What is the best platform to sell ebooks?
In today's digital age, self-publishing has become a popular option for authors, as it
allows them to retain control over their work and reach a wider audience without the
need for a traditional publishing contract. One of the most popular forms of
self-publishing is e-books, which can be easily distributed and sold online. However,
with so many platforms available, it can be challenging to determine which one is the
best to sell e-books. In this article, we will explore some of the most popular
platforms and help you make an informed decision.
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
Amazon KDP is one of the most popular platforms for selling e-books. It offers authors a
simple and easy-to-use interface to upload and sell their e-books on Amazon.com. With
KDP, authors can choose between two royalty options: 35% or 70%. The 70% royalty option
is available for e-books priced between $2.99 and $9.99, while the 35% royalty option is
available for e-books priced outside of that range.
Pros:
Huge audience: Amazon is the world's largest online retailer, and Kindle is the most popular e-reader, which means authors have the potential to reach a massive audience.
Easy to use: KDP is a user-friendly platform that offers step-by-step guidance throughout the publishing process.
Royalty options: KDP offers two royalty options, allowing authors to choose the best option for their book.
Cons:
Limited distribution: While KDP allows authors to sell their e-books on Amazon.com, it doesn't offer distribution to other retailers, meaning authors miss out on potential sales.
Amazon exclusivity: To participate in the KDP Select program, authors must agree to sell their e-books exclusively on Amazon, meaning they can't sell their books on other platforms.
Pros:
Huge audience: Amazon is the world's largest online retailer, and Kindle is the most popular e-reader, which means authors have the potential to reach a massive audience.
Easy to use: KDP is a user-friendly platform that offers step-by-step guidance throughout the publishing process.
Royalty options: KDP offers two royalty options, allowing authors to choose the best option for their book.
Cons:
Limited distribution: While KDP allows authors to sell their e-books on Amazon.com, it doesn't offer distribution to other retailers, meaning authors miss out on potential sales.
Amazon exclusivity: To participate in the KDP Select program, authors must agree to sell their e-books exclusively on Amazon, meaning they can't sell their books on other platforms.
HelpRange
HelpRange is a platform that allows creators to sell all sorts of digital products,
including documents and ebooks (our own
solution). It offers a simple and user-friendly interface for
selling your documents and preventing copying your ebooks.
HelpRange provides built-in payment processing and automatic delivery of your documents to customers. It takes no fee per sale.
HelpRange provides built-in payment processing and automatic delivery of your documents to customers. It takes no fee per sale.
Apple Books
Apple Books is a platform for selling e-books that is built into the Apple ecosystem.
This means that readers can purchase and download e-books directly to their Apple
devices, including iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Apple Books offers a straightforward and
user-friendly interface for authors to upload and sell their e-books.
Pros:
Wide audience: Apple has a large and dedicated user base, meaning authors have the potential to reach a significant audience.
User-friendly interface: Apple Books offers a simple and easy-to-use interface for authors to upload their e-books and manage their sales.
Cons:
Limited distribution: Apple Books only offers distribution to Apple devices, meaning authors may miss out on potential sales from other platforms.
Limited royalty options: Apple Books offers only one royalty option of 70% for e-books priced between $0.99 and $9.99.
Pros:
Wide audience: Apple has a large and dedicated user base, meaning authors have the potential to reach a significant audience.
User-friendly interface: Apple Books offers a simple and easy-to-use interface for authors to upload their e-books and manage their sales.
Cons:
Limited distribution: Apple Books only offers distribution to Apple devices, meaning authors may miss out on potential sales from other platforms.
Limited royalty options: Apple Books offers only one royalty option of 70% for e-books priced between $0.99 and $9.99.
Gumroad
Gumroad is a platform that allows authors to sell e-books, as well as other digital
products such as music and videos. It offers a simple and easy-to-use interface for
authors to upload and sell their e-books directly to readers. Gumroad also provides
tools for marketing and promoting e-books, such as email campaigns and social media
integrations. One advantage of Gumroad is that it does not take a commission on sales,
and authors can keep 100% of their earnings. However, it does not have the same level of
visibility as Amazon or Smashwords, which can limit its potential reach.