Self-publishing has provided authors with an avenue to publish their books without the need for a traditional publisher. One of the popular done-for-you self-publishing platforms is Outskirts Press. But with so many self-publishing options out there, is Outskirts Press the right choice for you? In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the platform and its pros and cons.
Outskirts Press: An Overview
Outskirts Press was established in 2002 and has since been recognized as one of the prestigious done-for-you self-publishing companies in the industry. The company offers various publishing packages tailored to meet the needs of authors, from basic packages to full-service or “one-click” packages. Once a manuscript is submitted and polished, Outskirts Press guides the author through the final stages and publishes the book on various distribution channels.
Pros of Using Outskirts Press
Comprehensive publishing services: Outskirts Press offers a broad range of publishing services, including professional editing, cover design, distribution, and marketing tools to promote the book. This comprehensive offering allows authors to focus on writing while Outskirts Press takes care of everything else.
Customizable publishing plans: Outskirts Press provides a list of publishing plans that are tailored to meet the individual needs of authors according to their budget and preferred services.
Author control: Authors retain all the rights to their works, making their branding and distribution solely their responsibility. This means that authors own and control their work and receive substantial revenue from the sales of their books.
Large distribution network: Outskirts Press partners with booksellers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Ingram to ensure that the author’s book is readily available for purchase worldwide.
Availability of Marketing tools: Outskirts Press provides authors with plenty of marketing tools to give their book a competitive edge in the market.
100% royalties: Outskirts states that they provide 100% royalties, but some reports mention that the company inflates the book print costs, which is part of the royalty calculation, so they don’t offer true 100% royalties.
Cons of Using Outskirts Press
High publishing costs: Outskirts Press is expensive compared to other self-publishing platforms. Their publishing packages start at $899 and can go up to $8,000. This range is very expensive for “cookie-cutter” packages that don’t all include a custom designed cover or interior — most include “customizable,” designs meaning that Outskirts Press uses template-based book designs, a big no-no in professional publishing. You have to pay for a top-tier package to get a professional custom design that looks unique. Most other done-for-you self-publishing companies will include custom book design in packages totaling a lot less than $8k.
Limited formatting options: Outskirts Press offers limited formatting options because they generally use templates, forcing authors to adhere to their publishing specs, thereby limiting the appearance and layout of the book.
Slow customer service: Outskirts Press customer service can be slow at times, as evidenced by customer reviews.
Lack of transparency: Outskirts Press provides limited transparency for the sales of books, making it harder for authors to ascertain the success of their marketing and distribution efforts.
Negative reviews: There are oddly few customer reviews online from customers for a business that’s been around for a couple decades, but the ones published are mixed and some very negative. Trustpilot shows a rating of 3.3 stars. The Better Business Bureau customer reviews for Outskirts Press clock in at 3.03 out of 5 stars as of this writing, with around 14 1-star reviews.
Conclusion: Is Outskirts Press Right for You?
The answer to this question really depends on what kind of author you are and what you are looking to achieve. Outskirt Press may suit some authors, while other authors might find the platform too expensive, too restrictive and too slow.
If you have the financial means and are looking for a hassle-free publication, then Outskirts Press may be the way to go as it provides comprehensive publishing packages, marketing tools and helps the author navigate the complex publishing world. However, if you are on a tight budget, then Outskirts Press may not be the right option for you.
Outskirts Press may suit authors looking to publish fiction, non-fiction or memoirs. Additionally, the platform is ideal for self-published authors who want to retain their authorial and intellectual freedom.
In conclusion, Outskirts Press has its pros and cons. The company provides comprehensive publishing services, a large distribution network, marketing tools, and author control. However, the platform has high publishing costs, limited formatting options, slow customer service, and provides a lack of transparency concerning book sales. In the end, authors should weigh these factors and determine if Outskirts Press is the right self-publishing platform for their goals and budget.
Outskirts Press Alternative
If you want your book professionally produced, look no further than MindStir Media. Unlike Outskirts Press, MindStir allows authors to have custom book designs in packages starting as low as $3299, a package that also includes distribution, marketing and, most importantly, mentoring from a #1 bestselling author.
Outskirts Press review