The publishing world can be a scary beast. New service outlets are popping up constantly, all offering to help you self-publish or distribute your eBook. Before you tie yourself to any services, do your homework! Read the fine print and understand it before agreeing to any commitment.
There are basically two types of eBook publishing services. They are single-channel, retailer-driven outlets like Amazon’s Kindle Direct or Barnes & Noble’s Nook. Some eBook distributors like BookBaby or Smashwords may double as retail outlets but require some kind of formatting or conversion. And there is a plethora of consultants, partnership publishers and agents lurking around out there.
Before you jump in, ask yourself the following:
Does this service operate on a non-exclusive basis?
That means you can sell your eBook through them while selling it wherever else you want, all at the same time.
What are the contract terms if it is exclusive?
An exclusive contract is designed to protect the eBook publisher from authors who may skip out on them after money has been spent.
A typical term of an exclusive contract is 1 to 2 years. That way, the publisher knows that you won’t take your book to a competitor after they’ve prepared the eBook files and designed a kick-ass cover for you.
Who gets to set the price?
Standard practice states that the author controls the pricing. Some services may have a minimum price, like 99 cents. One provision that most eBook retailers do insist on is that you keep your pricing uniform, regardless of what retail outlet you’re using.
How much do I pay upfront, and how do I calculate my royalties?
Bottom line is that any fees payable and how you get paid should be laid on the table upfront.
What about charges I don’t see?
If your work has a lot of special circumstances, like charts and maps, don’t be surprised to see a fee for conversion or formatting services.
What file format should I use?
You need to know this upfront. Microsoft Word is common but EPUB is the standard for the eBook industry. Try to steer away from PDF.
Once I create eBook files, who owns them?
In a perfect world, you do. That’s usually what happens if you pay upfront for conversion or formatting services but check the fine print to be sure.
What about DRM protections or proprietary formats?
Digital Rights Management is there to prevent piracy or illegal distribution of your eBook. DRM can make your files difficult to open, however, and should be avoided. EPUB does not use DRM. Amazon Kindle and Apple iBooks are proprietary. Read the fine print!
What retailers can distribute my eBook?
The simple answer is those retailers you’re using. Hint: you want Kindle and Nook; they make up 70%-80% of the market.
Can you change the book after it goes on sale?
Simple answer: yes.