the US, go to Bowker.com. Each country will have it's own place to get one, so just Google it if you're outside the US.
Great content Rachel 👏...
I think kdp still the best option after all 😂 Thank you Rachel
Depending on what you're looking for! I'm excited to try out Blurb for an upcoming project, so I'll keep you posted on my results! Curious if your approach is publishing at scale, as a contained business model, or if your interest is in only publishing a small handful of books to support other offers in your business?
Great value and presentation as always Rachel. I'll be looking out for the platform you eventually use for your LCK. Thank you for the info. Cheers, it's Yetty!
Hey Yetty!!! Thanks so much for watching! I'll likely give Lulu a go, but I'll definitely keep you posted throughout the process!
Thanks...
Thanks, very insightful. Just a heads up, when you discuss Blurb cons the Title above the list reads Lulu cons.
Ooh, shoot! Thanks for that!
And one more question: can I sell in the US on KDP and then use Ingram Spark for POD outside of the US?
Yes. Just be sure that you don't use a free ISBN from KDP, otherwise you're exclusive to them.
Pretty lady. Great content too ❤ Thanks
Where do you go for POD coil binding with higher quality paper?
Hey Rachel, something I've realized is the importance of customer support. I've published a couple of low content books - my own unique content and still live; however, I submitted another couple of low content books [again my own unique content] and they got blocked. I've tried multiple times to get an answer as to why and I get their standard bot response. I've tried calling, chat, anything I could think of and still getting the bot response. So I'm trying to find an alternative, but comparable POD. Any suggestions?
Yes! Unfortunately, KDP is not known for their outstanding customer support, which usually consists of vague canned responses. I haven't tried any of the alternatives in the video personally yet, but I'm currently working on a project and plan to try out Lulu for their coil binding option. I'll report back once I have the results!
Please, i want to learn this Amazon kdp
How about a local printer for coloring books, journals, notebooks, and coil binding? Is that a good option?
Depends on the printer and if they require a minimum print run, what the print cost is, etc. You'd also need too carry the inventory and ship it yourself, unless you signed up for Amazon FBA, which is expensive and potentially not worth it.
Hi.do invoice books come under low content.. can we design these books and upload..will Amazon sell these like we design journals and put them to sale
HI there! Yes, an invoice book would be considered a LC boook. They are allowed on KDP; just make sure you check the box for low-content book when publishing. Here's some more info from KDP: kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GGE5T76TWKA85DJM
Currently, I’ve only used Amazon KDP. I tried Barnes & Noble Press once but wasn’t completely happy with the end product or their process. I feel like their paper is inferior to what Amazon offers. And the process was kind of tedious. I’ve always been a little interested in a coil binding, or a more upscale cover, like linen. I’m really interested in hearing more about your new venture with your own branding and possibly the publishing route you end up taking. I’ve kind of been out of the loop a lot lately with any publishing at all, but I hope to get back into the swing again soon. Thanks for all your excellent advice. Much appreciated.❤
Thanks for watching, Laurie! And thanks for sharing your experience with B&N; good to know! I think I'm going to give Lulu a bash, so I'll keep you posted about the process and the results. :)
Am I still able to earn on KDP with unverified account?
No, been there, tried that, no luck.
So did I just hear this right? I can't publish on kdp and sell that book on my own site?
You can, you just need to make sure that you do one of these things:
1. Use your own ISBN. If you use one of KDP's free ISBNs, you're not permitted to publish your book anywhere else.
2. If you do use one of KDP's free ISBNs, the workaround is that you can sell your book from your site, but when someone clicks on the link, they're taken to Amazon. (So, you're not technically selling from your site, but you're still listing it there.)
If you truly want to sell your book from your site, and you want to use print-on-demand, you'll need to use something like Lulu or Blurb so you can use their print API.
Hi Rachel - we would imagine all your list prices would actually be much higher, as you did not factor-in PPC Ads...!
You're correct! This was just a base price, with no ads considered.
bravissima
Why can't you sell on KDP and through your own website?
You can if you don't use a free KDP ISBN. If you use one of those, you're exclusive to KDP.
Do you just teach on TH-cam or do you have a course?
Hi Sherri! I have a course called Low-Content Profits Academy. You can find out more here: www.rachelharrisonsund.com/learn-with-me/
So KDP still seems like the best option overall for novel writers.
The one caveat I'd mention here is that if you ever want to publish your novel on another platform, you won't be able to if you decide to go with KDP's free ISBN. So, if publishing on multiple platforms is something that's important to you, I'd recommend buying an ISBN of your own (Bowker, if you're in the US) so you're not forced into exclusivity with KDP when you publish there.
A big problem with KDP for novels is that many books are being pirated. KDP will suspend your account accusing you of selling exclusive content to other platforms. Many writers are experiencing this and even when they do manage to get through to KDP and prove they've been pirated KDP does nothing to go after the pirates or support the author. If you want to put up a first book in a series to entice readers or fast fiction it might be okay but to continue a series or maintain your own customer list KDP isn't a good business partner.