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Compare publishing costs, royalties, print quality, and distribution to choose the best self-publishing platform for your book.
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), IngramSpark, and Barnes & Noble Press are three of the most popular self-publishing platforms available today. Although each allows authors to publish books independently, they differ in publishing costs, royalties, print quality, distribution, available formats, and overall publishing experience.
Whether you're publishing a novel, children's book, memoir, workbook, cookbook, or other illustrated title, choosing the right platform can affect where your book is sold, how much you earn from each sale, the print options available, and how easily readers can discover your work. Some authors publish exclusively through Amazon KDP, while others combine multiple platforms to maximise their reach.
Choosing a self-publishing platform affects much more than where your book is sold. The platform you select can influence your publishing costs, royalty earnings, print quality, available book formats, distribution reach, production timelines, revision process, and the way your book is managed after publication.
Different platforms are designed around different priorities. Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing focuses strongly on Amazon sales and ease of use. IngramSpark is often chosen by authors who want wider bookstore and library distribution. Barnes & Noble Press can provide direct access to Barnes & Noble customers and NOOK readers. The right platform depends on your publishing goals, book type, target audience, and long-term plans.
The decision becomes especially important for children's books, illustrated books, workbooks, cookbooks, and hardcover editions. These projects may require specific trim sizes, colour printing, paper options, binding types, bleed settings, and higher production quality. A platform that works well for a simple paperback novel may not be the best choice for a full-colour illustrated book.
Your publishing strategy should also consider international availability, eBook support, ISBN options, metadata control, order fulfilment, proof copies, author copies, file revision policies, customer support, and compatibility with your wider marketing plan. Some authors use one platform exclusively, while others combine Amazon KDP with IngramSpark or Barnes & Noble Press to reach different sales channels.
Rather than asking which platform is universally the best, it is more useful to compare which platform best supports your book, audience, budget, and publishing strategy.
The comparison below examines Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, and Barnes & Noble Press across these areas so you can understand the strengths, limitations, and ideal uses of each platform.
Best for: Authors who want the simplest way to publish and sell through Amazon while retaining full control over their book.
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is one of the world's largest self-publishing platforms, allowing authors to publish eBooks, paperbacks, and hardcovers without upfront publishing fees. Because books are sold directly through Amazon's marketplace, KDP offers immediate access to millions of potential customers and is often the first platform chosen by independent authors.
KDP is particularly well suited to authors whose primary sales channel is Amazon. The publishing process is straightforward, files can usually be reviewed within a few days, and authors maintain control over pricing, royalties, book updates, and publication schedules. For many first-time authors, it provides the fastest route from completed manuscript to a book available for purchase worldwide.
For authors whose primary goal is Amazon visibility and straightforward publishing, Kindle Direct Publishing remains one of the strongest self-publishing platforms available. However, authors seeking extensive bookstore distribution, greater printing flexibility, or specialised production options often compare KDP alongside platforms such as IngramSpark before making a final publishing decision.
Best for: Authors and independent publishers who want wider retail distribution, professional print options, and greater control over how their books are supplied to bookstores and libraries.
IngramSpark is the self-publishing platform operated by Ingram Content Group, a major book wholesaler and distributor used throughout the publishing industry. Its main advantage is not simply that it prints books. Its real value is that it can make independently published titles available through the same wholesale network used by bookstores, libraries, online retailers, universities, and traditional publishing companies.
This makes IngramSpark fundamentally different from a retailer-led platform such as Amazon KDP. KDP is strongest when an author wants to sell directly through Amazon. IngramSpark is better suited to authors who want their books listed within the wider book trade and available for retailers to order through established distribution systems.
One of the most common misunderstandings is that publishing through IngramSpark automatically places a book in physical bookstores. It does not. IngramSpark makes the book available to order, but individual bookstores still decide whether to stock it.
Retailers may consider expected customer demand, the book's retail price, wholesale discount, return status, publication quality, subject matter, reviews, and the author's marketing activity before placing an order. IngramSpark therefore solves the distribution-access problem, but it does not replace the need to create demand for the book.
This distinction is important. A book can be listed as available through thousands of retail and library channels without being physically displayed in those locations. Authors planning bookstore outreach, school sales, library promotion, events, or regional marketing are generally more likely to benefit from IngramSpark's network than authors whose entire strategy is based on Amazon sales.
IngramSpark is often chosen for books where the physical presentation is an important part of the product. This includes illustrated children's books, art books, photography books, cookbooks, educational titles, gift books, workbooks, and hardcover editions.
The platform provides a broader range of trim sizes, paper choices, binding options, colour-printing specifications, cover finishes, and hardcover formats than many basic print-on-demand services. This gives publishers more flexibility when the book must meet a particular visual, educational, or retail standard.
However, more options also mean more production decisions. Authors need properly prepared interior files, accurate bleed and margin settings, correctly calculated spine dimensions, print-ready cover files, and images suitable for commercial printing. IngramSpark is not difficult once the process is understood, but it is less forgiving of poorly prepared files than a simple manuscript-upload system.
IngramSpark allows publishers to set a wholesale discount, which determines how much of the retail price is made available to wholesalers and retailers. This is one of the platform's most important settings because it affects both retailer interest and the publisher's earnings.
A larger wholesale discount can make a title more commercially attractive to some booksellers, but it also reduces the amount the publisher earns from each copy. A smaller discount may protect the author's margin, but certain retailers may be less willing to order the book.
This means the retail price should not be selected in isolation. The publisher must consider printing cost, wholesale discount, retailer expectations, competing book prices, and the minimum acceptable earnings per copy. For colour books with higher printing costs, these calculations can significantly affect whether bookstore distribution is financially practical.
IngramSpark also allows publishers to decide whether bookstores can return unsold copies. Traditional book retailers often prefer returnable titles because this reduces their financial risk when trying an unfamiliar author or a new release.
Allowing returns may improve the book's commercial acceptability, but it creates financial risk for the publisher. If retailers return unsold copies, the publisher may be charged according to the selected return option. Authors should therefore avoid enabling returns simply because it appears more professional. The decision should be based on a realistic bookstore strategy, available budget, and the likelihood of physical retail orders.
For an author selling mainly through online retailers, schools, direct orders, or events, accepting returns may offer limited benefit. For a publisher actively approaching bookshops and distributors, it may be an important part of the sales strategy.
Authors who want to build an independent publishing business will usually benefit from purchasing and using their own ISBNs. This allows the author or publishing company to appear as the publisher of record and makes it easier to manage editions consistently across multiple platforms.
Each format normally requires its own ISBN. A paperback, hardcover, and eBook should therefore be treated as separate editions when ISBNs are assigned. Authors publishing through both KDP and IngramSpark must also ensure that the title, subtitle, author name, trim size, binding, and other edition details remain consistent where the same ISBN is used.
IngramSpark is most valuable for authors who have a reason to distribute beyond Amazon. This may include plans to approach independent bookstores, libraries, schools, educational institutions, museum shops, gift retailers, specialist stores, or international booksellers.
It is also a strong choice for independent publishers building a catalogue of professionally produced books. Authors publishing only one title and relying almost entirely on Amazon advertising may find that KDP meets most of their immediate needs. In contrast, authors developing a broader retail and institutional sales strategy are more likely to benefit from IngramSpark's wholesale infrastructure.
Many experienced independent publishers use Amazon KDP and IngramSpark together rather than choosing one platform exclusively. KDP is used to supply paperback and hardcover orders placed directly through Amazon, while IngramSpark is used for wider bookstore, library, and wholesale distribution.
This approach can prevent Amazon from sourcing print copies through an external wholesaler and may provide better control over Amazon availability and royalties. At the same time, the IngramSpark edition remains accessible to other retailers through the Ingram network.
When using both platforms for the same print edition, publishers must manage ISBNs, files, pricing, trim size, cover specifications, and metadata carefully. Expanded Distribution should also be considered strategically, as overlapping distribution settings can create unnecessary duplication or confusion.
IngramSpark is not automatically the best platform simply because it offers wider distribution. It is most effective when the author has a clear plan to reach customers outside Amazon and understands the commercial decisions involved in wholesale publishing.
For professionally produced books supported by bookstore outreach, library promotion, school marketing, direct sales, events, or an established author platform, IngramSpark can be an important part of a long-term publishing strategy. For authors who mainly want a simple and inexpensive way to sell on Amazon, the additional settings and distribution options may provide little practical advantage.
Best for: Authors who want to sell directly through Barnes & Noble, reach NOOK readers, and add a focused US retail channel to an existing publishing strategy.
Barnes & Noble Press is the retailer's direct self-publishing platform for print books and eBooks. It allows independent authors to make their books available on BN.com and their eBooks available to NOOK readers without paying an upfront publishing fee.
Its role is different from both Amazon KDP and IngramSpark. Amazon KDP is usually selected for direct access to Amazon customers, while IngramSpark is primarily used for wholesale availability across the wider book trade. Barnes & Noble Press is more narrowly focused: it gives publishers a direct relationship with the Barnes & Noble retail ecosystem.
That distinction matters when deciding whether the platform is worth adding. Barnes & Noble Press is not usually the foundation of an independent author's entire distribution plan. It is more often used as an additional retail channel after the author has already established Amazon distribution, wholesale distribution, or both.
A book distributed to Barnes & Noble through a wholesaler may already appear on BN.com, so authors sometimes assume there is no reason to publish directly through Barnes & Noble Press. However, direct publishing can still make sense when the author expects meaningful sales from Barnes & Noble customers and wants that edition managed within the retailer's own publishing system.
Publishing directly can give the author more direct control over the book's files, pricing, product information, updates, and sales reporting within the Barnes & Noble channel. It may also produce a different financial result from supplying the same sale through a third-party distributor, because an additional wholesale intermediary is not involved.
The practical value depends on expected sales. An author with an established US readership, a strong presence among Barnes & Noble customers, or a marketing campaign directing readers to BN.com may benefit more than an author whose audience overwhelmingly purchases through Amazon.
Publishing a book through Barnes & Noble Press can make it available for purchase through BN.com, but this should not be interpreted as automatic placement in physical Barnes & Noble stores.
Physical stores make stocking decisions separately. Books may be evaluated according to subject matter, local relevance, expected demand, sales potential, professional presentation, pricing, distribution arrangements, and the author's marketing activity. Store placement is therefore a retail decision rather than a standard benefit included with self-publishing.
This is an important expectation to set with first-time authors. Uploading a book to a retailer and making it orderable is relatively straightforward. Persuading a store to allocate shelf space requires a commercially credible book and a reason for that particular store to believe its customers will buy it.
Barnes & Noble Press may be especially useful for authors who can demonstrate local interest. A regional history book, a title connected to a local school or organisation, or a book written by an author with an established community following may have a stronger case for local consideration than a title with no identifiable audience.
Authors approaching a local store should be prepared to explain who will buy the book, how they will promote an event, whether they can attract local readers, and why the title is relevant to that particular market. The conversation should focus on customer demand rather than simply on the fact that the book has been published.
Even when an author publishes through Barnes & Noble Press, professionally prepared files, a market-appropriate cover, competitive pricing, accurate metadata, and a credible promotion plan remain essential. The publishing platform provides access to the channel; it does not create the demand.
Barnes & Noble Press supports print-on-demand publishing as well as eBook publication. Its workflow is generally suitable for standard trade books, including novels, memoirs, poetry collections, non-fiction titles, and many illustrated publications.
However, it should not automatically be selected for every edition of a book. Publishers producing unusual trim sizes, specialist bindings, complex colour interiors, premium art books, or editions intended for wide wholesale distribution should compare the available specifications and printing costs with IngramSpark and Amazon KDP before committing to a platform.
Print quality should also be assessed using a physical copy rather than relying only on an online preview. This is particularly important for children's books, cookbooks, photography books, and other titles where colour reproduction, image density, paper appearance, trimming, and binding directly affect the reader's perception of quality.
Barnes & Noble Press provides direct access to the NOOK eBook marketplace. For authors whose readers use NOOK devices or the NOOK reading app, this creates another digital sales opportunity outside Amazon's Kindle ecosystem.
Authors should nevertheless evaluate NOOK as part of their actual audience strategy rather than uploading an eBook simply because another platform is available. If existing readers are requesting a Barnes & Noble purchasing option, or if a promotional campaign is aimed at that audience, direct NOOK publication has a clear purpose. When there is no identifiable NOOK readership, the additional sales may be limited.
Authors enrolled in an eBook exclusivity programme elsewhere must also review those terms before publishing the same digital edition through Barnes & Noble Press. Print distribution and eBook distribution should be considered separately because restrictions that apply to the digital edition may not apply to the paperback or hardcover edition.
Authors using more than one self-publishing platform should manage ISBNs and editions carefully. The same print edition should carry consistent information wherever it is supplied, including the title, subtitle, author name, format, trim size, publication details, and publisher imprint.
A paperback, hardcover, and eBook are separate formats and should not be treated as one interchangeable edition. If a platform-issued ISBN is accepted, the author should understand how that ISBN may limit the use of the edition elsewhere. Publishers building a long-term catalogue will usually have greater flexibility when they obtain and manage their own ISBNs.
Creating slightly different editions on different platforms without a clear reason can lead to duplicate listings, conflicting metadata, mismatched covers, and confusion for retailers and readers. A multi-platform strategy works best when the publisher first decides which platform will supply each market and format.
The absence of an upfront publishing fee does not mean the platform has no financial considerations. The publisher must still account for printing cost, retail price, royalty calculation, author-copy cost, shipping, and the price of competing books.
For standard black-and-white paperbacks, it may be possible to set a competitive retail price while retaining a reasonable return per sale. Full-colour books can be more difficult because the higher manufacturing cost may push the retail price above what customers expect to pay for a similar title.
Authors should calculate each format separately rather than choosing one price for the paperback, eBook, and hardcover based on appearance alone. The correct price must work commercially for the customer while still covering production costs and supporting the author's publishing goals.
Barnes & Noble Press is most suitable for authors who can identify a practical reason to publish directly through the platform. That reason may be an existing Barnes & Noble readership, demand for a NOOK edition, a US-focused promotional campaign, a local author strategy, or the desire to give readers an alternative to Amazon.
It can also be useful to publishers who prefer direct retailer relationships rather than relying on one distributor to supply every sales channel. However, adding another platform should be a deliberate business decision. More distribution accounts do not automatically create more readers, and every additional edition requires accurate setup, monitoring, and maintenance.
Authors who primarily sell through Amazon and have no established Barnes & Noble audience may see little immediate advantage from adding the platform. Authors seeking bookstore, library, educational, and international wholesale reach will generally find IngramSpark more important to the overall distribution plan.
These platforms do not have to be treated as mutually exclusive. An independent publisher may use Amazon KDP for direct Amazon sales, IngramSpark for wholesale and library availability, and Barnes & Noble Press for direct access to Barnes & Noble and NOOK customers.
That three-platform approach is only worthwhile when each account serves a defined purpose. Using every available platform without planning can create overlapping distribution, inconsistent metadata, duplicate product pages, pricing conflicts, and unnecessary administrative work.
Before adding Barnes & Noble Press, publishers should decide which platform will supply each format and retail channel. They should then keep the ISBN, cover, interior, price, publication details, and metadata consistent wherever the same edition is offered.
Barnes & Noble Press is a useful direct-retail platform, but it should not be described as a substitute for Amazon KDP or IngramSpark. It solves a narrower problem: giving independent publishers direct access to Barnes & Noble's online customers and the NOOK marketplace.
For most first-time authors, Amazon KDP remains the more practical starting point for online sales, while IngramSpark becomes important when wider wholesale distribution is required. Barnes & Noble Press is usually the next strategic addition when the author has evidence that Barnes & Noble customers form a meaningful part of the target audience.
Our recommendation is therefore not to publish through Barnes & Noble Press merely to claim wider availability. Add it when you have a specific sales, readership, promotional, or retailer objective that the platform can support. Used selectively, it can strengthen a multi-platform publishing plan. Used without a clear audience strategy, it may simply create another edition to manage.
The right platform depends less on which service offers the longest feature list and more on how you expect the book to be sold. Authors should choose a platform according to their primary sales channel, required formats, target retailers, and long-term publishing plans.
For many independent publishers, the strongest arrangement is to use Amazon KDP for direct Amazon sales and IngramSpark for wider bookstore, library, and wholesale availability. Barnes & Noble Press can then be added when there is a clear reason to reach Barnes & Noble or NOOK customers directly.
Using several platforms is worthwhile only when each one has a defined role. Publishing the same book everywhere without planning can create duplicate listings, inconsistent metadata, conflicting prices, and unnecessary account management.
For most first-time authors, Amazon KDP is the most practical place to begin. IngramSpark should be added when the book has a genuine bookstore, library, school, or wholesale strategy. Barnes & Noble Press is best treated as a selective additional channel when its audience is relevant to the book.
The best publishing setup is not the one that uses the most platforms. It is the one that gives each edition a clear sales purpose while keeping pricing, ISBNs, metadata, and distribution under control.
This table summarises the main practical differences between the three platforms. Exact printing costs, royalties, formats and distribution options depend on the book's specifications and should be checked before publication.
| Feature | Amazon KDP | IngramSpark | Barnes & Noble Press |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost to publish | No upfront publishing or title-upload fee | No standard account or title-upload fee; printing and distribution costs still apply | No upfront publishing fee |
| Paperback publishing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hardcover publishing | Yes, within supported trim sizes and specifications | Yes, with broader binding and production choices | Yes, including selected case-laminate and dust-jacket options |
| eBook publishing | Kindle Store | Distribution to multiple supported eBook retailers | NOOK marketplace |
| Primary sales channel | Amazon marketplaces | Bookstores, libraries, online retailers and wholesalers | BN.com and NOOK customers |
| Distribution reach | Direct Amazon distribution; Expanded Distribution for eligible paperbacks | Wide international wholesale and retail distribution | Primarily the Barnes & Noble retail ecosystem |
| Physical bookstore placement | Not guaranteed | Not guaranteed; the book becomes available for retailers to order | Not guaranteed; stores make separate stocking decisions |
| Print and production options | Suitable for many standard paperback and hardcover projects | Broad range of trim sizes, paper, colour and binding configurations | Multiple paperback and hardcover configurations, with fewer trade-distribution controls |
| Print quality | Depends on colour, paper, binding and book specifications; order a proof | Depends on the selected production specifications; order a proof | Depends on the selected format and specifications; order a proof |
| Wholesale discount control | Limited | Publisher controlled | Not a central feature of the platform |
| Retailer return settings | No comparable publisher-controlled trade returns setting | Publisher can select returnability and accepts the related financial risk | Does not offer the same wholesale returns strategy as IngramSpark |
| Ease of setup | Generally the most straightforward | More technical because of wholesale, pricing and return settings | Generally straightforward |
| Best for | Authors expecting most sales through Amazon | Authors targeting bookstores, libraries and wider trade distribution | Authors with a defined Barnes & Noble or NOOK audience |
| Recommended role | Primary platform for direct Amazon sales | Primary platform for wholesale distribution | Selective additional retail channel |
A platform comparison becomes more useful when it is applied to a specific publishing plan. The following examples show how the choice may change according to the book, audience, format, and sales strategy.
For a first-time novelist expecting most sales through Amazon, KDP is usually the most practical starting point. It provides direct control over the Amazon listing and keeps the publishing, revision, reporting, and author-copy process relatively simple.
There is usually no need to add IngramSpark immediately unless the author already plans to approach bookstores, libraries, schools, or other trade buyers. Wider distribution can be added later when there is a realistic strategy for generating orders outside Amazon.
Recommended setup: KDP for the paperback and Kindle eBook. Add IngramSpark later if trade distribution becomes important.
A children's picture book should not be assigned to a platform solely because that platform has the widest distribution. Colour printing cost, trim size, paper appearance, binding, page count, image brightness, author-copy pricing, and retail price all affect whether the edition is commercially workable.
Prepare the book according to the specifications of the platforms being considered and order physical proofs before approving publication. A proof should be checked for colour reproduction, trimming, page alignment, text clarity, image placement, binding strength, and consistency across double-page spreads.
One platform may produce a suitable and affordable paperback, while another may offer the preferred hardcover format. The paperback and hardcover do not have to be printed through the same service.
Recommended setup: Compare physical proofs and printing costs from KDP and IngramSpark before deciding which platform should supply each format.
IngramSpark is generally the more appropriate platform when independent bookstores form part of the sales strategy because it makes the title available through established wholesale ordering systems.
However, availability does not create store orders. Before approaching retailers, the author should have a professionally prepared book, a competitive retail price, appropriate wholesale settings, a clear target audience, and a credible plan for generating local or national demand.
Recommended setup: Use KDP for direct Amazon sales and IngramSpark for wholesale availability. Do not rely on distribution alone to create bookstore placement.
Libraries and schools usually purchase books through established suppliers, distributors, wholesalers, or approved vendors. IngramSpark can make a title easier to locate within those purchasing systems, but the author still needs an outreach plan.
Educational value, age suitability, curriculum relevance, professional reviews, reading level, library metadata, supplementary resources, and author programmes may influence purchasing decisions more than the platform itself.
Recommended setup: Use IngramSpark for wider ordering availability and support it with direct outreach to librarians, schools, educators, and relevant organisations.
When an author expects to sell directly at workshops, school visits, conferences, fairs, readings, or through an author website, the cost of author copies may matter more than retail distribution.
Compare the printing price, shipping cost, delivery time, minimum order requirements, and potential resale margin. A platform offering broader distribution may not be the most economical supplier for copies sold directly by the author.
Recommended setup: Choose the platform that provides an acceptable physical product and a workable landed cost for the quantities you expect to order.
Publishing through IngramSpark or Barnes & Noble Press does not require you to remove a successful KDP edition. Another platform should be added only when it solves a specific distribution or format problem.
Before expanding, confirm the ISBN arrangement, distribution settings, metadata, files, retail price, and role of each platform. Avoid creating a new edition unnecessarily if the existing edition can be distributed correctly.
Recommended setup: Keep KDP as the Amazon supplier and add another platform only when wider trade distribution, a different format, or a defined retail audience justifies it.
An author publishing several titles should make platform decisions at catalogue level rather than book by book. Consistent ISBN ownership, imprint information, metadata standards, cover specifications, pricing methods, file naming, and edition records become increasingly important as the catalogue grows.
Using multiple platforms can be effective, but only when the publisher documents which service supplies each format and channel. This prevents outdated files, duplicate editions, conflicting prices, and inconsistent retailer listings.
Recommended setup: Use publisher-owned ISBNs, keep a central edition record, and assign a defined role to every platform.
Yes. Many independent publishers use Amazon KDP for direct Amazon sales and IngramSpark for bookstore, library, and wider wholesale distribution.
However, the distribution settings must be planned carefully. If the paperback is already distributed through IngramSpark, you should not enrol that same ISBN in KDP Expanded Distribution. Amazon states that an ISBN used for KDP Expanded Distribution must not already have been submitted for distribution through another service.
A common arrangement is to publish the Amazon edition directly through KDP, leave KDP Expanded Distribution disabled, and use IngramSpark to supply non-Amazon retailers and wholesale buyers.
You can generally use the same publisher-owned ISBN for the same print edition on more than one publishing service, provided the title, author name, binding type, trim size, and other edition details remain consistent.
A free ISBN assigned by a publishing platform may have restrictions and may identify that platform as the publisher of record. Authors planning to publish through several services or build their own publishing imprint should consider purchasing and managing their own ISBNs.
Paperback and hardcover editions require separate ISBNs because they are different physical formats. A revised edition may also require a new ISBN when the changes are substantial.
There is no single platform that always produces the highest earnings. The amount an author receives depends on the retail price, printing cost, page count, colour option, sales channel, wholesale discount, and format of the book.
KDP may produce a stronger return on books sold directly through Amazon because the book is being supplied through Amazon's own publishing system. IngramSpark may provide broader distribution, but wholesale discounts and printing costs can reduce the amount earned per copy.
The correct comparison is therefore not simply the advertised royalty percentage. Authors should calculate the estimated compensation for the exact book specifications and sales route before setting the retail price.
The better platform depends on the type of children's book and how it will be sold.
KDP is often a practical choice when most sales will take place through Amazon and the required trim size, binding, paper, and colour options are supported. IngramSpark may be more suitable when the author needs wider bookstore and library availability or wants to compare additional hardcover and production options.
For illustrated children's books, the decision should be based on physical proof copies, printing cost, colour reproduction, available trim sizes, binding, author-copy cost, and the expected retail price. One platform may be suitable for the paperback while another is better for the hardcover.
No. IngramSpark can make a book available for bookstores, libraries, and retailers to order through Ingram's distribution network, but it does not guarantee that individual stores will purchase or display the book.
Bookstores consider factors such as customer demand, professional presentation, retail price, wholesale discount, returnability, subject relevance, previous sales, and the author's marketing plan before deciding whether to stock a title.
Distribution makes the book orderable. Marketing, retailer outreach, and customer demand are still required to generate orders.
No. Publishing through Barnes & Noble Press can make a print book available through BN.com and an eBook available to NOOK readers, but it does not automatically place the book on shelves in physical Barnes & Noble stores.
Individual stores and Barnes & Noble buyers make separate stocking decisions. Authors seeking physical placement should be prepared to demonstrate professional production, competitive pricing, local or national demand, and a realistic marketing plan.
For many first-time authors, KDP is the most practical starting point because the publishing workflow is relatively straightforward and it provides direct access to Amazon's marketplace.
Starting with KDP also allows the author to test the book's pricing, cover, description, metadata, and reader response before adding more complex wholesale distribution.
However, authors who already have a bookstore, school, library, or institutional sales plan may benefit from preparing an IngramSpark edition at the same time.
No. Publishing through more platforms does not automatically create more sales.
For many authors, KDP and IngramSpark are sufficient: KDP handles direct Amazon sales, while IngramSpark supports wider wholesale distribution. Barnes & Noble Press is usually added only when the author has a specific reason to target BN.com or NOOK customers directly.
Every additional platform creates more work, including file updates, metadata management, pricing decisions, sales reports, tax information, and edition tracking. Use another platform only when it performs a clear role in the publishing strategy.
Print quality cannot be judged reliably by assigning one platform a simple label such as “basic” or “excellent.” Results vary according to paper type, colour option, binding, trim size, printing location, image preparation, and the design of the book itself.
The safest approach is to order a physical proof from each platform being seriously considered. Illustrated books should be checked for colour reproduction, image brightness, trimming, margins, binding, text clarity, paper appearance, and consistency across spreads.
A platform with more production options is not automatically the best choice. The best supplier is the one that produces an acceptable copy at a retail price and printing cost that work for the book.
Yes, but the transition should be managed carefully. The author may need to update distribution settings, confirm ISBN eligibility, remove overlapping distribution, upload new files, and check how existing retail listings will be affected.
Retailer pages, reviews, rankings, and availability do not always transfer neatly when a new edition or ISBN is created. For this reason, it is better to plan the platform and ISBN strategy before publication rather than changing distributors without understanding the consequences.
The most expensive publishing mistakes are often caused by making platform decisions too early. Authors may upload a book before confirming the edition structure, production costs, ISBN ownership, or intended sales channels.
Comparing Royalty Percentages Instead of Actual Earnings
A higher advertised royalty does not necessarily produce a higher profit. The amount retained from each sale is affected by the printing cost, retail price, format, sales channel, wholesale terms, and delivery market.
Compare the estimated amount earned per copy for the exact book rather than choosing a platform from its headline royalty rate.
Designing the Book Before Confirming Production Specifications
The final trim size, page count, colour option, paper, bleed, binding, and cover measurements should be confirmed before the interior and cover are completed.
When production decisions are delayed, authors may have to resize illustrations, rebuild page layouts, change the spine, or prepare an entirely new cover file.
Assuming Retail Availability Means Retail Demand
A book listing only confirms that the title can potentially be found or ordered. It does not show that readers, booksellers, librarians, or schools are actively looking for it.
Distribution should support an existing audience and marketing plan. It should not be treated as a substitute for creating demand.
Accepting an ISBN Before Planning the Edition Structure
An ISBN decision affects how the publisher, format, and edition are identified. Authors should first decide which formats they will publish, who will own the publishing imprint, and whether the same edition will appear through more than one service.
This prevents avoidable problems such as duplicate editions, conflicting publisher records, or an ISBN that cannot be used as originally intended.
Creating More Editions Than the Author Can Maintain
Every additional edition creates another record that may require price changes, corrected files, updated metadata, tax information, sales monitoring, and availability checks.
A smaller number of well-managed editions is usually more useful than several poorly maintained listings.
Approving Publication Without Inspecting the Finished Product
A digital preview can identify obvious file errors, but it cannot fully show paper appearance, colour shifts, trimming, gutter loss, cover alignment, binding tension, or the physical handling of the book.
A physical proof should be reviewed as a manufactured product, not merely as a printed version of the PDF.
Experienced publishers do not begin by asking which platform has the most features. They begin by defining the edition, the buyer, the sales route, and the financial purpose of the book.
A practical decision process usually follows this order:
Define the Exact Edition
Decide whether the product is a paperback, hardcover, eBook, workbook, picture book, large-format title, or another clearly defined edition.
Identify the Likely Buyer
The buyer may be an individual reader, parent, teacher, librarian, school, retailer, organisation, or event attendee. Different buyers use different purchasing routes.
Choose the Sales Route
Decide whether the edition will be sold mainly through online retail, wholesale ordering, direct author sales, institutional sales, or a combination of these routes.
Test the Financial Model
Check whether the intended retail price can cover production costs while leaving a reasonable return for the sales route being used.
Assign One Clear Role to Each Service
A platform should be used because it performs a specific function within the publishing plan, not simply because the author can create another account.
Prepare Files for the Selected Specification
The interior, cover, barcode area, spine, bleed, and export settings should be prepared according to the requirements of the final edition.
Review the Physical and Commercial Result
The finished book should be assessed for production quality, retail suitability, reader expectations, pricing, and profitability before wider release.
This process often leads to different decisions for different editions of the same title. The most suitable supplier for a paperback may not be the best choice for the hardcover, direct-sale copies, or digital edition.
Choosing the right publishing platform is only one part of the self-publishing process. The guides below explain the next decisions most authors make when preparing a book for publication.
Selecting the right publishing platform is only one part of producing a professional book. Preparing print-ready files, choosing the correct trim size, obtaining ISBNs, designing the cover, formatting the interior, and uploading the final files all influence the publishing experience.
If you'd like professional assistance with any stage of the process, Blueberry Illustrations provides complete self-publishing support for authors, including book design, formatting, children's book illustrations, cover design, Amazon KDP preparation, and publishing assistance.
Contact Blueberry Illustrations to discuss your project or explore our self-publishing resources for additional guides.
