Navigating Barnes & Noble's Self-Publishing Process Simplified
Publishing your book on Barnes & Noble and other book outlets using an aggregator service makes things a breeze! Here's a gist of the process:
Step 1: Pick Your Aggregator
First things first, choose an aggregator platform that fits your needs such as Draft2Digital or Smashwords. These platforms allow you to manage multiple bookstore fronts at ease, like Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo, through a single dashboard[1][2].
Step 2: Ready Your Book
Make sure your manuscript is polished and correctly formatted according to the guidelines provided by your chosen aggregator[5]. Don't forget to proofread your work to avoid any errors!
Step 3: Create Your Account
Sign up for an account on your selected aggregator platform, providing the relevant information about yourself and your book[3].
Step 4: Upload Your Book
Upload your manuscript, cover, and book details to the aggregator platform. Don't forget to double-check that the metadata (such as title, author name, and genre) is accurate and consistent across all platforms[4].
Step 5: Choose Distribution Channels
Decide on the bookstores you wish to sell your book on. For example, you can distribute your eBook to retailers like Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Kobo using Draft2Digital[1][5]. You may also choose to upload directly to Amazon for better control over marketing strategies such as Kindle Unlimited.
Step 6: Set Your Book Price & Royalties
Choose the price for your book and set the royalty rate accordingly. Remember that aggregators like Draft2Digital will take a small cut from sales, so be mindful of this when pricing your book[4].
Step 7: Publish and Monitor
After publishing your book, keep an eye on its performance using the reporting tools provided by the aggregator[5]. This will help you make insightful adjustments to your marketing tactics based on sales data.
A Few Considerations:
- Print Books: If you're planning to distribute print books, consider using IngramSpark for wide distribution to physical bookstores and libraries. Alternatively, Amazon KDP Print is ideal for Amazon-focused sales[3][4].
- Ebook Distribution: Some authors prefer solely distributing ebooks through platforms like Amazon's KDP Select for promotional incentives. On the contrary, others advocate for wide distribution across multiple retailers[3].
Following these steps and considering your personal publishing objectives, you can successfully self-publish your book across various bookstores using an aggregator service. Happy publishing!
[1] Source: Best Aggregator Platforms for Self-Publishing Ebooks | Digital Publishing News (digitalpublishingnews.org)
[2] Source: Draft2Digital Reviews: Is This Ebook Aggregation Service Right for You? (selfpublishingschool.com)
[3] Source: How to Self-Publish a Book (quizlet.com)
[4] Source: Self-publishing Your Book with Kindle Direct Publishing | Publisher's Weekly (publishersweekly.com)
[5] Source: The Ultimate Guide to Self-Publishing Your Book | IngramSpark (ingramspark.com)
Expanding your reach further, consider sharing your book on platforms beyond Barnes & Noble, such as home-and-garden blogs for DIY lifestyle books, or home improvement enthusiasts' forums for niche books related to home renovation.
Once published, don't forget to nose through home-and-garden, lifestyle, and entertainment magazines to submit your book for reviews or interviews, creating additional opportunities for exposure.
