Get Your Book Out There For Sale – Book Distribution Options
Aggregators: What Are They? What Do They Do?
What IS book distribution and why is it critical for book sales?
You are finished your book and now you want to self-publish it. What options do you have to get your book out there? Or you are a traditionally published author and your publisher is handling distribution but you are curious about the process? How does one get a book out there for sale (or distribute it)? There are many options. I would like to start to share some of those options by starting with a new book publishing vocabulary word: Aggregator
What is an Aggregator?
Rarrr! What a cool word - aggregator…say it with me… agg…re…ga…tor… fantastic word!
What does ‘aggregator’ mean in regards to publishing? One of the best parts of becoming an author and publishing your book is the cool new terminology that comes with it. One of hardest parts of becoming an author is that publishing may be new to you and today is there are so many choices to get your book seen and sold it is hard to distinguish between them. MY goal is to present these choices in a simple, understandable way.
Before we get to “aggregator” let me broad-stroke a couple of publishing basics to put “aggregator” in the correct publishing context.
First… an author can (1) Self-Publish or (2) Traditionally Publish.
· If you self-publish you do all the work to create your book, market it, distribute it, and sell it.
· If you traditionally publish your publisher handles the creation of the book, some publicity and marketing of the book, distribution and sales.
Second… Your book can be created as an eBook and a print book or an eBook alone or a print book alone.
· If you traditionally publish, the publisher will decide on the distribution of your book (print and/or eBook)
· If you self-publish you need to decide and sign up for the distribution of your book. (Print and/or eBook)
Distribution is simply HOW you decide to sell your book, to get it out into the world: online retailers and platforms, libraries, bookstores, etc.
When I discuss ‘Aggregator’ below it is information for both traditionally published and self-published authors but essentially for self-published authors. However, for the traditionally published author it is important to understand how the distribution of your book works for reasons I explain later in the article.
Ok, then…. back to aggregator - cool new word.
The term “aggregator” comes under the publishing umbrella…specifically, an aggregator is a company that distributes (or sells) your eBook and/or print book for you. The aggregator is the middleman between you and the book retailer. Once you submit your book (eBook and/or print on demand book) to the aggregator, they then submit your book to the other platforms for you. Of course, they do it for a price, but they save you the time to upload your book and monitor sales on different platforms yourself.
Different aggregator companies do different things. Some aggregators distribute print books and eBook books like (IngramSpark & Book Baby). Some aggregators are eBook only (Smashwords / Draft2Digital). As well, some aggregators will help you create your eBook and offer other services – interior design, book cover design, etc. for a price. Some aggregators offer no additional services and simply focus on getting your book on different platforms. (IngramSpark)
Mix and Match Aggregators as a Distribution Strategy
You can also mix and match aggregators with one exception noted below.
For your print book, for example, you could use IngramSpark who would then distribute your POD book to many platforms including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Libraries, for example. Ingram Spark has a great reputation for quality print on demand books.
For your eBook, you could use Draft2Digital (they combined with Smashwords as of this writing) who will take your completed eBook and submit it to many other platforms online, platforms like: Amazon, Apple Books, B&N, Kobo, Scribd, B&T, Hoopla.
You could also distribute to many individual retailers and other online platforms and not use an aggregator at all if you were so inclined and had the time to manage it!
I know, I know – Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
Many authors use Amazon KDP to sell their eBooks. Amazon is not an aggregator. It is a retailer. You upload your finished eBook through Amazon’s KDP program and they sell your eBook for you on Amazon. Kindle Direct is a popular distribution choice for authors because Amazon has such a huge percentage of the book buying market. The idea behind selecting Amazon is the hope that your book would have the best chance to be seen and sold.
On the other hand, Amazon is a pretty crowded bookshop. Some other platforms with less competition might give your book a better chance to be seen. There are many other online platforms. (i.e. Apple Books, KOBO Writing Life, iBooks)
Distribution Options for Your eBook
Another distribution option could be to go to KDP directly and upload your eBook for sale and also sign up with an aggregator who will place your book on many other platforms, like Draft2Digital.
NOTE: KDP SELECT is an Amazon program where you upload your eBook and you promise EXCLUSIVITY with Amazon meaning that you promise NOT to sell your eBook anywhere else for a period of time, say 90 days. That would mean no aggregators for your eBook if you select the KDP SELECT program. Again, you do not have to pick the KDP Select program for your eBook. You could opt out of that and sign up for the regular KDP program.
Distribution if you are traditionally published
As a self-publisher, you need to decide on the distribution of your book using some of the choices described above. However, it is useful to understand distribution if you are traditionally published, too.
You already know that regardless of whether you are self-published or traditionally published you need to market your book. The same responsibility applies to the distribution of your book. Yes, your publisher will handle distribution but wouldn’t it be useful to know their distribution strategy as well? If you are on it, you can ask questions and make suggestions. At the very least, you can use the information to monitor your book’s success.
More Easy to Understand Information on Distribution and Aggregators
Two great articles for more information on book distribution and aggregators. One from Dave Chesson, The Kindlepreneur, titled “The 10 Best Self-Publishing Companies." Mr Chesson’s site is chock full of great and easy to understand information. Second, Joanna Penn, a recent guest on the Get Your Book Seen and Sold Podcast (listen below) has lived it. She successfully sells her eBooks and print of demand books all over the world. Her podcast is a great resource as well. The article at the link is called How to Publish an eBook.
Note to readers: Self-Publishing book distribution is a complicated and ever-changing subject. Read this article and the articles referenced above a couple of times and I promise it will become less complicated. Remember, you are a writer and you are just learning about the marketing and sale of your book. I promise, the study of the subject of book distribution will be time well-spent.
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This is such helpful information in navigation the world of getting your book, well seen and sold!