Why Use Online Book Publishing Services?

There was once a time when only a handful of book publishing companies held the fate of your book's future. Now, with the latest technology, online book publishing services can format, publish and print books quickly and affordably.

These companies can do so because of a printing method called print-on-demand (POD) publishing, where books are printed and shipped as they are ordered, eliminating the need for the large print runs and warehousing costs that come with traditional publishing methods.

Another way online book publishing services differ from traditional publishers is the number of rights you have to give up to have your book published. With POD publishing, you keep all of your rights to the book, whereas with traditional publishers, you are typically required to give up at least a portion of them.

In addition, because POD book publishing uses the latest technology, the finished products are not only as nice as traditionally published books, but there is less waste in production, giving you a greater royalty earning capacity.

Online book publishers also offer a broad selling base, whether it's through their own online bookstore or through online giants such as Amazon.com, Borders.com, Booksamillion.com and Walmart.com. And through distribution channels that reach over 25,000 retailers, today's POD publishers can sell to brick-and-mortar stores, libraries and other online merchants.

But, perhaps the best advantage that comes with using an online book publishing service is the greater chance your book will be excepted and published. Although online publishing services do not accept everything that's submitted to them, the POD business model simply allows for a much broader-base of quality books to be printed.

In this site you'll find articles on book publishing and comprehensive reviews for online book publishing services to help you make an informed decision on which service is right for you. At TopTenREVIEWS, we do the research so you don't have to.™

What to Look for in an Online Book Publishing Service

The best online book publishing services offer well-rounded and affordable publishing packages, a broad bookselling reach, a wide selection of services you can pay for beyond the price of the publishing package and plenty of help support. Below are the criteria TopTenREVIEWS used to evaluate each online book publishing service:

  • Publishing Package – The best online publishing packages offer pre-publishing, publishing and promotional services, have a quick, overall publishing timeframe and give authors the most for their money.
  • Book Selling Reach – Capable online publishers are able to help their published authors sell books through a combination of selling methods, including an onsite bookstore, wholesale distribution channels (i.e. Ingram Book Group, Baker & Taylor, Inc.) and through other major online book retailers.
  • Additional Paid Services – Online book publishing services should offer a wide assortment of paid publishing and marketing services, beyond that offered in their publishing packages. A few of these include:
    • Copyediting services
    • Copyright registration services
    • OCR text scanning or data entry services
    • Ghost writing services
    • Art services for cover design
    • Art services for illustration design
    • Expedited publishing services
    • Press release writing and distribution services
    • Co-op discounted advertising services
    • Promotional materials creation services
    • News clipping services
  • Help/Support – Top online book publishing services should offer several avenues for support, including toll-free phone and email support or an online form for question submission. It is also helpful if they host a FAQs page and an online 'meeting place' where authors can share ideas and discuss publishing topics via online forum, discussion board or blog.
So whether you're a first-time author or a previously-published novelist that's tired of signing away your rights, online book publishing services offer a fast and inexpensive way to get your book off your computer and into the hands of your readers.

To read our top-ranked book publishing review, click here.

 
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The Perfect Book Publishing Alternative

Tired of having your book rejected because it doesn't fit into some predefined niche? With online book publishing services, you get everything you need to affordably publish, promote and sell your book.

Why Use Online Book Publishing Services?

2009 Online Book Publishing Review Product Comparisons

TopTenREVIEWS  |  Web Services  |  Home / Lifestyles  |  Online Book Publishing Review
Rank #1#2#3#4#5#6#7#8#9#10
Excellent score   Excellent
Very good score   Very Good
Good score   Good
Fair score   Fair
Poor score   Poor
iUniverse Author House Outskirts Press Infinity Publishing Virtual book worm Publishing Llumina Press Xlibris Bookstand Wheatmark Fultus
iUniverse Author House Outskirts Press Infinity Publishing Virtual book worm Publishing Llumina Press Xlibris Bookstand Wheatmark Fultus
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Lowest Price Buy iUniverse Select
$599.00 		Buy Author House Standard
$598.00 		Buy Outskirts Press Ruby
$699.00 		Buy Infinity Publishing Basic
$499.00 		Buy Virtual book worm Publishing Standard
$440.00 		Buy Llumina Press
$799.00 		Buy Xlibris Basic
$499.00 		Buy Bookstand Basic (up to 200 pgs)
$559.00 		Buy Wheatmark Basic
$1,299.00 		Buy Fultus POD Program
$299.00
 
Overall Rating Excellent Excellent Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Good
Ratings
Publishing Package Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Good Very Good Good Good
Bookselling Reach Excellent Excellent Very Good Very Good Very Good Very Good Excellent Very Good Very Good Very Good
Additional Paid Services Very Good Excellent Very Good Very Good Very Good Excellent Good Good Good Very Good
Help/Support Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Good Excellent Good
View Specifications Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!
View Screenshots View iUniverse screenshots View Author House screenshots View Outskirts Press screenshots View Infinity Publishing screenshots            
Publishing Package Royalties
Direct Sale Royalties 20% CP Self-Set Self-Set 30% CP 50% NP 30% CP 25% CP 30% CP 20% CP 25% CP
Third-Party Royalties 20% WP Self-Set Self-Set 15% WP 50% NP 10% CP 10% CP 15% CP 20% WP 15% CP
Non-Exclusive Contract Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Publishing Package
Average Publishing Timeframe in Weeks 6 - 8 12 -18 1 - 13 6 - 9 4 - 6 12-18 1 - 24 6-8 12 3 - 4
Number of Free Author Copies 5 1 6 3 3 10 5 48 5 5
Pre-Publishing Services                    
Editorial Evaluation     Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark    
Manuscript Layout/Formatting Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
ISBN Number Assigned Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Barcode Creation Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Library of Congress Control Number         Check Mark Check Mark     Check Mark  
Publishing Services                    
Printed in Paperback Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Printed in Hardcover                    
Printed in Color           Check Mark Check Mark      
Original Cover Design Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark      
Interior Image Placement Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark        
Post-Publishing Services                    
eBook Formatting Check Mark         Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark    
CD ROM Archive   Check Mark                
Customized Sales Sheet Creation     Check Mark     Check Mark        
Web Domain Registration           Check Mark Check Mark      
Complete Website Design     Check Mark     Check Mark        
Website Button Design     Check Mark              
Facilitates Author Interviews           Check Mark        
Copies for Review Available Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark        
Ingram Advanced Catalog Listing           Check Mark        
Booksellers Return Program       Check Mark   Check Mark     Check Mark  
Author Resources                    
Offers Author Discounts Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Publishes a Newsletter/Magazine Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark        
Offers Articles on Writing Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark    
Posts Writer's Conferences Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark    
Posts Writer's Seminars Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark    
Posts Writing Contests Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark    
Offers Articles on Book Marketing Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark  
How-to Marketing Literature     Check Mark     Check Mark   Check Mark    
Bookselling Reach
Total Titles in Print 22,000+ 42,500+ 3,800+ 5,000+ 900+ 1,000+ 24,000+ 500+ 600+ 100+
Wholesalers                    
Ingram Book Group Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Baker & Taylor, Inc. Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark
Onsite Sales                    
Onsite Bookstore Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Online Retailers                    
Abebooks.com     Check Mark     Check Mark        
Alibris.com     Check Mark     Check Mark   Check Mark    
Amazon.com Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
BarnesandNoble.com Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Borders.com Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Buy.com     Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark        
Powells.com     Check Mark     Check Mark   Check Mark    
Waldenbooks.com     Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark        
Walmart.com       Check Mark Check Mark          
Additional Paid Services
Publishing Services                    
Copyediting/Proofreading Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Expedited Publishing Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark
Copyright Registration   Check Mark Check Mark     Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
OCR Text Scanning/Data Entry Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Ghost Writing Check Mark       Check Mark Check Mark       Check Mark
Art for Cover Design Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Custom Illustration Design   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark
Audio Book Format       Check Mark            
Post-Publishing Services                    
Personal Publicist Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark              
Press Release Writing Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark      
Newswire Services Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark      
Media Alert Services Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark        
Arrange Public Appearances Check Mark Check Mark     Check Mark         Check Mark
Co-op Discounted Advertising Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark       Check Mark
Full-Color Posters of Book Cover Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark     Check Mark
Single-Sheet Flyers of Book Cover   Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark       Check Mark
Invitations w/ Envelops   Check Mark Check Mark     Check Mark       Check Mark
Business Cards Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark
Bookmarks Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark
Postcards Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark Check Mark   Check Mark Check Mark
Promotional eMail Message Check Mark