Description
Some more things you need to know about publishing on IngramSpark
3 Things You Should Know About Publishing on IngramSpark (Before You Hit Publish)
Hey there, writers and authors! Whether you’ve self-published before or are just exploring your first publishing journey, I’m here to continue sharing what I’ve learned along the way to make your life a little easier.
I’m Allison Spooner, author of The Lost Girl: A Neverland Story and two collections of flash fiction, with another book releasing this September! I’ve been through the self-publishing process a few times now, and as I’ve navigated platforms like IngramSpark and KDP, I’ve picked up insights that I wish I’d known earlier.
In a previous post, I shared four things you should know about publishing with IngramSpark; today, I want to follow up with three more crucial tips. Let’s dive in!
1. Publishing on IngramSpark Makes Your Book Available to Bookstores
One of the biggest advantages of IngramSpark is that it allows bookstores to order your book—something that hasn’t always been possible when using just KDP. Here’s why this matters:
Previously, if a self-published book was printed solely through Amazon’s KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing), independent and local bookstores usually avoided carrying it. There were several reasons for this:
- ISBN Ownership: If Amazon provided your ISBN, bookstores couldn’t use it in their ordering system.
- Competition: Bookstores are understandably hesitant to stock books printed by their competitor, Amazon.
IngramSpark, however, is part of the Ingram Content Group, the premier book wholesaler that most bookstores and libraries already use to order stock. By publishing your book on IngramSpark, it becomes available in this system, which means bookstores can order it.
Now, this doesn’t mean every bookstore will magically stock your book. You’ll still need to put in the effort to market yourself. That might include visiting stores, pitching your book, and building relationships with local booksellers. But the key difference is that now, you’ve given them the option to order your book, which wasn’t possible with KDP alone.
2. Publishing Ebooks with IngramSpark Offers Wider Distribution
In addition to making your paperbacks and hardcovers accessible to bookstores, IngramSpark can also distribute your ebooks across a variety of platforms. If you want your ebook available through Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, or other non-Amazon retailers, publishing on IngramSpark is the way to go.
But there’s an important caveat:
- If you enroll your ebook in Kindle Unlimited (KU), Amazon requires exclusivity. This means your ebook cannot be available on other platforms while it is part of KU.
So, if you’re planning to make your ebook available “wide” (beyond Amazon), consider whether Kindle Unlimited aligns with your publishing goals. I’ve personally chosen exclusivity for some of my titles, but it’s entirely up to you based on your marketing strategy. IngramSpark offers excellent opportunities for reaching readers on non-Amazon platforms, so weigh the trade-offs carefully.
3. Decide Whether to Make Your Book Returnable
When you publish on IngramSpark, you’ll need to make a critical decision: Should you make your book returnable?
Here’s why this is important:
Bookstores are understandably cautious about ordering large quantities of books. If they stock too many of your titles and they don’t sell, they’re left with inventory taking up shelf or storage space. To minimize their risk, bookstores want the ability to return unsold books.
If you choose to make your book returnable on IngramSpark, bookstores can send back any unsold copies. However, this comes with pros and cons for you as the author:
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If you choose ‘Return to Publisher’:
Returned books are sent back to you, but at your expense. This means you’ll pay the wholesale cost of the book as well as the shipping cost. You can keep these books and (hopefully) sell them at future events or through other channels. -
If you choose ‘Return and Destroy’:
Bookstores can return the books to IngramSpark for destruction. You won’t have to pay shipping costs, but the books will be destroyed, which can be disheartening for many authors. You’ll still be charged the wholesale cost of the returned books.
What’s the wholesale cost?
The wholesale price depends on the retail price of your book and the discount you’ve set. For example, if your book’s retail price is $20 and your wholesale discount is 55%, the wholesale cost is $9. If a bookstore returns a $20 book, you’ll need to pay back that $9 per returned copy.
What Does This Mean for You?
- If you choose to make your book non-returnable, many bookstores may hesitate to order it at all.
- However, if you allow returns, you’ll need to prepare for the financial hit in case books are sent back.
Personally, I’ve chosen to make my books non-returnable because I didn’t want to risk paying for returns. However, I’ve noticed that bookstores are less willing to stock my books as a result. It’s a tough choice, so take some time to consider what’s best for your publishing strategy.
Final Thoughts: Weigh the Pros and Cons
Publishing through IngramSpark opens exciting opportunities, from bookstore availability to wide ebook distribution. However, it also comes with unique challenges, particularly when it comes to return policies and printing costs.
Here’s a recap of the three key points:
- IngramSpark allows bookstores to order your book, but you still need to do the legwork to get their attention.
- Publishing ebooks on IngramSpark enables wide distribution on platforms like Apple Books and Barnes & Noble.
- Deciding whether to make your books returnable is an important factor that impacts bookstore orders and your financial responsibilities.
At the end of the day, every author’s journey is unique. What works for me might not work for you, and that’s okay! The key is knowing the pros and cons upfront so you can make an informed decision.
Have Questions? Let’s Keep the Conversation Going!
If you have lingering questions about self-publishing—or anything I talked about here—don’t hesitate to reach out! Drop a comment below, and I’d be happy to answer in a future post or video.
Thanks so much for sticking around, and I’ll see you next time with even more tips for navigating your self-publishing journey.