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Self-Publishing Platforms: Where to Publish Your Book
The platform you publish on determines who can find your book, what formats are available, what royalties you earn, and how much control you retain over pricing and distribution. Choosing the wrong platform (or failing to use the right combination of platforms) limits your book’s reach before a single reader sees it.
I’ve published 113+ books across multiple platforms and formats. Here’s what each major platform offers and when to use it.
Ebook Platforms
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is the dominant ebook platform. Most self-published authors start here because Amazon controls the largest share of the ebook market. KDP offers up to 70% royalties (on books priced $2.99-$9.99), a straightforward interface for managing book details and sales data, and access to Kindle Unlimited if you enroll in KDP Select (which requires exclusivity). The tradeoff with KDP Select is reach: you gain Kindle Unlimited readers but lose the ability to distribute through other ebook retailers.
Draft2Digital (D2D) is the primary aggregator for distributing ebooks to non-Amazon retailers. D2D distributes to Apple Books, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Scribd, libraries, and dozens of other outlets. Their interface converts Word documents into properly formatted ebooks, which saves time. D2D absorbed Smashwords in 2023, so if you see older references to Smashwords as a separate platform, that’s outdated. D2D is now the single platform covering that distribution network.
Apple Books can be accessed directly (bypassing D2D) through Apple Books for Authors. Direct publishing with Apple gives you slightly higher royalties than going through an aggregator, but adds another platform to manage. Worth it if a significant portion of your audience uses Apple devices.
Kobo Writing Life offers direct publishing to Kobo’s global network spanning 190 countries. Kobo has a strong international presence, particularly in Canada, and their promotional tools for authors are competitive. Like Apple, you can publish to Kobo directly or through D2D.
Barnes and Noble Press lets you publish ebooks and print books for free with access to the largest physical bookstore chain in the United States. The ebook side is smaller than Amazon but reaches a dedicated reader base.
Print Platforms
Amazon KDP Print (integrated into KDP) handles print-on-demand paperbacks and hardcovers distributed through Amazon. No upfront costs. You upload your formatted interior and cover, and Amazon prints copies as they sell. The quality is acceptable for most books, and the distribution is Amazon-only unless you also use other print platforms.
IngramSpark is the professional-grade option for print distribution. IngramSpark gives you access to Ingram’s global distribution network, which reaches bookstores, libraries, and online retailers worldwide. They offer a wider range of trim sizes, paper types, and binding options than KDP Print. IngramSpark is how you get your book into physical bookstores and library catalogs. There are setup fees per title, but the distribution reach justifies the cost for authors who want broad availability.
Lulu offers print-on-demand for paperbacks, hardcovers, photo books, and specialty formats. Lulu distributes to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other retailers. It’s a good option for specialized formats (workbooks, photo books, large-format publications) that don’t fit standard KDP Print templates.
Blurb specializes in photo books, magazines, and visually intensive publications. Their BookWright software gives you full design control over layout. Blurb is the right choice for image-heavy projects rather than standard text-based books.
Audiobook Platforms
ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange) is Amazon’s audiobook production and distribution platform. ACX distributes to Audible, Amazon, and Apple Books. You can narrate the book yourself or hire a narrator through the platform. ACX offers two payment models: pay the narrator upfront (you keep higher royalties) or share royalties with the narrator (no upfront cost but lower per-sale earnings). ACX has exclusivity requirements for their royalty-share model.
Findaway Voices distributes audiobooks to a wide network of retailers and libraries beyond the Amazon/Audible ecosystem. If you want your audiobook available on platforms like Scribd, Kobo, Google Play, and library systems, Findaway provides that reach. They also offer narrator matching services.
Draft2Digital expanded into audiobook distribution through its partnership with Findaway Voices, so you can manage ebook and audiobook distribution from a single dashboard.
Choosing Your Platform Strategy
Most authors benefit from a multi-platform approach rather than going exclusive to any single platform. A common strategy:
Ebook: KDP for Amazon, D2D for everywhere else. Or KDP Select for Kindle Unlimited access if your genre benefits from it (romance, science fiction, and fantasy readers use KU heavily).
Print: KDP Print for Amazon distribution, IngramSpark for bookstores, libraries, and global retail. Running both gives you the widest print reach.
Audiobook: ACX for Audible/Amazon/Apple, Findaway for broader distribution.
The decision depends on your genre, your audience’s buying habits, and how much time you want to spend managing multiple platforms. The AI-Enhanced Book Promotion Handbook covers platform strategy as part of the complete promotion process.
If you’re working with me on a ghostwriting project and want guidance on which platforms to use, that’s part of the conversation. Schedule a consultation to discuss your project.
12 Responses
I never knew there were so many platforms. Thanks for sharing all the details.
As an aspiring author, this is definitely something that’s good to know. Initially, I only thought that we can just publish through Amazon KDP but now after reading your post, I am just happy and excited to know that there are more platforms that we can try. Thank you so much for sharing these.
I run a site sharing short non-fiction stories. In response to a recent subscriber survey I’m considering publishing a hard copy book of stories of hope. The info you’ve shared here is very helpful. Thank you.
I have to say, never heard of a lot of these platforms. Will keep them in mind just in case I start publishing in the future. Thank you for sharing!
Exploring diverse publishing platforms is crucial for authors striving for success in today’s dynamic literary landscape. This post is a must-read for every aspiring author!
I agree with you! Ghostwriters can help in self-publishing by suggesting suitable platforms for each format of your book. Kudos to all the authors out there!
I did not realize there were so many platforms, and it is nice that there are so many to choose from. It is good that there is such a variety for both publishers and those looking for content.
Oh wow! I didn’t know you could publish directly to Amazon Kindle. Loved learning about all of these ways to self publish!
It is so crazy to me how fast the world changes. It seems like just a couple of years ago that publishing platforms were so limited. There’s such a big variety out there now.
Wow. I actually didn’t know there were so many places to publish. This is quite a list!
IngramSpark is my go-to, but I also found MagCloud to be awesome; we use that for publishing hard copies of the Wanderous Affair Magazine!
I’ve used Smashwords and Blurb in the past and really liked both! I have to check out the others now, too.