Question 1

How to create a kindle book?

Accepted Answer

Well, first of all, you need to write one of course, and have it edited, proofread, get a cover designed, etc. But after you have the final product, you don’t want to upload your word file directly to KDP. You can, but it might look funky. So to create an ebook that looks good on a Kindle, or any other device, you need to format your book. There are programs you can buy if you have the time to figure out how they work, or you can have a professional help you with it. This is where we come in.

Question 2

Ebook or paperback?

Accepted Answer

Why limit yourself? Although most people nowadays read books via some sort of e-reader, there are still plenty of people who only read paperback. If you only have an ebook, you might never reach those people. And if you are already working on your ebook, or have a company that helps you with this, the extra expenses of creating a paperback are not that high. Sell just a few copies and you will make a profit. Also, take a look at audiobooks. This is a market that is on the rise and that will be bigger than ebooks in just a few years.

Question 3

How much does it cost to format a book?

Accepted Answer

For our ebook (epub and MOBI) + paperback (PDF) package we charge $199 ($159 if you are a student of Self Publishing School). This is less expensive than if you order the formatting for the ebook and paperback separately. Click here for more formatting information.

Question 4

Ebook distribution platform?

Accepted Answer

There are multiple platforms where you can upload and distribute your books. The best-known ones are Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Google Books, and Apple. If you don’t want to upload your book to all these individual platforms yourself, you can use a site called Draft2Digital.

Question 5

What is a publisher?

Accepted Answer

A Publisher is a company or, in the case of self-publishing, a person that handles the production and marketing of a book.

Question 6

What is a copyright page in a book?

Accepted Answer

This is the page in a book containing information about the current edition. Things like who the copyright belongs to, the year of publication, ISBN, credit for the cover designer, and more.

Question 7

Where does the copyright page go in a book?

Accepted Answer

Usually on the back of the title page.

Question 8

What is the best site for self publishing?

Accepted Answer

This depends on a few factors. Amazon has about 70% of the marketplace, so you can hardly skip them, unless you have a big following. Other big ones are Kobo, Google Books, and Apple. But if you want to use Amazons “KDP Select”, meaning that you allow Amazon to lent your book and that you get paid for every page that someone reads, you are only allowed to distribute your book through Amazon.

Question 9

KDP publishing guidelines.

Accepted Answer

Click here to read the KDP publishing guidelines.

Question 10

Is it worth self publishing on Amazon?

Accepted Answer

It can be. Amazon has 70% of the marketplace. But keep in mind that, because of this, there is also a lot of competition.

Question 11

How to publish an ebook and make money.

Accepted Answer

1. Write a good book.
2. Have it professionally edited, proofread, and formatted.
3. Decide where you want to publish/upload your book and understand how that platform works.
4. Have a marketing plan ready.
5. Publish your book.
6. Market and advertise your book.

Question 12

Is it better to self publish or get a publisher?

Accepted Answer

That depends on your goal. Big traditional publisher houses will do the editing for you, create a cover and help you with the marketing. It will also be easier to get into more book stores. But in general, you will earn less per book sold (between 8% and 12%). As a self-published author, you have to do everything yourself. The expenses and workload are higher, but you can earn more per book sold (between 35% and 70%).

Question 13

What is the back cover of a book called?

Accepted Answer

What you will find on the back of a book is a book description or book blurb. If you need some help with this, click here.

Question 14

Are self published books copyrighted?

Accepted Answer

Yes. your self-published work is protected as soon as you write the first word. Registration with the U.S. Copyright Office is beneficial but optional.

Question 15

What is a book trailer?

Accepted Answer

A book trailer, just like a movie trailer for movies, is a video that you can use to promote your book. In this day and age, the more visual you are, the better your chances of promoting your book effectively will be. You can use it on your website and social media (ads). Click here to learn more.

Question 16

How fast can you guys work?

Accepted Answer

Because we have a big team of experts, we can start working on your book pretty quickly. For most of our services our turn around time is around one or two weeks tops. The only exception is editing. This can take up to a few weeks and there can be a small waiting list. So don’t wait too long with saving your spot. Often it’s a good idea to already look for an editor when you are busy with the author edits.

Question 17

Is the 10% service fee refundable?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, the 10% service fee is non-refundable. Although we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee, we also have to pay taxes and other fees for the products and services we sell. For this reason we cannot refund the 10% service fee.

FAQ