Can I use Amazon KDP Print and IngramSpark to self-publish? Does Amazon work with ingramSpark?

[@1MKWilliams]

Have more questions on IngramSpark? Check out this playlist of helpful videos: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYerq4x7oMuJhrc

[@pastorcharleshumphrey9418]

Thank you for answering some of my questions about the platforms!

[@1MKWilliams]

You're welcome!

[@MargaretPinard]

Man, if only we could know the extent of all these backroom deals!!! Great representation of what we CAN know, MK! So helpful while I'm deciding how to switch up my distribution choices... 🤗 I think your divorce analogy works pretty well!

[@MargaretPinard]

OOH, including those 3rd-party seller agreements!!!! Boooo.

[@1MKWilliams]

Yes, the bad divorce of the couple that was never together but they have to play nice but they don't like each other. Ugh. We're just caught in the middle.

[@booksandsip8663]

Good info. I started out with Amazon and then recently started working with Ingram. Still trying to figure out Ingram with everything but glad you have a lot of videos on this.

[@1MKWilliams]

Best of luck with adding on Ingram. Let me know if you have any questions about IngramSpark that you don't see an answer to in any of my current videos.

[@jjweller2797]

Great information! I was wondering if you could answer a question I have. How can I assure that my Ingram Spark hardcover will show up on the same Amazon listing as my KDP softcover and eBook? I definitely want all three to show up in the same place. Preparing to publish in about a month and I want to get it right the first time around.

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi JJ, I literally have that video lined up to go live next week. Effectively you can wait for Amazon to figure it out, or you can claim your Author Central profile and the ISBNs for each book and then send them a message to link them. Best of luck :)

[@BrettLurie]

Great information as always. Since this video has released, Amazon has rolled out their hardcover option. Would there be any reason not to publish a hardcover with both Amazon and Ingram using the same ISBN?

[@1MKWilliams]

Nope, as long as you use an ISBN that you own. One thing to note: 1. Upload the book on both platforms on the same day, it saves headaches. 2. Amazon only has case laminate, no dust cover option

[@jeanshelbybooks4154]

Thank you for explaining that the book uploaded to Ingram filters to Amazon for preorders! I couldn’t find this and was confused. So, do you upload your book as well to Amazon once the book has reached the published date?

[@1MKWilliams]

Exactly! Once the paperback is live I upload it to Amazon KDP as well. Best of luck on your launch!

[@TheMinimalistMom1]

Hi MK. Thank you again! If I self publish a book on InGramSparks (hardcover) and KDP (paperback) I know I need a separate ISBN number , but will that confuse buyers? Because I meet the required page count for IngramSparks Hardcover but not for KDP so I have to go paperback. What would you suggest?

[@1MKWilliams]

The paperback and hardcover are two different formats so yes they need two different ISBNs so buyers can correctly identify which format they are getting

[@konstant8437]

Hi, im trying to publish a book that is 11x8.5 landscape. I found out that amazons kdp maximum width is only 8.5 inches. Can i just publish with ingram spark and have ingram spark sell the same format book on amazon for me?

[@1MKWilliams]

Yes, if IngramSpark has that trim size you can use their platform to distribute to Amazon

[@truthboundpublishing]

I have a website, with all my books advertised on it, how could i link my website with Ingramspark or KDP so that when a customer clicks into it, they can buy it straight from my website? And if i am not eligible for distribution, would that even workk? Thank you!

[@1MKWilliams]

KDP only distributes to Amazon. IngramSpark does have a direct sale link option you can add to your website

[@SelfPubWithAndy]

Great info as always! I'm not on ingram cos the refunds and risk of returns puts me off, but the divorced couple metaphor between IS and the Zon works!

[@1MKWilliams]

Yes the risk of returns can be scary, BUT you can set any book on IngramSpark as nonreturnable if that worries you. (Also, I've been on IS since 2019 with no returns...)

[@SelfPubWithAndy]

@@1MKWilliams wow! Now that's a good stat...definitely have to rethink my approach

[@deezed6478]

Could you please clarify then that it's ok that I just published my book on KDP and am now uploading it to IngramSpark to print, distribute, and sell?

[@1MKWilliams]

Yes, so long as you are not in Kindle select which is an exclusive contract with Amazon, you can also publish to IngramSpark. Ideally you have your own isbn and you don't sign the Amazon distribution agreement with IngramSpark

[@deezed6478]

@@1MKWilliams ok thank you so much!

[@jerifloral]

Hi MK - your videos are so informative! Thank you! I'm about to self-publish my first book & eBook. I own my ISBNs. After a lot of research I **think** this is my plan. Publish ebook with KDP. Initially do paperback through IS and do a pre-order period. Once the book is released (a few weeks after pre order period) then upload the paperback to KDP and have all future orders on Amazon ship from KDP while all other outlets ship from IS. Obviously select wide distro on IS (except no Kindle ebook with them) and just no wide distro with KDP. How's this sound? Is how MK would do it??

[@1MKWilliams]

That sounds like a great plan! And yes don't click expanded distro or KU with Amazon since you'll be going wide. Well done and best of luck with your book :)

[@jerifloral]

@@1MKWilliams Thank you so much! And is 2 weeks enough time between uploading the info to these platforms and the pre-order date?

[@1MKWilliams]

@@jerifloral it should be. In some cases IngramSpark can take longer but I usually don't see more than a week.

[@jenwoodrum]

Hi! I'm just dropping in here to say that after watching all of these videos (M.K. they have been so helpful) I am thinking about following this exact same plan as you Jeri... but I was curious how it went since you posted this four months ago? If you have any tips about whether or not this process worked, please let me know, it would help out another indie author!! Thank you!! :)

[@jerifloral]

@@jenwoodrum this is the plan I followed and it worked! MK offers 1:1 services too including an upload follow along. She basically held my hand via Zoom while I uploaded my manuscript and ebook to both KDP and Ingram Spark. So worth it!🙌 Decreased my stress level immensely. 😊

[@johnpalermo2247]

How much money do I need to publish through KDP Print & Ingramspark for printing costs, distribution costs, & marketing & promotions? Just a round about number

[@1MKWilliams]

There are no up front printing or distribution fees with either at the moment. IngramSpark has $25 revision fees after the first 60 days

[@simplifygardening]

Can you answer something for me? I am new and this is my first book I will be publishing with both kdp and ingram I want to get the hardback to show from ingram on my sales page on amazon but the paperback direct with amazon, I have been told this is possible for the hardback as its a different size for both platforms and that would be the workaround

[@1MKWilliams]

Yes you can do your paperback through KDP and the hardcover through IngramSpark. Since they are a different format you can do this regardless of trim sizes ( although you'll see the available listed trim sizes on both sites) once the book is available for sale you'll claim both formats on author central and ask Amazon to link them ( I just did a video on that process a few weeks ago) best of luck!

[@simplifygardening]

@@1MKWilliams I am going through all your videos atm but do you have a link to that video please

[@1MKWilliams]

Sure thing here it is kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJzOoYWDgN-nhbc

[@estefsunny]

Hi M.K! ☀️question: I enabled expanded distribution on Ingram for my hardcover about 3 days ago and I can see the cover image, and book description BUT it says currently unavailable and does not have the price. Do you think this is just a matter of waiting? Also I currently have “no” for returns, do you think this affects why it is currently unavailable on Amazon? Thank you for your work 💖

[@1MKWilliams]

It can take up to a full week for all the metadata to show on Amazon.com if you used IngramSpark. And yes, selecting "no" for returns can absolutely impact your visibility on Amazon.com

[@bamwu9233]

I apologize for the late and somewhat dippy question, but when you say to publish on both platforms, are you literally talking about 2 separate uploads of your interior, cover and metadata? Seems like a yes, but I'm still a little fuzzy on this.

[@1MKWilliams]

Correct. To leverage both platforms it would mean you are uploading the book one each platform. In this case you would need to own your ISBN so that you can take it anywhere.

[@bamwu9233]

@@1MKWilliams Thanks! Got it. So, these would actually be 2 different printings of the book with slightly different paper? That's fine if it's close enough, but should the printer's key at the bottom my colophon page be set to "10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1" on the first one and "10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2" on the second to denote that they're technically different printings of the same book/isbn (not different editions, just slightly different printings)?

[@stephaniewilson8273]

I need help. Its been a year and my hardcover isnt listed on Amazon. I contact Ingram and they say they have updated the metadata. Amazon then tells me to create a seller central account and sell it as a vendor. There has to be an easy way. I just want to add my hardcover alongside my KDP Paperback/Kindle/Audiobook. Any solutions? Thanks!

[@1MKWilliams]

Can you confirm that you signed the Amazon distribution agreement with IngramSpark? Also did you set the book as returnable?

[@stephaniewilson8273]

@@1MKWilliams It is set as returnable, but I am not sure about the distribution agreement. I will look into that. I bet that is the issue.

[@ladyangelaIII]

If only Amazon KDP`s Hardcover books would be sold at Barns & Noble -> (because anyways I would be moving to Barns & Noble because their books are SOLD at their STORES, Physical stores :-) Sincerely I want to see my books on the store shelves and have "SOLD".

[@3orangeDots]

I'm an illustrator setting up the 2nd of 7 books, in a series, on IS, for the author, and she wants it all on Amazon as well. I'd just bite the bullet and set them up on KDP too but they don't offer the size in Hardback, which is why we went to IS in the first place. But even if I do just set up the Softbound (they have that correct size) in KDP can I still enter the same ISBN that we used on the softbound on IS?

[@1MKWilliams]

Yes, for the softcover use the same ISBN on both platforms.

[@anniebananie]

Hi! I was wondering what mic you use? It sounds so good! I have a Rode Podmic and even tho it's very popular, I hate it 😬I have a totally unrelated YT channel that I want a new mic for, lol! I'm a few days into learning about self publishing so I found your video! I was going to try KDP but then I got a lot of video recommendations of people getting banned from KDP and that is making me nervous! Thus, I am looking at other publishing platforms 🙂

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi, I use the ATR 2100: ATR 2100 www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATR2100x-USB-Cardioid-Microphone-ATR/dp/B07ZPBFVKK/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mk064-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=b8f26de83aa5d935810ec738f733ac33&camp=1789&creative=9325 In terms of using Amazon KDP, I'd ask more follow up questions as to WHY someone was banned from KDP. Did they genuinely violate one of the rules? (Not too many that aren't common sense: don't plagarize being the most obvious one.) Recently a lot of romance authors were booted because they had their ebooks in an exclusive program and then the book was pirated. With is doubly unfair to the author. But if you don't plan to enroll your ebook in the exclusive program it shouldn't be an issue. My book have been on KDP since 2015 without any issues. Hope this helps!

[@anniebananie]

@@1MKWilliams Thanks for your reply! I'll look into that more. The videos/thumbnails were kind of scaring me 😳 I am new to all of this so I am in the information gathering era. Also, thank you for the mic link! I added it to my Amazon cart 🙂

[@Brettagher]

If I'm selling my paperback on Ingramspark and Amazon, would I have to forgo Amazon's expanded distribution in deference to Ingram's expanded distribution? That's my current setup, but I am so tempted to enable expanded distribution on Amazon.

[@1MKWilliams]

Correct. DO NOT enable expanded distribution with Amazon it will conflict with IngramSpark

[@Brettagher]

@@1MKWilliams Gotcha. Thank you. Great videos.

[@sandrasmith8880]

Thank you so much for this very detailed video as it answers a lot of question. Does it make a difference if I go live with KDP first rather than IngramSparks since I really love the glossy look of KDP for my paperback rather than IngramSparks? Thanks

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Sandra, Both IngramSpark and KDP have the gloss cover option so that shouldn't impact the decision. A reason to go with IngramSpark first (for print) is that they allow a print pre-order where KDP does not. But if you plan to push it live right away with no pre-order, I would suggest going with KDP first then IngramSpark (KDP gets jealous and glitchy sometimes)

[@sandrasmith8880]

@@1MKWilliams Thanks so much M.K. I should have indicated the interior pages show up as glossy on KDP. for my paperback rather than Ingram. I think I’ll go ahead and go live with KDP first as I’ve been waiting around from Ingram because of several glitches. Many thanks.

[@sandrasmith8880]

@@1MKWilliams Last question. I have Dec 1st as my distribution/on sale date for Ingram, but I want to go ahead and go live with KDP this week so I can order the majority of my paperback books from them so I can fill my pre-orders. Your thoughts. Thanks

[@1MKWilliams]

@@sandrasmith8880 Hi Sandra, You can order author copies before your release date (I believe, I always go my print preorder first with IngramSpark and get my author copies from them.) Best of luck!

[@saund3673]

@@1MKWilliams Do you need a seperate ISBN to publish with both?

[@2011zurich]

Thanks MK -- excellent video, as always. A question about barcodes, if I may: I have my paperback on Amazon, with their free barcode (no price shown). I plan to go wide with IS and sell to bookstores, and it seems I really should have a barcode with a price on it. Presumably the price will always be shown in dollars, but as I'm in the UK, how do I get over that for UK bookstores? Is it really not wise to leave the price off the barcode?

[@1MKWilliams]

Hmmm I would say that if you anticipate the majority of your in-store retail sales to be in the UK then go with a GBP barcode, I believe Nielsen issues those in the UK. Best of luck!

[@2011zurich]

@@1MKWilliams Thank you... so that means if I want to sell in US bookstores I would need a new barcode, I guess. That could get complicated, even if it's possible! In your opinion, is it essential to have the price shown in the barcode?

[@1MKWilliams]

US stores CAN take a book with a GBP barcode, but I would suggest focusing on your home market first as you'll likely have more traction there. (And yes, brick and mortar stores really really like the price on the barcode)

[@rmc7882]

Hi M.K., I have published with KDP. I'm now wanting to expand my distribution and considering Ingramspark. I was wondering how your experience was with Ingramspark and any recommendations you might have? Thank you

[@1MKWilliams]

In adding IngramSpark to distribution I would recommend going back through your final files to ensure they are also compatible with IngramSpark. I talk about this in my book Going Wide, it may help you with this transition: 1mkwilliams.com/going-wide/

[@marysebesta4131]

I am wide with Amazon, B&N, and Ingram. However, I used three ISBN numbers, one for each distributor, because I got a message saying my ISBN number had been used. So, thought each distributor wanted an ISBN?

[@1MKWilliams]

Okay. So you want 1 ISBN per format. Your paperback (no matter where it is published) has 1 ISBN. Same for eBook. Getting the "free" ISBNs from any platform limits you because you can only use that ISBN on that platform. For that reason I advocate that authors own their ISBNs. If you have already uploaded and assigned, I would suggest going back in and correcting. Otherwise you risk duplicate listings via Ingram pushing the same book (with a different ISBN) to Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

[@Kwamu22]

I have an ebook with Amazon KDP. I never supplied an ISBN for that since KDP they stated that their ebooks do not require ISBNS. Can I publish the same ebook on Ingram and supply my own ISBN for that? Could it cause any confusion?

[@1MKWilliams]

You can use the Ingram provided ISBN, but then you can only publish the ePub file with IngramSpark (they own the ISBN). While Amazon says their ebooks don't require ISBNs, eBooks in general do. Amazon supplies their ASIN which can only be used on Amazon.com. There could be confusion as to which edition of the book is which. I always recommend owning your ISBN and using that one across all platforms. Best of luck!

[@Kwamu22]

@@1MKWilliams Thank you for your swift response. Very helpful.

[@carinagatta]

If I just want to publish wide on one platform, eg, ingram spark, are you saying that if I don't offer the max wholesale discount to amazon, it's possible that i may see more glitches? do you have a video comparing IS vs. D2D?

[@1MKWilliams]

Yes, if you don't offer the max discount you MAY see glitches. Amazon recently upped the required minimum discount so IS has a new minimum and that may have adjusted it. I don't have an IS v D2D video yet, I'll add that to my list.

[@charlie-george]

@@1MKWilliams The others can be as low as 30% and 35% which is good. I have confidence that my book will be sought after so i am setting all of mine at the lowest possible.

[@charlie-george]

I'm literally contacting Amazon Support RIGHT NOW to double check their minimum preference of discount in case they get awkward about it. I can't afford any delays as I am plannin to publish 1st December and have my launch team relying on me.

[@1MKWilliams]

@@charlie-george this video is a bit old. Earlier this year IS changed the US minimum to 40%

[@charlie-george]

@@1MKWilliams Yes, I can see US is 40%. US is the highest.

[@MargaretPinard]

New question that came up when I'm reading D2D's materials: what about internal ISBNs? I had always kept my own, since I didn't trust Amazon trying to claim copyright or whatever, but if you have the same version (print) available on 2 platforms, would it make most sense to use your own ISBN for IS and the ASIN for KDP?

[@1MKWilliams]

I own all my ISBNs so I can use them on whatever platform I want without any of these issues. Especially since KDP assigns both an ISBN and an ASIN to print books of you don't provide your own ISBN.

[@MargaretPinard]

@@1MKWilliams I own all my own ISBNs too, but I'm starting to think it's a waste. I can't use the same ISBN for the same version uploaded on different platforms, which I might want to do if there is some sort of bias against fulfilling orders that aren't native to the platform. Do you see what I mean? A paperback of X on KDP should have the same ISBN as that in the Ingram catalogue, because it's a unique identifier, but they don't allow you to, because it's 'taken.' YEAH, BY ME, YA DWEEBS! is what I want to say. 🙄Do you just use up a ton for all the platforms? I'm trying to reassess the necessity, based on D2D's neat new offerings.

[@1MKWilliams]

@@MargaretPinard hmmm I'm able to use my same ISBN across platforms. Are you uploading to KDP first then IngramSpark? Are you electing Expanded Distribution with KDP print? (If so, opt out via KDP and then fill out the title transfer form with IngramSpark so they are your expanded distribution of record.)

[@MargaretPinard]

@@1MKWilliams I did that once and learned my lesson! No ED on KDP for years now, but just did the transfer form on Ingram, and in the waiting period. 🎶Bet-ter Days A-HEAD!🎶 Still getting the 'ISBN in use' message so gotta sit on my hands... just want to be sure to do things in the right order for the next book to avoid the setbacks! 🤗💪🏽🙌🏼 Thanks for replying!

[@1MKWilliams]

@@MargaretPinard of course! Always happy to help. Amazon is the girl at the party you go up to talk to, but she saw you talking up another girl (IS) first and doesnt care that it was just your cousin and you were only saying hi. Amazon is petty and jealous like that.

[@theoreticalgastronomy43]

So.... When you say publish on both, do you mean publish one paperback on KDP, then don't click on expanded distribution and publish another paperback on ingramspark?? I'm so confused, I would pay for a clear answer to this question. Side bar- do I need separate ISBNs for each paperback, even though its the same book? Help! ha.

[@1MKWilliams]

Happy to help. Okay so if you have a paperback back where you OWN the ISBN let's say it is a 6x9 trim size. That is one ISBN. Upload to KDP (don't select expanded distro), you can then upload the same book to IngramSpark (or any other wide platform) using the same interior and ISBN to get your book out to more retailers. Does that help?

[@laurapompei6523]

If I change my trim size do I need a whole new isbn?

[@sharayprevost7122]

Have you ever encountered the "temporarily out of stock" issue on Amazon after publishing through Ingram Spark? If so what's the solution. I'm a first timer

[@1MKWilliams]

So I may have alluded to this in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYHLYZmAnM18gdk But there are several reasons why it would show as "temporarily out of stock" on Amazon. 1. If you submitted the book and approved it for distribution within the past week, it may just take some time for the book to show through. 2. If the book was showing as available and suddenly is not, it's likely that Amazon is being 'glitchy'. I've noticed this specific 'glitch' appear more often if the wholesale discount is at the 30% minimum, if you increase the discount this problem usually resolves itself. Super annoying. Those are usually the most common reasons I see this. I hope it resolves soon.

[@sharayprevost7122]

@@1MKWilliams okay thanks so much you’ve been a big help answering all of random questions when I come to an issue ❤️

[@lynnfendlason4277]

I am self-publishing for the first time. I used Kindlecreate to format and uploaded to Amazon flawlessly. I attempted to upload the same KDF document to Ingram Spark, but the type of document is apparently wrong--IS won't accept it, and I can't figure the crap out. I'm almost in tears and am about to give up on Ingram Spark entirely. Sigh. *the learning curve*

[@1MKWilliams]

The KDF only works on KDP. Ideally, you need an ePub file you can upload anywhere. Best of luck!

[@lynnfendlason4277]

Kindlecreate offers an ePUB file as well. I just tried uploading it and got the same error message. Yesterday, I kept getting error messages because the pricing was glitchy--today it works fine. I'm declaring war with the IS setup process--and I surrender. Sigh. Thanks for the info :)@@1MKWilliams

[@rufusojo7278]

Can I publish books on ingramspark from Nigeria

[@1MKWilliams]

I don't believe there is a restriction about the country of origin to start an account. However, StreetLib was created to cater to European, African, Asian, and South American authors and the associated markets in each region.

[@pilarkellenbarger3912]

Thanks so much! Do you have Venmo or Paypal to support you? Would love to send you a few cups of coffee on one of them!

[@1MKWilliams]

Thank you for your kind words. I actually have a Buy Me A Coffee Account for just that: www.buymeacoffee.com/1mkwilliams

[@SteventheShoehanger]

If KDP would just have dust jackets.

[@MargaretPinard]

Annoying. Extortion. Potato, potahto, MK.

[@1MKWilliams]

I mean ....