Self-Published eBooks

1. Self-Published eBooks Gaining Popularity and Credibility

2. Self-Published Print Books • Print self-publishing has been fairly popular. • Xlibris, Create Space, iUniverse. • Self-published print books are expensive. • This is true for the author, retailer, and consumer. • Brick and mortar stores usually unwilling to sacrifice retail space on self-published books. • High costs prevented print self-publishing from gaining widespread popularity among readers. • Lose money and sell poorly. • Books that do sell well may only break even or gain popularity on a local level. • Self-published print books are usually just as expensive as a book written by an established author.

3. Print Books Business Model • Print on demand • Books are sold from a web site directly to consumers. • Little to upfront cost to authors, but books are still costly for consumers. • Limited Run • A specified number of books are printed for the author. • Can cost the author multiple thousands of dollars. • Books are costly for consumers.

4. Self-Published eBooks • eBooks can be created for little or no cost. • Usually can be created for free using free software. • Can be sold on most popular ebook web sites with no upfront cost to the author. • Amazon Kindle Store, Barnes & Noble Nook Store, Apple iBookstore, • Extremely inexpensive. • Many times self-published ebooks sell for $0.99 - $9.99. • Low cost makes readers more likely to choose a self-published book over one written by an established author.

5. eBook Business Model • Profits typically split 70/30. • Author typically keeps 70% of sale price. • Retailer typically keeps 30% of sale price. • Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Apple use some variation of this arrangement. • Highly Profitable for Authors • Authors can make more money from a self published ebook than by going through a traditional publisher.

6. Self-Publishing Explosion • 29,000 self-published books in 2004 • 2,700,000 self-published books in 2010. • 2010 was the first year that the total number of self-published books was greater than the total number of traditionally published books. • Some self-published titles have been so popular that publishing companies have bought the rights to sell the books in print. • Fifty Shades of Grey • J.A. Konrath

7. Advantages of Self-Published eBooks • Very Little to No Risk • No initial cost for author. • No lost inventory space for retailers who carry self-published. • Inexpensive or free for consumers. • Higher Profit Margins for Authors • In the Garden of Beasts • J.K Rowling • Viral eBooks • Fifty Shades of Grey series • Started as a self published ebook. • Mill River Recluse • $0.99 ebook spent 16 weeks on USA Today best-seller list. • Amanda Hocking • Self-published paranormal romance author who has sold one million ebooks and earned two million dollars from sales.

8. Disadvantages of Self-Published eBooks • No marketing. • One of the major costs associated with traditional publishing is advertising. • Increased competition. • Millions of potential competing ebooks on the market.

9. Apple iBooks Author

10. iBooks Author • Free • Useful for creating visual ebooks • Cookbooks • Textbooks • Picture books

11. iBooks Author • Emphasis on interactive components • Image galleries • Interactive 3D renderings • Imbedded video

12. iBooks Author • Other Considerations • Only available for Macs • Can not use iBooks Author to make ebooks for sale in other stores.