Comparing Self-Publishing Within Kindle Unlimited Against Broad-Spectrum Publishing
Self-publishing has a crucial dilemma: Publish exclusively on Amazon's Kindle Unlimited or go wide with other retailers? We'll dive into the nitty-gritty of the great Kindle Unlimited publishing versus publishing wide standoff.
Here's the lowdown: Amazon is the kingpin of self-published books. With Kindle Unlimited ( Amazon's subscription platform for books ), you'll have to abide by its exclusivity rule, selling your book to KU and no one else for the first three months. If that doesn't tickle your fancy, try the "publish wide" route, where your books reside on all other retailers like Apple Books, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble.
Now, what will y'all have to consider? Your prime goals, style preferences, the genre you're cookin' up, and other factors will all influence your final decision.
What's the buzz about Kindle Unlimited (KU) publishing?
How Many Kindle Unlimited Subscribers Have We Got?
The million-dollar question: How many Kindle Unlimited subscribers? Truthfully, we don't possess the exact figures. Experts, however, speculate that there are over 4 million subscribers rockin' the digital book field. And that ain't all—thousands of audiobooks, comics, and magazines are available alongside the gazillions of ebooks listed in the program.
What's Up With Kindle Unlimited for Writers?
Feeling like a wordsmith? You can publish to KU via Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing platform without nickel and diming yourself. Fancy enrolling in the KDP Select program (AKA KU's alternative name on Amazon's publishing platform)? This means letting Amazon hog the sales rights for each 90-day term you're on the program. Keep in mind, this limits your book availability to KU exclusively, and even your own sales site's profit-generating prowess can't compete with Amazon. Check out this step-by-step guide on how to self-publish on Amazon.
How Does a Writer Get Paid on Kindle Unlimited?
Wondering how Kindle Unlimited pays authors? Amazon employs a unique payment system called KENPC (Kindle Edition Normalized Page Count). This system uses the KDP Select Global Fund each month to calculate author earnings. The funds division is based on several elements, such as exchange rates, customer reading habits, and more. From there, writers earn an amount proportional to the share of total pages read.
Let's run a scenario: Suppose the month's funds share is $10 million, and the total pages read amount to 100 million. If your 100-page Kindle ebook was completely read by readers 100 times in a month, you'd gain a grand total of $1,000! That's the sweet sound of cash in your pocket, my friend!
Lemme walk y'all through the pros and cons of KDP Select (or KU, if you're feeling fancy)!
KDP Select: Bright Sides and Dark Spots
Pro #1: Money for Words
Amazon's payout system, KENPC, has its perks for established authors with longer books or book series that keep readers hooked. Because KENPC assigns equal value to every page, the more you write—or in a series—the more you earn!
Pro #2: Exclusive Marketing Boost
Enrolling in KDP Select unlocks special marketing opportunities such as promotions where you can fling your book for free or at a deep discount to grab readers' eyeballs. Curious to learn more? Hop this way!
Pro #3: Access to the Masses
Fancy reachin' a heap of readers? With an estimated 4 million hungry bookworms subscribed to KU, you may find it advantageous to aim at this one gigantic market.
Wanna get down with the cons of KU publishing?
Con #1: Limited Readership
Opting for Kindle Unlimited exclusivity knocks you out of any other market available. Yep, you're missing out on your book's full sales potential!
Here's the stats from 2023: Amazon ruled the roost, accounting for 60% of book sales. Yet, the true potential lies in that remaining 40% distributed across other stores like Apple Books and Google Play Books, as Apple users and Nook enthusiasts (among others) comprise different content consumers.
Con #2: Stark Rulez
Amazon's exclusivity policy is a tough cookie. While you're cranky in KDP Select, you can't chuck copies of your book in any digital format to other platforms, period. Free copies and even sample chapters that exceed 10% ain't an option. Ignore the rules, and Amazon might snatch your royalties or even kick you off the platform.
Con #3: Business Shakes
When you put all your eggs in one basket, you're gamblin' with your business. Veteran writers already familiar with the roller-coaster ride that is Kindle Unlimited know just how unstable Amazon can be. And while Amazon tinkers with its internal gears, authors' incomes take a nose dive. Plus, if you're not lovin' it in KU now, the dwindling payouts show that competition is stiffening, friend!
Now, let's venture into the world of "publishing wide"!
The Wild, Wild World of Publishing Wide
Wanna amplify your reach? Publishing wide means distributing your books across every format, country, and store available. This ambitious strategy necessitates more management work to keep tabs on royalty reports and various retailers. However, a slick self-publishing platform like ours can lend you a hand!
With publishing wide, you unlock a spectrum of benefits backed by sales numbers and market trends. Give this video a gander, and it'll walk you through our platform's 2023 book sales statistics:
Ready to conquer the world (or at least the world of books)? Hop on our platform for free!
Publishing Wide: What's the Dealio?
Pro #1: Quick Discoverability
Building a durable, lengthy career as an author needs visibility. Exclusivity ain't cool when it keeps your work hidden from myriad sales channels and paths for discoverability. Curious about retailers leading the pack in sales growth? Keep scrolling!
Pro #2: Less Business Risk
Avoidin' a 100% dependence on one platform ain't a half-bad idea, is it? With publishing wide, multiple income streams step in to help you navigate those tough times when ya come across roadblocks on any platform.
Enough said about the sunshine 'n' rainbows of publishing wide! Now, let's talk 'bout the bad bits:
Con #1: Time
Gainin' momentum ain't a quick fix. While Amazon's whiz-bang platform gets 'em hooked on your books faster than greased lightning, doin' it without KU exclusivity requires some patience. But with the right marketing strategies, like distributing review copies and applyin' for retailer-specific promotions, ya can boost your book's visibility!
Con #2: Money Money Money
KDP Select offers top-shelf promotional tools, so when you exit the Amazon bubble, ya might wanna invest in book marketing services 'n' tactics to put your work in front of more eyeballs than just your own. Plus, ya gotta fork over dough for tools and resources to distribute to multiple markets.
- With the establishment of various revenue streams through "publishing wide" on retailers like Apple Books, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble, authors may find it beneficial to consider integrating their finance management strategies with their lifestyle choices, as this approach could provide a more balanced income while diversifying their technology platforms.
- Despite Amazon's dominance in the self-published books market, it's important to weigh the financial implications of not being able to access potential readers on other platforms when enrolled in Kindle Unlimited's exclusivity rule. As technology evolves and new revenue streams emerge, lifestyle preferences and finance concerns may dictate the need for authors to evaluate their publishing strategies beyond just Kindle Unlimited.
