Self-Published eBooksGaining Popularity and Credibility

• 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.

Self-Published Print Books

1. 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.

2. 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.

Print Books Business Model

• 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.

Self-Published eBooks

• 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.

eBook Business Model

• 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

Self-Publishing Explosion

• 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.

Advantages 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.

Disadvantages of Self-Published eBooks

Apple iBooks Author

• Free• Useful for

creating visual ebooks• Cookbooks• Textbooks • Picture books

iBooks Author

• Emphasis on interactive components• Image galleries• Interactive 3D

renderings • Imbedded video

iBooks Author

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

other stores.

iBooks Author