We've all heard the story: aspiring authors facing one rejection after another while repeatedly submitting manuscripts to a handful of giant book publishing companies, only to have them briskly declined again.
Luckily, the story doesn't have to end there. With new technology, online book publishing services now can format, print and publish books quickly and affordably. What is even better, a book can go from manuscript form to a handsome bound volume through a printing method called print-on-demand (POD) publishing. With this technique, books are printed and shipped as they are ordered, which eliminates the need to have large print runs and costly warehouses stacked with books, common practices in the traditional publishing world.
Even better, this new technology and publishing approach lets you keep all the rights to your own book. With traditional publishers, you generally have to relinquish some or all of the rights.
Even with the cost-saving and copyright benefits the POD book publishing industry offers, your book will look as professionally done and as polished as any traditionally published book. In addition, since your book is published using the latest technology and only to suit the demand, there is less waste in production. This potentially gives you a greater royalty earning capacity.
Leading POD book publishing companies also have made great strides in the world of eBooks, and it is possible to have your manuscript turned into written work that is formatted and ready for readers to enjoy electronically.
Online book publishers also offer a broad selling base, whether it is through their own online bookstore or through online giants such as Amazon.com, Borders.com, Booksamillion.com and Walmart.com. By employing distribution channels that reach more than 25,000 retailers, today's POD publishers can sell to brick-and-mortar stores, libraries and other online merchants.
However, perhaps the best advantage that comes with using an online book publishing service is the greater chance your book will be accepted and published. Online publishing services do not take everything they receive – for example, one POD book publishing company makes it clear it will not accept hate literature. However, the POD business model is much more flexible than traditional publishing and permits publication of a much broader-base of quality books.
In this site, you will find articles on book publishing and comprehensive reviews of online book publishing services to help you make an informed decision about which company is right for you. At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don't Have To.™
The best online book publishing services offer well-rounded and affordable publishing packages, marketing assistance, a broad book-selling reach, a wide selection of extra services beyond the publishing package and plenty of help and 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. In addition, they have a quick, overall publishing timeframe and give authors the most for their money. High-quality POD publishing companies also provide a number of services as part of the pre-paid package to help you sell your book. These can include such things as designing a web page and making copies of the book available to reviewers.
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 extra paid publishing and marketing services beyond those offered in their publishing packages. A few of these include:
• Copyediting services
• Copyright registration services
• Ghost writing services
• Art services for cover design
• Expedited publishing
• Press release writing and distribution
• Creation of promotional materials
• Web page design
• Help with modern marketing techniques
• Assistance with video trailers
• Help in placing books with eBook firms
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 an online forum, discussion board or blog.
Whether you are a first-time author or a previously published novelist who is tired of signing your rights away, online book publishing companies offer a fast and inexpensive way to get your book off your computer screen and into the hands of your readers.
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iUniverse | Author House | Outskirts Press | Infinity Publishing | Virtual Book Worm Publishing | Llumina Press | Xlibris | Bookstand | Wheatmark | Fultus |
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Lowest Price |
$599.00 |
$599.00 |
$699.00 |
$499.00 |
$440.00 |
$799.00 |
$599.00 |
$499.00 |
$1,299.00 |
$299.00 |
| Overall Rating | ||||||||||
| Ratings | ||||||||||
| Publishing Package | ||||||||||
| Bookselling Reach | ||||||||||
| Additional Paid Services | ||||||||||
| Help & Support | ||||||||||
| 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 | ||||||||||
| Publishing Package | ||||||||||
| Average Publishing Timeframe in Weeks | 6 - 8 | 12 -18 | 1 - 13 | 6 - 9 | 4 - 6 | 12-18 | 12-17 | 6-8 | 12 | 3 - 4 |
| Number of Free Author Copies | 5 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 5 | 48 | 5 | 5 |
| Editorial Evaluation | ||||||||||
| Manuscript Layout/Formatting | ||||||||||
| ISBN Number Assigned | ||||||||||
| Barcode Creation | ||||||||||
| Printed in Paperback | ||||||||||
| Original Cover Design | ||||||||||
| Interior Image Placement | ||||||||||
| eBook Formatting | ||||||||||
| Copies for Review Available | ||||||||||
| Offers Author Discounts | ||||||||||
| Offers Articles on Book Marketing | ||||||||||
| Webpage Design | ||||||||||
| How-to Marketing Literature | ||||||||||
| Library of Congress Control Number | ||||||||||
| Printed in Hardcover | ||||||||||
| Booksellers Return Program | ||||||||||
| Customized Sales Sheet Creation | ||||||||||
| Book Selling Reach | ||||||||||
| Total Titles in Print | 39,145+ | 60,000+ | 7,000+ | 6,100+ | 1,100+ | 1,500+ | 25,000+ | 1,000+ | 1,200+ | 400+ |
| Ingram Book Group | ||||||||||
| Baker & Taylor, Inc. | ||||||||||
| Onsite Bookstore | ||||||||||
| Amazon.com | ||||||||||
| BarnesandNoble.com | ||||||||||
| Borders.com | ||||||||||
| Abebooks.com | ||||||||||
| Alibris.com | ||||||||||
| Powells.com | ||||||||||
| Buy.com | ||||||||||
| Walmart.com | ||||||||||
| Additional Paid Services | ||||||||||
| Copyediting/Proofreading | ||||||||||
| Expedited Publishing | ||||||||||
| Copyright Registration | ||||||||||
| OCR Text Scanning/Data Entry | ||||||||||
| Ghost Writing | ||||||||||
| Art for Cover Design | ||||||||||
| Personal Publicist | ||||||||||
| Press Release Writing | ||||||||||
| Newswire Services | ||||||||||
| Media Alert Services | ||||||||||
| Arrange Public Appearances | ||||||||||
| Co-op Discounted Advertising | ||||||||||
| Promotional Email Message | ||||||||||
| News Clipping Service | ||||||||||
| Help with Website Creation | ||||||||||
| Written promotional materials | ||||||||||
| Google/Amazon Keyword Search | ||||||||||
| Video Trailer | ||||||||||
| Barnes & Noble Inside the Book | ||||||||||
| Amazon Kindle | ||||||||||
| Amazon Inside the Book | ||||||||||
| eBook Publication | ||||||||||
| Custom Illustration Design | ||||||||||
| Help & Support | ||||||||||
| Toll-Free Phone Support | ||||||||||
| Forums/Discussion Boards/Blog | ||||||||||
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