The world of publishing has totally changed, and new ways have been introduced to publish your books. Self-publishing has totally whirlwind the way authors bring their books to readers. As globalization occurred and we entered the digital era, authors can now easily publish their work without the need for traditional publishing houses.
Today, there are so many platforms available, each with its own pros and cons, so it becomes overwhelming to choose the best one for the book for authors. That is why we are here to help you.
This article will give you the list of top self-publishing platforms that ghostwriting agencies use to publish their clients’ books. We will highlight their features, benefits, and drawbacks. So, without further ado, let’s get started right away.
Top Self-publishing Platforms for Book Success
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
Amazon KDP is one of the most popular self-publishing platforms, and the platform has a big audience, and the platform has so much to offer to authors. With KDP, authors can publish their eBooks and paperbacks easily alongside with the options for Kindle Unlimited and Countdown Deals. The platform is also good in terms of paying loyalties.
It offers up to 70% on eBook sales, which makes it an attractive option for authors, especially for emerging ones. Also, KDP gives access to Amazon Marketing Services, which allows authors to promote their work to a targeted audience.
Salient Offerings:
- High royalties (up to 70%)
- Easy publishing process
- Access to Kindle Unlimited and Countdown Deals
- Amazon Marketing Services for promotion
- Kindle Direct Publishing Select (KDP Select) for exclusive benefits
CreateSpace
CreateSpace is Amazon’s self-publishing platform for print books. It gives high-quality printing and binding options, which make it easy for authors to create professional-looking books. It also offers distribution to Amazon and other online retailers, which makes it easy for authors to reach a wide audience.
The platform gives competitive royalties of up to 60% on print book sales, which makes it a lucrative option for authors who want to earn a good income from their work.
Salient Offerings:
- High-quality printing and binding
- Distribution to Amazon and other online retailers
- Easy publishing process
- Competitive royalties (up to 60%)
- Free marketing tools
Lulu
Just like there is Hulu for streaming services, there is a platform called Lulu, which is a self-publishing platform that provides a wide range of services, including eBook and print book publishing, online sales, and distribution. The platform has a vast audience that offers immense exposure to your book. It tenders global distribution to online retailers, which makes it easy for authors to reach a global audience.
The platform gives competitive royalties of up to 90% on eBook sales and up to 80% on print book sales, which makes it an attractive option for authors but it is not as popular as Amazon KDP. Also, Lulu gives marketing and promotional tools such as Lulu Promotional Services and Lulu Bookstore to help authors promote their work.
Salient Offering:
- Global distribution to online retailers
- Various print formats and binding options
- Easy publishing process
- Competitive royalties (up to 90%)
- Marketing and promotional tools
Smashwords
Smashwords is a popular self-publishing platform for eBooks, and it offers distribution to major eBook retailers such as Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. The platform is quite high-paying when it comes to royalties to authors. It offers high royalties of up to 85% on eBook sales, which makes it an attractive option for authors.
Smashwords also offers free marketing and promotional tools, such as Smashwords Direct and Smashwords Coupon Manager, to help authors promote their work. Not only what we mentioned up til now but also the platform that offers Smashwords Plus, a premium service that gives additional benefits such as priority customer support and exclusive marketing opportunities.
Salient Offering:
- Distribution to major eBook retailers (Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, etc.)
- Easy publishing process
- Competitive royalties (up to 85%)
- Free marketing and promotional tools
- Smashwords Direct for exclusive benefits
Such a tool offers so much you may not need book marketing services to promote as you are everything packed into one platform.
IngramSpark
IngramSpark is a self-publishing platform that, like the other platforms as mentioned earlier we mentioned above, offers print and digital distribution to a considerably wide range of retailers and libraries. The platform gives global distribution to online and offline retailers, which makes it easy for authors to reach a global audience.
IngramSpark also gives high-quality printing and binding options, which kind of act as a one-window solution that makes it easy for authors to create emotionally arresting books. The platform also gives competitive royalties of up to 55% on print book sales and up to 70% on eBook sales, which brings it up as a viable option for authors.
Also, not to forget to mention, IngramSpark offers marketing and promotional tools, such as IngramSpark Promotional Services and IngramSpark Bookstore, to help authors promote their work.
Salient Offering:
- Global distribution to online and offline retailers
- High-quality printing and binding
- Competitive royalties (up to 55%)
- Easy publishing process
- Marketing and promotional tools
Draft2Digital
Draft2Digital is another self-publishing platform that has made it to our list of top platforms for authors that help authors publish and distribute their eBooks to multiple retailers. It lets you establish yourself as an author with their comprehensive suite of tools and services.
Its primary focus is on prioritizing self-publishing support, and it is built as a super user-friendly tool that enables you to focus on writing while handling layout, publishing, distribution, and more.
Salient Offering:
- Easy publishing process
- Distribution to major eBook retailers
- Competitive royalties (up to 85%)
- Free marketing and promotional tools
- Draft2Digital Plus for exclusive benefits
Conclusion
Each self-publishing platform has its unique features, benefits, and drawbacks, and when deciding, you have to be strategic, just like every professional ghostwriting agency that digs deep into these platforms. Authors should research and compare these platforms to choose the best one for their book.
