If you’ve written a book, congratulations! That’s a big deal. It takes a lot of commitment and endurance to tell your story, cover-to-cover.
And now that your book’s complete, you’re probably interested in exploring the best self-publishing platforms on the internet.
Well, good news.
You’re in the right place.
In this post, I’m going to compare the leading self-publishing platforms to talk about the strengths and weaknesses of each. That said, please remember that the best platform for one author could be different from what’s best for another.
But first, what are the two types of self-publishing platforms?
As covered in the MindStir list of best self-publishing platforms, there are two different types of platforms.
As a recap, they are Do-It-Yourself platforms and One-Stop-Shop platforms.
Here are the differences:
- DIY Platforms are exactly as they sound: as an author, you do it yourself. While that might sound like freedom, it is asking A LOT of the author. Assuming you’re not an expert of edits, design, interior layouts, formatting, marketing, consumer behavior, photoshop, promotional material and everything else that goes into a book, tread very lightly with DIY options. They can potentially be a major headache for the writer.
- One-Stop-Shop Platforms: With this approach, everything that goes into self-publishing is done by one company while the author is closely involved the entire way. It’s a way to keep total creative control without having to hire an army of freelancers to support your book.
The Best Self-Publishing Platforms for Your Book
With the differences between the two types of platforms in mind, here’s a brief look at our top picks for self-publishing platforms. I’ve identified their strong suits, weaknesses, and what they have in common.
MindStir Media
MindStir Media is the #1 choice on many lists, including Penny Matters, BestTechie, and iTech Post. This recognition stems from numerous awards and helping thousands of authors deliver high-quality books with top-notch book creation services. On top of this, MindStir Media has a powerful distribution network of around 39,000 booksellers, retailers, and wholesalers in over 195 countries.
While authors do maintain creative freedom, they are also mentored by a bestselling author. MindStir Media is also partnered with Shark Tank’s Kevin Harrington. 100% royalties are paid to the author, and financing options are available for all book formats: eBooks, paperback and hardback.
Potential limitations of MindStir Media is that it might be out of your budget, projects can take longer than ninety days, and the company doesn’t accept all projects.
Seacoast Press
Seacoast press has won self-publishing awards and specializes in helping authors become bestsellers. They distribute through Ingram, so the book is available to thousands of retailers. On top of this, authors keep 100% royalties, and they have the option to pay the price for a Best Seller package, which includes marketing and publicity campaigns.
Drawbacks with Seacoast Press is a stringent vetting process that significantly limits the number of new clients they take on and publishing time exceeding three months.
Rakuten Kobo
If you’re only interested in self-publishing an eBook, Rakuten Kobo might be the solution for you. Its eBook distribution spans the world, including 190 countries, and it’s a DIY platform that provides built-in software to help writers get their book out as quickly as possible.
Drawbacks include the lack of print options, having no services provided to help with book creation or promotion, and only a 20% royalty paid out to the author.
Barnes & Noble Press (Formerly Nook Press)
Barnes & Noble Press provides a redesigned, user-friendly online platform to help users publish Nook eBooks, paperback and hardcovers. It’s a DIY platform that offers quick turnarounds and a 70% royalty rate.
That said, with distribution only limited to BN.com and Nook devices, these channels can be restrictive to a book’s success. Also, there are no extra services provided for the author, so they’re truly on their own with this option, and some writers have also reported payout issues.
Takeaways:
Remember, the best self-publishing platform for a book can vary from writer to writer. What’s best for you will not be best for somebody else. All the companies on this list have successes as self-publishing platforms, so they are all worthy of consideration.
If you’re interested in learning more about the ground-up support offered by MindStir Media or the impressive list of different self-publishing packages I offer, a good place to start would be exploring exactly why MindStir is widely regarded as the best of the best.