Why It's Important to Use Both IngramSpark and Amazon KDP When Publishing a Print Book

As an author venturing into the world of self-publishing, choosing the right platforms to distribute your book is crucial for maximizing your reach and royalties. Two of the most recommended Print-on-Demand (POD) platforms are Amazon KDP and IngramSpark. Here’s why using both can be a game-changer for your publishing journey.

Maximize Your Reach

Amazon KDP: When you publish with Amazon KDP, your book gets a product page on Amazon, the largest online retailer in the world. This is a huge advantage as millions of readers search for books on Amazon daily. KDP handles the printing and shipping directly to customers, ensuring a seamless purchasing experience.

IngramSpark: IngramSpark distributes your book to all major online retailers worldwide, including Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, AbeBooks, Walmart, and even local bookstores with online catalogs. This broad distribution network ensures your book is available to a much wider audience, increasing your chances of reaching more readers.

Optimized Royalties

Amazon KDP: Amazon KDP charges no upfront setup costs and offers 60% royalties from your book’s retail price, minus the printing cost. This is particularly advantageous for authors looking to minimize initial expenses while still earning a significant portion of the sales.

IngramSpark: IngramSpark no longer charges a setup fee. Instead, they only charge $25 per file revision after a title has been published for 90 days. This change makes it more affordable for authors to publish with IngramSpark and take advantage of their extensive distribution network. You can set a wholesale discount to attract retailers, typically at 55%, with IngramSpark keeping 15% and the retailers getting their 40%. This model helps you tap into the retail market effectively, providing an additional stream of revenue.

Professional Distribution and Metadata Management

IngramSpark: IngramSpark excels in managing your book’s metadata – including title, keywords, genre, and pricing – and disseminating this information to various online retailers. This ensures that your book is correctly categorized and easily discoverable by potential readers searching for specific genres or topics.

Author Copies and Proofs

Amazon KDP: KDP allows you to purchase author copies at wholesale prices, which is the printing cost plus shipping and taxes. This is ideal for ordering copies for personal use, giveaways, or local events without incurring high costs.

IngramSpark: Similarly, IngramSpark provides a platform for ordering author copies, though with the added advantage of potentially better print quality and more options for customization, such as thicker paper or special finishes.

Conclusion

By leveraging both Amazon KDP and IngramSpark, you ensure your book is available on the largest online retail platform and a multitude of other significant online and brick-and-mortar stores. This dual approach maximizes your book’s visibility and sales potential while optimizing your royalties and providing professional distribution management. Embrace the power of both platforms to make your self-publishing journey a successful one.