Where Should I Distribute My Book? A Guide to Choosing the Right Platform

Where Should I Distribute My Book? A Guide to Choosing the Right Platform

One of the most important decisions you’ll make as an author is where to distribute your book. With so many platforms out there, it’s essential to pick the ones that fit your goals and audience. In this post, we’ll walk through three popular distribution options: Amazon, IngramSpark, and Draft2Digital. Each of these platforms offers unique advantages, depending on your needs.

1. Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)

Best For: Authors looking for broad reach, ease of use, and access to Amazon's massive customer base.

Amazon KDP is one of the most popular choices for authors—and for good reason. As the largest online retailer in the world, Amazon allows you to reach millions of potential readers. Amazon’s platform is user-friendly, and you can publish both eBooks and paperbacks through it, with minimal setup.

Pros:

• Global Reach: Amazon has a worldwide customer base, meaning your book can be purchased by readers across the globe.

• Royalties: You can earn up to 70% royalty on eBooks, depending on your pricing and distribution options.

• Print-on-Demand: With KDP’s print-on-demand feature, you won’t need to worry about upfront printing costs or managing inventory.

• KDP Select: If you choose to make your eBook exclusive to Amazon, you can enroll in KDP Select, which provides additional marketing opportunities, like Kindle Unlimited and Countdown Deals.

Cons:

• Exclusivity for KDP Select: If you enroll in KDP Select, you cannot distribute your eBook through any other retailer, limiting reach outside of Amazon. (Note: We only recommend considering KDP Select if you are publishing fiction).

Who Should Use It?
Amazon is a great choice if you’re looking for simplicity, access to Amazon’s marketplace, and the ability to reach Kindle readers. This is especially effective if you're publishing eBooks or print-on-demand paperbacks and want to focus on building your audience on a single platform.

2. IngramSpark

Best For: Authors looking for access to physical bookstores, libraries, and non-Amazon retailers.

IngramSpark provides distribution options for both print and eBooks, with a strong focus on reaching brick-and-mortar retailers and libraries. It’s particularly valuable if you want your book to be available through major wholesalers that bookstores order from.

Pros:

• Wide Distribution: IngramSpark connects with over 40,000 retailers, libraries, and schools globally, offering broader reach than Amazon alone.

• Professional Quality: IngramSpark is known for high-quality printing, which makes it a great choice for authors who want top-notch physical copies.

• Flexibility in Discounts: IngramSpark allows authors to set discounts and even offers the option to make books returnable, which is important for bookstores that want this flexibility.

Cons:

• Fees: IngramSpark has setup fees for both print and eBook distribution. However, there are occasional discounts or promo codes that can help offset these costs.

• Complexity: Compared to Amazon, IngramSpark’s setup and formatting process can be more complex and time-consuming.

• Lower Royalties on eBooks: IngramSpark’s royalties for eBooks tend to be lower than Amazon’s, which may impact your earnings.

Who Should Use It?
If your goal is to have your book available in bookstores, libraries, and educational institutions, IngramSpark is a great choice. It’s also ideal for authors who want a high-quality print option or more control over pricing and distribution terms.

3. Draft2Digital

Best For: Authors looking for a simplified distribution process across multiple digital platforms.

Draft2Digital (D2D) is a user-friendly platform focused on eBook distribution. It allows authors to reach multiple online retailers—such as Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and more—without having to manage separate accounts with each one.

Pros:

• Broad Digital Reach: Draft2Digital distributes to several major eBook retailers and libraries, giving you access to a wide range of readers.

• Ease of Use: Known for its simple, author-friendly interface, D2D makes it easy to format your book and manage distribution.

• Flexible Royalties: D2D only takes a small commission, which can make it an attractive option for authors looking to maximize royalties on non-Amazon platforms.

• Customer Support: Draft2Digital is known for excellent customer support, which can be particularly helpful for new authors.

Cons:

• Digital-Only: Unlike IngramSpark and Amazon, Draft2Digital is primarily focused on eBooks, so it’s not an option for authors looking to distribute physical copies.

• Non-Exclusive Reach: While D2D offers access to several retailers, it doesn’t reach every eBook platform and doesn’t offer print distribution.

Who Should Use It?
Draft2Digital is ideal if you want to distribute your eBook across multiple online retailers and maximize your reach without exclusivity restrictions. It’s particularly useful if you’re new to self-publishing and are looking for a straightforward way to reach digital readers outside of Amazon.

Choosing the Right Mix for Your Book

Each platform serves different needs, and depending on your goals, you may choose to use one, two, or even all three. Here’s a quick recap to help you decide:

• Amazon KDP is ideal if you want to tap into Amazon’s massive readership and focus on eBooks or print-on-demand paperbacks.

• IngramSpark is perfect for authors aiming to reach brick-and-mortar bookstores, libraries, and broader print distribution networks.

• Draft2Digital provides a simple way to distribute eBooks across various online platforms without exclusivity.

By understanding what each platform offers, you can make an informed decision that helps your book find its way to the right readers.

Which Platforms We Use

For most of our clients, we use a combination of all three platforms to maximize reach and accessibility. We distribute on Amazon for Kindle and consumer-facing physical books, IngramSpark so bookstores, retailers, libraries, and schools can order, and Draft2Digital to get the digital version on Apple Books and Barnes & Noble digital. This multi-platform approach ensures that your book is available wherever your readers are looking.

***

If you are looking for help distributing your book, or choosing which platforms to publish on, book a consultation using the link at the top of the page.