How Does IngramSpark Work? How Do They Get My Books Out To Retailers? | Self-Publishing in 2021

[@1MKWilliams]

Have more questions about IngramSpark and how to make the most of this powerful self-publishing platform? I have a whole playlist of videos on the topic: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i4bbnpt6Zat6h9U

[@wordydre8344]

Nice breakdown of Ingram Spark. Very helpful. Gonna watch your playlist on the topic. Cheers!

[@1MKWilliams]

Great! Glad you found this video helpful 🙂

[@aminamejdoubi4196]

@@1MKWilliams thank you for this video. So can I publish my book with Amazon and have more royalty through and also publish with Ingramspark at the same time?

[@1MKWilliams]

@@aminamejdoubi4196 yes! That's what I do for my books!

[@truthhurts3305]

Can you actually earn passive income when Ingramspark publishes your book to retailers? Does Ingramspark pay you for each book sold?

[@ianfosterUSA]

Awesome content here, thanks very much from the UK and merry Christmas.

[@1MKWilliams]

Thank you! Happy to help :)

[@VendelaB.Falcon]

Thank you so much. You explained everything so well.

[@1MKWilliams]

You're very welcome!

[@HowzeYourHealth]

Hello! I've been watching several of your videos along my journey and have found your video quite helpful. I just approved my first book and extremely excited about it! I'm curious as I have read other comments about getting connected with distributors like amazon, target Barnes& Noble etc. around the links you referred to or how to know when I can make my titles available for presale on those sites. I understand it may take a few weeks but does that mean I search on those sites for a link to my website or am I able to enable distribution/presale on ingram side of things. Hope that made sense.

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi, So it depends on the platforms that you use as to how quickly the links will display. In general, it can sometimes take up to week so be patient and keep checking the links. Best of luck!

[@HowzeYourHealth]

@@1MKWilliams I'm not sure I understand what you mean by the platforms that I use for links. I guess I'm really asking once you approve your book and Ingram lets retailers know it's on the market will I receive a link about where my books are or is this more if a search on different platforms for my book and see that it's there on one of those websites in a few weeks?

[@1MKWilliams]

@@HowzeYourHealth yes you'll need to manually search for the links

[@HowzeYourHealth]

@@1MKWilliams Got it! Thanks so much

[@iyanaomo]

Very helpful. Thanks

[@brianleonard6885]

this has helped I love more

[@markterryonline]

Hi MK. Have you made a video on Ingram Spark's Ipage marketing? Just wondering if its worth it and out all the youtube videos I have not really seen anyone tackle the subject. Thank you for your videos. Yours were helpful. Kyle the Coyote went on Pre-Sale today on B&N!

[@1MKWilliams]

Wow! Congratulations on getting the book out on pre-order! I have not used the IngramSpark marketing offer so I haven't done a video on it, but most authors I know say it is not worth it. Best of luck!

[@patricialife6803]

loved your video, if I already have an ISBN number for Amazon, do I need a different number with ingramsparks?

[@1MKWilliams]

The Amazon provided "free" ISBN can only be used on Amazon, so yes you need a new one for IngramSpark but to publish the same exact book under a nee ISBN it needs to be a new edition or format

[@kenwaterman2207]

Hi, my manuscript is finished, but I need a professional editor's opinion and possibly guidance. I don't know who is a reputable editor. Would you have any suggestions?

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Ken, Congratulations on this big step! There are editors out there for every phase of the book development process and genre. Reedsy is agreat place to start to find one who edits in your genre and is within your budget: reedsy.com/r/m-k-williams Best of luck!

[@patriciabacallgarver4967]

This was very informative, thank you. Question: how do I get Barnes and Noble to order the book in advance so I can schedule a book signing? Thanks in advance.

[@1MKWilliams]

When you reach out to your local Barnes and Noble about doing a local author event or signing the timeline for ordering and quantity will be part of the discussion with them

[@artofapril]

I'm still confused about how to market to bookstores now that I'm published, I see one option on their website to pay to get into a catalog but nothing beyond that. Do I just call local bookstores and give them the ISBN? Do I take the orders and send them to stores from my ingram account? I specifically chose ingram because I heard they had the best distribution network but there was no guidance after publishing on how to distribute my book

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi April, great questions. I've never paid for the IngramSpark Catalog/Marketing promo. To get my books into local bookstores I made a list of the big chain and local stores in my area (about a 20 mile radius). I called or visited the stores in person to ask about if they stocked local authors. Some sent me to an email inbox that never responded. Some were snarky and rude. One or two were receptive and easy to work with. It's a bit of a chore but it was worth it in the end to get my book on the shelf. Best of luck! Here is my video on this process !kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2nIpWqEl8mlorc

[@artofapril]

@@1MKWilliams thank you!!! I couldn’t even find anything on the site about how to even do the orders if a bookstore does want to carry me. Do I help with orders or they contact Ingram?

[@1MKWilliams]

The bookstore should be able to pull up your ISBN in their database (via Ingram) and do the order directly. They may ask you to sell the book on consignment first to see if there is enough demand before ordering a whole box. Best of luck!

[@miangairie]

Hi M.K., I was wondering about having a book listed on both KDP and Ingram Spark. What if I publish a hard cover children's book on Ingram Spark and then also upload it to KDP; will that work? Because I think Ingram Spark doesn't have a page limit for hard covers, but it seems KDP's current hard cover limit is 72 pages, so I wouldn't be able to publish a 32 page hardcover children's book for KDP. So then it won't be able to be listed on both?

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Mia, In this case you can do the paperback versions on both KDP and IngramSpark and use IngramSpark for your hardcover distribution. I did a video just on using these two platforms in the past: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5TSmaaEaZWdj9k

[@miangairie]

@@1MKWilliams Thank you for answering my question so quickly. I really appreciate it:)

[@bobbyrobins4218]

great info, thank you! cleared a lot up for me. I'm self publishing a sports memoir in the coming months and trying to decide the best route. I like how you said Ingram Spark gives the author a "seat at the table". I'm planning for my book to strike a chord in the sports memoir sphere and when the success comes, there will already be avenues in place to get major distribution through Ingram Sparks networks. I think there is much value in that as opposed to my original plan of just going with Amazon KDP...was also looking into Gatekeeper Press....thanks again...subscribed! -Bobby

[@1MKWilliams]

Excellent! So glad I could help and best of luck with your memoir!

[@jasonabshire837]

I know this was a year ago, but I’m about where you were then. I hope you got this published. Best of luck my friend!

[@bobbyrobins4218]

Hey Jason, well looking back on this a year later, a lot has changed for me. After analyzing both KDP and Ingram Spark author copies of the book, I noticed many discrepancies and quality issues…also packaging issues and damaged copies…then I saw how much money I was leaving on the table and started looking into starting my own publishing imprint and printing my own books…I ended up printing an offset first run of 1000 paperbacks for a pre release (kickstart/fundraiser type of thing) and now have 1000 paperbacks and 1000 hard cover on the way for my official launch in June. I package them myself and make them so clean and crisp and personalize them and people are sharing videos and pictures of them unboxing my books…it’s the extra mile, and I think that matters, at least to me it does…I figure since I poured my heart and soul into my book, what if I could just sell them on my own. (I was a pro hockey player, so I did have a small following on social media and media connections, mind you). I set up a Shopify store and made an office in my house and we ship those puppies out on our own! Still going over options of how to launch this thing next month; setting up Amazon sellers account and plan to have it on Amazon and I ship it…did a ton of research over the last year so feel free to reach out with any questions…you can find me on all socials here: (at)BobbyRobinsPro and check out my setup on my website: BobbyRobins (dot) com…best of luck and wishing you much success! 👊🏽Bobby

[@Ladyequity]

Superb video! Just for clarification: I heard you say you maintain an account with Amazon. So, are you using both IngramSpark and Amazon? Also, I had a cover designed with ISBN can I upload the same cover to IS that I uploaded to Amazon. I own the ISBN. Thanks again for the video.

[@1MKWilliams]

Hello, Thank you for the kind words. Yes, I use both IngramSpark and KDP for my print distribution. As long as you own the ISBN you can upload it to both platforms. Best of luck!

[@larrywade5382]

MK Can I use the same ISBN I used for Ingram in uploading to KDP?

[@1MKWilliams]

Yes, so long as you own the isbn (not one provided by IngramSpark) and it is the same exact format and trim size

[@darrylhughes7797]

I saw that Ingramspark no longer offers book marketing through Ingram Advance magazine. Is Ingramspark's new(?) Ingram iPage Marketing program any good? Have you used it?

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Darryl, I've not used either program so I can't say. Best of luck!

[@suziequ3924]

Hi! How can I use IS if I have an ASIN for a low content book? I published a My Visitors guest book for the elderly in nursing homes, but because it's considered low content, I was assigned an ASIN. How can I get my book out there to places like Walmart and Target? Will IS help me too? Thanks.

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Suzie, A few things: 1. An ASIN is specific to Amazon it is an Amazon Specific Identification Number. Every product on Amazon.com has one. So every book has one, regardless of content length. 2. To go with IS you would need an ISBN and go review their content guidelines. IS has strict limits on low content books, you can read more about that here www.ingramspark.com/blog/important-ingramspark-content-guidelines-for-your-titles-success 3. An alternative could be LuLu as they also have wide distribution for print books Best of luck

[@hg2.]

Well done. Thanks.

[@estefsunny]

Hi MK! ☀️ was wondering if you could please clarify something for me. I already have my paperback book on Amazon and I will be using Ingram for my hardcover only. How does this work? My paper back is currently available on prime.. so my question is, will the hardcover also be sent that quickly to buyers if they have prime? Also, I heard you say you don’t want to pay Ingram and Amazon a fee. Does this mean when you use Ingram to push a book to Amazon you get even less royalties? I’m sorry if I’m just over thinking it. Thank you for the help

[@1MKWilliams]

1. You would upload the print interior and hardcover files to ingramspark with a new ISBN because the hardcover is a new format. IngramSpark will get you wide distribution to all retailers, including Amazon. However, since I originally filmed this video Amazon KDP does also offer hardcover print on demand 2. Yes, IngramSpark takes a distribution fee on top of the discount the retailers want. That will come out of your take. I think it is worth it to get access to all those retailers. Here is where you can calculate your royalty: myaccount.ingramspark.com/portal/tools/pubcompcalculator

[@nathanarrowsmith1794]

Indie bookshops in UK are telling me my book needs to be on Gardners. If it's on Ingram for wide distribution, will it be on Gardners?

[@1MKWilliams]

Yes, IngramSpark distributes to Gardners: www.ingramspark.com/how-it-works/distribute

[@nathanarrowsmith1794]

​@@1MKWilliamsThank you. Bizarrely hard to find the answer to this, but this means my plan should work to get it in a few shops here.

[@WaltAnthony-l7v]

Hi! Thanks for your videos! My book has been POD with IngramSpark for years and I've handled distribution. I'm going to be away a loooong time, and would like Ingram to fulfill my wholesale orders. So, HERE"S the question. How can small independent bookstores buy my title directly from IngramSpark at wholesale prices? Thanks!!!

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Walt, any book retailer who regularly purchases books wholesale via the Ingram network can get your book via IngramSpark. Most retailers use their network

[@WaltAnthony-l7v]

@@1MKWilliams Thanks, some are tiny mom & pop magic shops worldwide, so I guess they can open a regular Ingram account if they don't have one. Thanks for the very fast reply! Love your content! Walt

[@briannajohnson6569]

Hi, first, thank you so much for all the information. My question is: I have my paperback with KDP and my hardcover with Ingram, but also want that to sell through amazon. I realize that ingram will distribute the hardcover through amazon, but will it take my buyers much longer to get my book? Once amazon sells out of the first chunk of books they give them will there be a backorder until ingram provides more books?

[@1MKWilliams]

With KDP and IS you are print on demand. It should take readers a couple of days/a week to get books printed through IS and ordered on Amazon depending on what they select for their shipping speed. IS will print orders from Amazon right away but the shipping speed is based on what the customer selects. Does that help?

[@lindagromkomd]

I know u can get a book printed in color or in B&W from Ingram. Can u do a hybrid e.g., 150 B&W and 25 in color? Thanks. Linda

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Linda, great question. With print on demand it is all or nothing, either all black and white or it is a full color book (even if only 1 page has color).

[@martinehammar3296]

Hi, thanks for the great video! I have a question. I’m about the publish on IngramSpark - am I able to sell my book on my own website? And if so, how do I get it shipped? I can’t find this answer anywhere

[@1MKWilliams]

Yes, you can sell the book on your website but you would have to order stock and handle shipping yourself or work with a fulfillment team. An alternative is LuLu, they have direct integration with Shopify

[@andrealynnechannell]

Hi! Great videos! What if I am going to list my book on Amazon KDP for paperback and then use Ingram Spark for Hardcover (I’m publishing a children’s book) do the listings join together once I publish on Amazon and then Ingram Spark? Should I still opt out of expanded distribution in this case?

[@1MKWilliams]

Yes you can! I did a video on that: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJzOoYWDgN-nhbc

[@andrealynnechannell]

@@1MKWilliams Is it better to publish both the paperback and hardcover on Ingram Spark or do them separately? Does it make a difference? Thanks!

[@andrealynnechannell]

@@1MKWilliams Thanks so much - would I select opt out of expanded distribution?

[@1MKWilliams]

@@andrealynnechannell correct

[@arimox130]

Just uploaded my first book to Ingram Sparks. Now what do I do? I already published on KDP and sold a few books. As you mentioned the two companies are very different. Is it hands off from here, or do I have a role in book sales. I noticed the video is 3 yrs old and some of the information has changed. Is it possible to update the new Ingram Sparks changes. Is it worth the advertising fee they suggest? What is considered needed extra cost versus unnecessary cost to promote book sales? Thank you. Trying to tackle the world of self publishing with different companies. Charron

[@1MKWilliams]

Their advertising fee is largely not worth it. From here you'll want to check the different retailers websites over the next few weeks to see when your book is live (Walmart, target, bookshop.org, Barnes and Noble) and then promote those listings to your audience

[@arimox130]

Thank you for your prompt response. I appreciate your invite and guidance through the mayhem of self publishing. Charron

[@toyapattschull8906]

Does the retailer have to set up an IngramSpark account to purchase my book? I want the zoo to carry my book in its gift shop. What if they do not know about IngramSpark? I do not know how to explain to them how to order. Thanks!!!

[@1MKWilliams]

If the hey have other books in their end cap they likely have access to the Ingram network which IngramSpark distributes to

[@Thereaalendy]

Good Morning, outside of the $49.00 they ask for upfront, is there any additional fees that would need to paid. I am at the payment stage and wanted to be sure that once i paid, that would be it. if anything else, cool i just wanted to see if the $50 cover them giving to retailers

[@1MKWilliams]

Hello, Yes the $49 upload fee is their fee to distribute. If you need to amend you files later after approving the digital proof it is a $25 change fee. Best of luck with your book! MK

[@rayzimmerman7616]

Fabulous.

[@orbisorica5637]

How can you temporarily disable the distribution of my book in Ingram spark? Does anyone know? Please help me I can't reach out to Ingram's Customer Service

[@1MKWilliams]

Hello, The only way to remove from distribution is to contact Ingram Customer Service. When I had to reach out for my first edition to be removed ahead of my second edition they got back to me within 48 hours. help.ingramspark.com/hc/en-us/requests/new

[@Pmason718]

Excellent explanation

[@1MKWilliams]

Glad it was helpful!

[@scottschoen3362]

What's best way to POD internationally?

[@1MKWilliams]

I use both Amazon KDP and IngramSpark for print on demand and my books have been sold worldwide

[@jaystyles5388]

Great video. I have a complicated question I was hoping you could answer. My book pub date is Aug 9 2021 and I’ve read a quite few articles that say you should reach out to book buyers 5 to 6 months in advance and have the book already uploaded to Ingram so that they can search your book if they’re interested. However, I’ve also read that when you upload your title and enable distribution, it will list pre order on all the retail sites including Amazon. I’ve read Amazon pre orders can plummet your book rankings on launch day if you don’t have a lot of sales. So I’m a little confused on that. The book I plan to upload on Ingram is hardback and I’ll use Paperback for KDP uploading a couple days before the pub date. I’m basically just using Ingram for the brick and mortar. I’ve also heard that since my paperback has a different ISBN and I upload that to KDP a couple days before pub date that the hardback would not matter since my paperback would be on a new ranking and there is a new ISBN. What are your thoughts on this? Have you heard about Amazon dropping your ratings with pre orders?

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Jay, Congratulations on your book and great question. I've never seen ranking drop on Amazon after a successful preorder. If you launch a preorder and no books sell, well that's not going to help but I've never seen someone have a lot of pre-orders on Amazon and then on launch day their numbers plummet. The Amazon Bestseller Rank is updated hourly on their system so it is constantly fluctuating. I hope this helps. Best of luck with your book 😊

[@melissaslavick7079]

Dumb question. When IS gives retailers your book info what are they including? Just the title? Or a picture of the book? Or a short description? Thank s

[@1MKWilliams]

They will include all the meta data: title, subtitle, series, edition, ISBN, description, BISAC codes, pricing, etc.

[@evanmechify]

Thank you!

[@1MKWilliams]

You're welcome!

[@KarenReiland-j7p]

Hi MK! Your video was very helpful and I have read some of the comments and responses below which were also helpful. I just want to confirm a couple of things. I used IS and KDP for my hard cover. I used IS so that I could get a dust jacket version since KDP uses case laminate. Currently I have the KDP version of the hard cover on Amazon, do I need to remove the hard cover from KDP in order for IS to distribute the dust jacket version to KDP and if so is that automatic? Thanks so much in advance.

[@1MKWilliams]

So that depends on a few things: 1. Since the version of the hardcover on KDP does not have a dust jacket it is technically a different edition from the one on IS which does have one. This means it really should have a new separate ISBN. If you already did then, that go to point #2 2. Both versions can be sold on Amazon, but you can unpublish the KDP version once the IS version is showing on Amazon.com 3. You will want to claim the IS version on your author central so that the new hardcover is linked to your profile and ultimately the ebook version of the book. Best of luck!

[@3orangeDots]

Just curious. Have you found a lack of consistency with IS's full bleed cut lines? I just ordered 8 of series I produced and illustrated and 2 had white edges on the right side throughout the pages. I rechecked the proofs and nope, there were no white edges. thanks for any thoughts. love your channel.

[@1MKWilliams]

Self-publishing print-on-demand misprints! Author's worst nightmare! 😱😱😱 #selfpublishing

[@UniverseEarthSpirit]

I have a question about publishing different versions of the same book: I published through IngramSpark but want to add a new version of the same book, which will have a ‘Foreword’ by another author. I realized I will have to use another ISBN, but my question is, when this new version gets listed, will it show up as an entirely different book at stores, or will there be an option for buyers to choose certain versions of the book where it is sold? I’m asking because I’ve noticed on Amazon that some books have a selection of editions to choose from. Thanks!

[@1MKWilliams]

Hello, When you go to upload the new book you'll see an option on the first page to add information about the series or edition. In this case you'll note that the book is a second edition (You can see it in this tutorial early on: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3zJYZmAqLV3bNU) . You'll have both published at the same time, claim the second book on Author Central and then reach out to Author Central to ensure that they are linked one as a new edition. You want A) All of your reviews to port over and B) your new edition to be the default. When you see options to purchase old editions those are usually from 3rd party resellers with out of print editions. Once the new edition is linked you will likely want to unpublish the first one to avoid any confusion but I ALWAYS recommend sending in a customer service email request. It may take a while for a response but the systems and policies can always change. Best to have a confirmation in writing from IS and Amazon before you unpublish the first edition. I hope this has helped.

[@Theboxingobserver]

So if anyone can publish on IS, who checks the actual literature to ensure it’s of a high standard. Do they do that physically with anything you upload?

[@sarahratliff2949]

This may have been asked, so sorry if I missed it. The last time I published a book through IngramSpark (2016), I had to open up my account with IS AND a seller account with Amazon. I called and spoke with someone at IS who says I no longer need to do that and that I just have one account with IS and IS will push to Amazon and other retailers. Can you please confirm this? Thank you.

[@1MKWilliams]

Yes that is correct. You do not need the Amazon seller account

[@lu.thewriter]

Hello, I am new to self publishing as well and I had a quick question. When posting the cover( if I want to publish on both Ingram and Amazon) does the ISBN and barcode have to be already added to the cover or is that a separate thing that the companies add after sending them the info?

[@1MKWilliams]

Do I need to provide the barcode for my paperback when uploading to Amazon KDP or IngramSpark?

[@joshhallnz]

Thanks for the video! I have a paperback on KDP and a hardcover version on IngramSpark, however I'm confused by how it works. If an individual customer purchases the hardcover through the Amazon listing, does IngramSpark then print the book on demand and ship directly? Or does Amazon have to purchase copies as inventory first?

[@1MKWilliams]

If the hardcover is listed via IngramSpark if a reader purchases the hardcover on Amazon (or Barnes & Noble, or Walmart), the retailer sends the order to IngramSpark who then prints the book. Either they will ship the book to the retailer (Amazon) and Amazon will ship it to the customer or IngramSpark will send it directly. This sounds like a long process but it is actually very quick. These retailers have set SLAs (service level agreements) with IngramSpark. So when we as authors order our copies, we get them slowly, retailers get them super fast.

[@jservitus8275]

So I set up a publishing company and use Lightning source for the print on demand. I get sales for my hard back from amazon I get invoices from Ingram/lightning source for the printing. But I have yet to see the amazon purchase (the full hardcover purchase price) reflected in any bank account. I can't figure out where the money is going. I have obviously missed something . . . can you explain please?

[@1MKWilliams]

Hmm if you are going through Ingram/LightningSource instead of IngramSpark (same network, different entry point) I may not be able to help. In general you are going to have net-90 or longer payment terms if you are set up as a publishing company with Ingram as they need to make sure they have time to process any potential returns. Who is your customer service point of contact?

[@theresamcevoy6120]

I have a question about distribution on IS. How would Ebay get ahold of my book to sell? I know when I sell something on eBay, I have to buy it and then resale it, or for crafting, it is something we did and then sold; not sure how it works with books?

[@1MKWilliams]

You could directly list on eBay and do the fulfillment yourself (or author copies from IS and have an inventory) or if someone else bought the book and was reselling it then it could be listed on eBay.

[@theresamcevoy6120]

@@1MKWilliamsWilliams Thanks. I was curious since they said they had over ten copies. Never considered Ebay getting ahold of it.

[@DavidNavarria]

How does IngramSpark work with Amazon Advantage accounts?

[@1MKWilliams]

I don't have an Amazon Advantage account, but if that is related to Amazon Sellers then you're probably better off contacting Ingram Publishing Services for wholesale not print on demand.

[@JayeMedalia]

I have self-published on IS weeks ago. How does my book get sold thru Walmart, Target, Barns & Nobel, etc. via IS? I have searched their websites and my book does not appear anywhere. Do they have to ask IS to list my book? Or, should it automatically be available for purchase on the big chain store's website?

[@1MKWilliams]

A few things: 1. Have you enabled distribution to their network? There is an option to publish but not distribute which can be tricky. 2. Did you sign all the individual retailers distribution agreements? 3. If yes to the first two then I'd suggest contacting IS customer support. It can take up to 6 weeks but it doesn't hurt to ping and ask for any updates. 4. Another item to look at is the wholesale discount. The minimum in the US is now 40%, but retailers like the max of 55%. In the past I've observed that glitches and delays magically resolve when I increase my discount. Best of luck

[@JayeMedalia]

Thanks for your quick response! I have already enabled distribution. Regarding your #2 suggestion... I have not signed any individual retailers distribution agreements. I never knew one had to actually sign agreements individually with every retailer. How do I go about doing that and where do I locate those agreement forms? @1MKWilliams

[@1MKWilliams]

@@JayeMedalia in the top right corner from your dashboard you should see a drop-down, click on "paperwork"

[@JayeMedalia]

I clicked on "Paperwork." There are 2 contracts. One is for Target store and the other is the Global Agreement. Both already have my info filled in and my digital signature. I'm assuming that these were generated when I first uploaded my book since I never knowingly signed them. There were no other contracts for any retailers other than Target. How can I proceed to sign more retailers' agreements when none other are in "Paperwork"? And since the existing contracts have been automatically signed, does that mean I'm good-to-go on those?@@1MKWilliams

[@C2676GDH]

Same here literally. Not sure what to do other than wait for the book to show up somewhere....

[@zainabimran8110]

So if we don’t have enough sales, meaning we have bad advertising, pretty soon no distributor will be selling our books?

[@1MKWilliams]

Potentially. Some retailers will keep the title listed on their website if it is no extra hassle to keep it up, others (like Target) will remove the listing if there aren't continued retail sales. This situation is especially true for brick and mortar stores.

[@sallyalter6003]

Thanks for the super video, MK. Learned a lot. One question for you: If you have Ingram does it change the pricing and royalties of your book on KDP? Thanks, Sally

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Sally, Glad you enjoyed the video. If your eBook or Paperback is on sale via KDP the price you set on that platform will be your price on Amazon. Your IngramSpark pricing will only affect the retail price on Amazon if you set a lower price that they match. But you should set the same price across platforms unless you are doing a limited time price discount.

[@sallyalter6003]

@@1MKWilliams that was quick! Thanks so much for a great reply. I am so hesitant to do Ingram for some reason. Heard good and bad things.

[@1MKWilliams]

@@sallyalter6003 you can always start on KDP and then add in IngramSpark. If you own your ISBNs you can take your books to any platform. Add what makes sense for you and your book when you're ready

[@dazsencore3396]

I love Ingram 🥰

[@calihorton2487]

Okay. What is the $49 membership fee for? Is that per book? I have published a book through amazon KDP and have noticed that there are not enough landscape options with that platform and ingramspark has the option I want but I would want to sell it online as well as Amazon. Also how do royalties work and do we pay a print price when buying to sell Inperson? I am trying to figure out the options for my future books as I write and illustrate primarily children’s😊 books

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Cali, The $49 fee is per book you upload, there is a $25 editing fee. I think they have this to keep people from uploading drafts and submitting lots of revisions. (I have the ALLi membership so I get my upload and revision codes for free: allianceindependentauthors.org/?affid=11329) The royalties are split between you, the author, the retailer, and IngramSpark. You can use their calculator to see how much you could make: myaccount.ingramspark.com/Portal/Tools/PubCompCalculator Another option could be LuLu, they operate under a similar model but have a smaller fee for distribution. Best of luck!

[@TheDmb4Matt]

Hi M.K., that was a great video. So I've just published my first book and have it available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble with the same ISBNs, obviously one for paperback and one for hardcover. I am now trying to upload the print version onto IngramSpark to take advantage of their distribution. However, IngramSpark is saying that the ISBN is already in use. I bought a 10-pack of ISBNs so I have more available to use. How do I get around IS preventing me to move forward on uploading it? Thanks so much for your videos!

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Matthew, A few questions that may help troubleshoot: 1. Did you elect expanded distribution with KDP? If so, you need to unselect and then complete the title transfer form with IngramSpark. I have a video on that here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gmGan42koK6NsNE 2. When you were signing your agreements with IngramSpark, did you complete the one for Barnes & Noble? If so, you may need to contact IS support and tell them to not distribute your titles to B&N since you already have your books listed with them directly. Best of luck!

[@TheDmb4Matt]

@@1MKWilliams Thanks so much...I will try that in a few minutes.

[@liamthetrex]

Hi Ms. Williams, I just signed up for your $9.99 monthly membership. How can i get in touch with you privately about issues I'm having with Ingramspark.?

[@1MKWilliams]

Welcome to our community! Please email me (my contact info is on my KZbin profile) or you can enter : 1mkwilliamsauthor (at) Gmail (dot) com

[@larrybradley396]

I have a new book in distribution by IngramSpark. This year, I plan to do a promotional tour of the West Coast to ask independent bookstores to carry my book. Do you have information on how much IngramSpark charges the stores for shipping? She stores enjoy a discount from retail (50%?), but I am curious if they would order may book among a general order from IngramSpark and distribute the shipping costs among all the books in their group order?

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Larry, Congratulations on your book and best of luck with the tour. I don't know what the stores are charged for shipping, they potentially have the option to order express delivery or different service levels so it depends. Yes, stores will get the same wholesale discount that you set for the book, they typically look for a 50% discount or more. I'm not sure how a specific store would attribute shipping costs that may vary based on the individual store and order. Best of luck!

[@catherinab01]

The only question I have is this, once my titles are uploaded and approved on Ingram where can my supporters go to purchase a book?

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Catherina, Once you approve your book with IngramSpark they will send it to their distribution network (www.ingramspark.com/how-it-works/distribute). Within a week or so you'll see the links for your book on those websites.

[@msrosamarie987]

@@1MKWilliams The link isn’t working

[@davidvick]

The part that gets fuzzy for me is when we get to the part of where we use IngramSpark and Amazon... do you have anything that explains that a bit more? Thank you so much for this video!

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi David, Oh boy do I have more videos on the topic. Try these: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6unh6t7bNOim5I kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaLacol_Z5x0oqs kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5TSmaaEaZWdj9k Best of luck! MK

[@lesliepeake6457]

Thanks for the explanation. I just published my first book with the help of a small publishing house and am on amazon and imgramspark. 2 questions I have are: one my 1st sales report I noticed that I sold one book through them and it was at 50% off so my royalty is very small on a $20 book. I didn't set it at this discount, it seemed to just happen. Is this always the case or do I have control how much discount my book is sold for? 2nd question: can an Indie bookstore go onto Ingramspark and order my book at a bookstore/retailer discount similar to the author price and how much royalty would I end up with? Thank you so much for your help! Great job!

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Leslie, Congratulations on your first book. I think video on the wholesale discount will best answer both of your questions: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5OrpZukqc51kMU Best of luck!

[@evanmechify]

Congrats on your first book! About how long did it take for your book to appear on major retailers once your title became 'available' in the ingramspark dashboard?

[@itsnini95]

Great video ! Ok so is there just a one time fee when you sign up with Ingram to put your book on their website ?? Or is there a fee every so often?? Thanks 😊

[@1MKWilliams]

Great question! There is a fee when you upload and if you submit and revisions.

[@blueskyalldayeveryday]

@@1MKWilliams What are the fees just very roughly?

[@1MKWilliams]

@@blueskyalldayeveryday IngramSpark charges $49 for uploads and $25 for revisions. I get both for free as a member of ALLi allianceindependentauthors.org/?affid=11329

[@blueskyalldayeveryday]

@@1MKWilliams Wow thank you so much for your lightning-fast reply and the info! :) I watched a couple of your videos so far and already learned a lot. Very simply explained without any fluff. Subscribed!

[@monkeytime8653]

can you sell to wal mart through ingram where they put it in stores

[@1MKWilliams]

Yes, Walmart is part of their distribution network. You would need to work with your local walmart to have them order and stock the book. They won't know the order the book until you bring it to their attention.

[@rosesiurko7159]

Thanks for the info! I am trying to get my book title transferred to Ingram from Amazon and I am finding Customer Service with Ingram to be lacking. Is there any way I can speak to a human being? Sending emails and the responses take a long time and are so vague!!!

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Rose, I'm glad the video was helpful. The latest from IngramSpark is to use this link to contact their support team: help.ingramspark.com/hc/en-us/requests/new I know they have been revamping their customer service process to try to keep up with influx of new authors using their system. Best of luck with the title transfer. I did a video on that topic as well, if that might help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gmGan42koK6NsNE

[@RC-ul4uc]

Hello i have a question. My illustrator for my children's book made everything ready for kdp, but I would also like to do ingram spark as well. Is there a different template I need to send her? She asked me for that and Im confused as to what to send. All I see is where to upload the pdf. thanks

[@1MKWilliams]

So the interior file should be good to use on both platforms, but the cover file template is different. I did a video on the IngramSpark cover templates that has a link to their template generator. You should be able to input the trim size, page lengths, and a few other details and send her the template direct from IngramSpark. Best of luck and congratulations on your book!

[@pawsnanna8389]

Thank you. How do I get links from ingramspark for friends to buy the book, not via Amazon?

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Nancy, You'll want to check on the retailers in their network like Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Target, IndieBound, etc.

[@IMPBEATZOFFICIAL]

Hey, my question is when I upload the book to Ingram spark and make it available to Amazon, will it be discounted for them? What is the fee for a book uploaded to Ingram spark and sold on Amazon? Will Amazon and Ingram spark take a fee?

[@1MKWilliams]

Yes the wholesale discount you get will apply to all vendors, including Amazon. The exact split is shown when you enter the retail price, you'll see print cost as well as your take.

[@IsraelSuperguide]

How does one market your book with IS when they work with so many clients? Also, how does books store knows about your book and put it in their shelves when they don't know you? thanks for the insight

[@1MKWilliams]

Hello, So IngramSpark is your distributor. Once the book is live on different retailers (Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Target, etc.) it is up to you to tell your audience that you can get the book there. For more tips on getting your book into physical stores, I have a video on how I did that: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2nIpWqEl8mlorc Best of luck!

[@IsraelSuperguide]

@@1MKWilliams I see but when an author is unknown, with no audience. Beside IS have a very wide distribution including the Ebooks, with Amazon it is easier but when you have a distributors such as IS or D2D etc. it is hard to make adds for so many companies. I like the model of D2D where they create a link with all the company they work to, do you know what i am talking about? if so does IS have the same? I will watch you other video. thanks

[@1MKWilliams]

Yes, you are referring to the Universal Book Link. IngramSpark does not have that to my knowledge, but I'm guessing if enough people ask they will add it. Best of luck!

[@katyroberts6186]

If I set the retail discount at 30% will Amazon sell my Ingram produced book?

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Katy, So IngramSpark will still distribute to Amazon and they will still list it. However, whenever I have worked with a client who has their preorder book at 30% there were always glitches and delays with Amazon. I usually recommend having it at the 50-55% during preorder and then changing it to be lower once the book is launched to avoid any potential issues.

[@mahmoudmatar1196]

Is there any problem in uploading the same book with the same design on different platforms?

[@1MKWilliams]

No, as long as you own the ISBN you can upload the same book across multiple platforms.

[@myrillionissilly]

Hi thanks for the super helpful video! Got a question: It might be due to English being my 2nd language, but U didn't quite understand what you said around 5:10. Did you mean the case of me choosing for distributing to Amazon while signing up in Inghamspark. I did that, I think. When I was signing up, I pressed agree to a contract that says they can send books to Amazon. Is that bad? Does it mean I can't publish in Amazon now?

[@1MKWilliams]

Hello, Yes, even if you have distribution to Amazon via IngramSpark you can still upload and sell direct via KDP. However, you would do best to upload to KDP first and then IngramSpark second. Best of luck!

[@myrillionissilly]

@@1MKWilliams awesome thanks! :)

[@skaisayshi5718]

For IngramSpark if you want your book sold in a local store (example: Barnes and Nobles) would you need to have it set to returns for them to accept the book or since it's local no?

[@1MKWilliams]

So any bookstore (chain or independent) is going to look to see that the book is returnable. I did a video on Barnes & Noble specifically, but you may approach your local branch about doing an event and selling the books on consignments first. That way they can see a proof that the books will move off the shelves kzbin.info/www/bejne/mIGZeqd-adqrg5o

[@eheaven3]

M.K. so if an author goes with IngramSpark, their book will automatically become available on Amazon? Nothing additional they need to do? How exactly does THAT work? Thanks. (Love your work.)

[@eheaven3]

P.S. I’m referring primarily to an ebook. Again thanks.

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Edwin, Yes, as long as you signed the Amazon agreement when you first set up your account with IngramSpark the book will distribute to Amazon as well as the other platforms. It can take a few days to a few weeks to show up. Best of luck with your book!

[@johnpalermo2247]

I really need help with Ingramspark. I don't know what I'm doing. I've got my 1st book written, & I don't understand this stuff, jargon, at all. Is there a group I can join for info? I have NO help & am doing this on my own. Somebody please help me or point me in the right direction. I am so clueless. Hope someone can help me. This sucks.

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi John, I have a ton of videos and books to help first-timers get started (Books here: authoryourambition.com/books/) Best of luck!

[@redminote7334]

Hi! Thanks for your vid. I was hoping you'd talk about the returns in this vid a bit. I can't seem to find honest, hands-on review on return options on youtube. My concern is that I saw in other videos and tips that you would want to select yes - destroy option if you want your book to be picked up by retailers, but at the same time I'm trying to price it as cheap as I'd only get $1 profit after each book (in hope of higher chance of getting picked by more retailers). However if they do return, for each copy I'd pay the wholesale price which would be $6-8, which doesn't seem to balance out my profits, and could actually end up in a big negative outcome? What would you recommend, I'd love to hear your thoughts on that. Thank you!

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Redmi, unfortunately I can't really talk about the returns because in the time I've been publishing with IngramSpark (since 2019) I've not had a single return. Yes, setting the books as "return" will help your chances of being picked up by a brick and mortar store, but I would estimate maybe a 5-10% return rate to be safe. But it's not something I've had to deal with and I've definitely not lost money on it.

[@redminote7334]

@@1MKWilliams Aw thank you for your quick reply! Okay I guess I'm just going to gamble with that and see what happens. There is no option to set return percentage, it is either no return or yes. Anyway, fingers crossed..

[@1MKWilliams]

@@redminote7334 Best of luck!

[@mabelandstanleypublishing]

If you only publish via ingram to amazon could you still get an amazon bestseller?

[@1MKWilliams]

Yes

[@jennellew.6036]

Hello, I'm a self-published author. If someone asks " they want to buy copies of my books and put them in their company" how or what direction should I tell them to take to obtain copies of my books. Would I ask them to send me money for copies of books needed so I can purchase and mail to them or direct them to Ingram Sparks or Ingram. Is Sparks only for self published authors? Not sure how to proceed? Also, I want to be sure I get the royalities from Ingram Sparks. So, would I need to set up my own account with Ingram sparks separate from my publisher?

[@1MKWilliams]

Yes, in this case you can invoice them for the amount due (you can charge retail, offer a bulk discount, etc.) I always recommend pricing out your cost to print and ship before sending the invoice so you know you are at least breaking even. Whether you are with IngramSpark or another service, so long as you can order copies of your own book and are the publisher you can do this. If you have a publisher, check with them on their process.

[@jennellew.6036]

@@1MKWilliams Ok, Thank you! Your advice has been very helpful. I will move forward. I was at a lost as to what I should do. Again, thank you. Jennelle W.🙂

[@sarahs8096]

Just got our book finished and it’s order-able through Ingram Spark. It’s visible on Amazon but shows out of stock. People are able to place orders but how does Amazon get the books? Do I need to do something more on my end or does it just take time for Amazon to order through IS to then ship the books?

[@1MKWilliams]

They do this sometimes, it is SUPER annoying. Effectively Amazon sees it doesn't have any of the book in stock so it says out of stock, but it is print on demand so of course it isn't in stock. Usually once the first few orders are sent and fulfilled their system catches up.

[@sarahs8096]

@@1MKWilliams thanks so much for your reply! We’ll keep an eye on it!

[@sarahs8096]

@@1MKWilliams thanks so much for your content! It’s been so helpful. We ended up publishing through KDP as well based on your tips and as of today we’re live!

[@pdizzzzzz7390]

Hi, I apologise if I misunderstood this video, but I was wondering more specifically about creating a listing on Amazon while only using Ingram sparks. Would you have to make your own listing after setting up Ingram, and if so how would you link the two together (so Ingram would print and Amazon would sell)? Thank you 🙏🏼

[@1MKWilliams]

If you plan to distribute through IngramSpark they already have distribution with Amazon. Once you approve the book it will be sent to their network, it can take up to 6 weeks to show but in my experience it takes about a week. You don't have to do anything extra but I do recommend claiming the title on Author Central so you can manage any comments and issues with Amazon.

[@dailydoseofpearatoast]

Can I ask..noticed that lightning source took 1 cent out of my bank account and I'm still in the uploading process...and I can't continue after the uploading process.

[@1MKWilliams]

Are you getting a message about having to confirm bank or tax information? They usually don't allow you to finish uploading until all tax and banking items are complete/confirmed. You should see a message at the top of the homepage when you log in directing you to finish this. Good luck with your book!

[@mariavictoria8307]

Hi! what is the difference between publication date and on sale date? If I say I publish today and then want sales to launch/begin on November 2, would preorder show/be available?

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Maria, Great question. If you are setting a pre-order in IngramSpark BOTH the on sale date and publication date shoudl be your planned release date, in this case November 2. Best of luck with your book!

[@sharayprevost7122]

Hi, I’m sure you prob have answered this question before, but if I am using Ingram & Amazon, do I need to purchase my own isbn ?

[@1MKWilliams]

Yes, to upload the same book and format to both platforms you'll need to use the same ISBN on both and it should be one you own. (The "free" ISBNs provided by the platforms can't be taken to another one.)

[@sharayprevost7122]

@@1MKWilliams awesome thanks

[@sharayprevost7122]

I do have another question... Why would someone want to have their own barcode?

[@1MKWilliams]

@@sharayprevost7122 if you have your own barcode you can add the price which helps for a brick and mortar strategy. Otherwise provided barcodes are fine. I have a few videos on that decision as well.

[@truthhurts3305]

2 Questions: 1. Roughly, how much can you earn monthly after you publish your novel through Ingramspark and they put your book into stores? 2. Can you still sign up with other publishers too whilst your with Ingramspark?

[@1MKWilliams]

1. The earning potential is all over the place. The sky and the floor is the limit. It depends on your royalty earned per book, ability and determination to market the book, if it happens to hit on a popular trend at the time, etc. 2. Yes, as long as you own the ISBN and don't get the 'free' one provided then you can publish elsewhere

[@truthhurts3305]

@@1MKWilliams Oh cool! Do you have to market your books with Ingramspark in order to make sales? Or can your books still sell with Global distribution?

[@1MKWilliams]

@@truthhurts3305 so the distribution is just that, the book is available for sale. You still have to market the book to drive sales

[@truthhurts3305]

Ok cool!

[@katyroberts6186]

I am new to Ingram Spark and still confused. Once I approve for printing my book will be available for pre-orders correct? I know it will take a bit of time for the data to push to Amazon. At what point do I approve for distribution? I have set my publication date as April 11th and I'm hoping that will be enough time to make this happen!

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Katy, Once you get the eProof email and click "approve" then the metadata will trickle out to the retailers and the book will be on pre-order. I usually find that it takes a few days (usually the title shows up, then the cover a day later, then all the other details after that). Some people have seen it take longer so just stay patient. Congrats on your book! MK

[@katyroberts6186]

@@1MKWilliams Thank you and thanks for your speedy reply. And when you say approve. Isn't it a two step process? Approve print and approve distribution? Ingram Spark is SO NOT user friendly! I have not seen a real paper copy of my book yet, so I'm hoping that does not take very long either!

[@1MKWilliams]

Yes, you will upload the book to the IngramSpark platform. They will send you a digital proof within 3 business days for you to approve. When you approve that gives them the okay to both print and distribute. Once you click "approve" they will give you a pop-up asking if you want to order a print copy to review.

[@katyroberts6186]

@@1MKWilliams It's absolutely CRAZY to me that Ingram Spark is for self-publishing and an author cannot order a copy before it is approved for distribution. Makes me VERY NERVOUS! Thank you again for your prompt reply and help!

[@katyroberts6186]

Thank you! It worked...mostly...My books are showing up on Amazon, but the hardback book has said "unavailable" for the past 24 hours. Do you think that could be because of the % discount I chose? I set it at 30% because I'm not expecting to sell many books to bookstores and it is already an expensive book to purchase because I did premium color printing to make a "special" edition. Thanks!

[@MariMari-ny6si]

Do you accept book returns?

[@1MKWilliams]

Yes, within IngramSpark I have set each of my books to be "returnable" from retailers.

[@Getcanvaprolifetime]

I have a question, can i ask

[@wolkcumulus2547]

nice video :) I want to know about the whole discount. Do I really need to do 55%?

[@1MKWilliams]

Glad you liked the video. So you can set the wholesale discount as low as 30% domestic and 35% international. 55% is the max and the recommended amount if you want to pitch brick and mortar bookstores to carry your book. If you're not looking to do that then you can set it lower. Keep in mind you can set it at 55% and then reduce it later (or vice versa).

[@wolkcumulus2547]

@@1MKWilliams okai thank you. And if you also do your paperback on KDP then you don't have that 55% whole sale discount right? I only do paperback and ebooks for now. Maybe later hardcover.

[@1MKWilliams]

@@wolkcumulus2547 Correct, KDP does not allow authors to set any kind of wholesale discount, which is one of the reasons why brick and mortar stores won't buy books to stock from Amazon KDP authors. Best of luck!

[@Gr8ful7]

So if I opted for 30%, they would only be available to who?

[@1MKWilliams]

@@Gr8ful7 Even at the 30% discount (the lowest you can offer in the US and Canada) the book is still available for anyone in Ingram's network to carry or stock. I find that my books are available at all the online storefronts (B&N.com, Walmart.com, etc.) but the brick and mortar stores are more likely to say no to stocking the book in their physical store.

[@rodaynatirawi8880]

I noticed that books sales are reduced after few days on IngramSpark. Does that mean some books were returned or something else

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Rodayna, The sales that show up on the homepage dashboard show the last 30 days. If it dropped that means the previous 30 days had more sales than the current 30 days. Any returns are shown on the monthly reports that you can pull. Best of luck!

[@rodaynatirawi8880]

@@1MKWilliams Thanks for the clarification.

[@shakeilanicholls7020]

Hey, I’m new to the self pub squad and wanting to publish my first book. I want to distribute through Ingram (hardback) and ebook through kdp. I do notice a majority of ppl having more sales with a paperback on kdp. When I publish my book on Ingram would it be available for purchase on Amazon or do I have to do legwork to get it there? If I made a paperback n ebook on kdp and a hardback on Ingram, will my paperback be removed from Amazon when Ingram send the hardback copies over? I’m a bit confused.

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Shakeila, welcome to the self-publishing community! It sounds like you have done your research. Yes, you can do the print and eBook via KDP and the hardcover via IngramSpark without issue. You may just have to tell Amazon Author Central to link all three as different versions of the same book. You can also have the paperback through both KDP and IngramSpark if you own the ISBN. I find this helps to get sales of paperbacks on Barnes and Noble, Walmart, and Target. IngramSpark partners with Amazon so once you approve your hardback it will be available within a few days on the Amazon website. Best of luck! - M.K.

[@shakeilanicholls7020]

@@1MKWilliams nice! So you think having both paperbacks on Ingram and kdp is better than having one hardback on both companies? How would I set this up to make a much better royalty than having to pay both?

[@1MKWilliams]

@@shakeilanicholls7020 that's the strategy that I use. When I make a paperback sale on Amazon, the book listed through KDP is sold so I only pay the royalty cut to Amazon. When I sell a paperback elsewhere I pay the royalty cut to IngramSpark and that retailer.

[@shakeilanicholls7020]

@@1MKWilliams awesome! Your amazing. Thank you so much for your help. I really appreciate it :)

[@abella1507]

@@1MKWilliams Hi MK, if I own the ISBN, are you saying to list on both Ingram and Amazon? And how does Ingram find my ebook listing on Amazon to connect with the listing, or is it separate? Do I set up an account with Ingram and hope they find my listing on Amazon, or are there instructions for this when I set up an account with Ingram? Thank you! Love your blue eyes :)

[@rainstorm9479]

Hi, I'm new to publishing and I had a question about how IngramSpark works with pre-orders. I'm not concentrated on getting my books physically in stores, but I'd like to know if my book will automatically show up on sites for pre-order or how my readers would be able to pre-order my book. (sorry if you see this twice, I commented a couple days ago but I can't see the comment anymore)

[@1MKWilliams]

Yes, once you approve the eProof for your print book (and as long as you signed the distribution agreements with IngramSpark when you first created your account) your book will go out to the retailers in their network within a few day or up to a few weeks. Best of luck!

[@rainstorm9479]

@@1MKWilliams Thank you! Since the time it will go up for preorder is a little broad, would it be best just to check it every day and when it shows up, then tell my readers preorders are open? It's a little strange not to be able to give them an exact date.

[@1MKWilliams]

@@rainstorm9479 Yes, I always wait until the links are showing before I announce the pre-order.

[@rainstorm9479]

@@1MKWilliams You're content is so helpful :) Thanks!

[@AnnaDobrydina]

Thank you for the video! I am still confused about their pricing model. I heard that to have a better chance at distribution, you need to set a wholesale discount at 55%. Does it mean that all the books will be sold with this discount? (That's logical if Ingram is only a distributor and has no direct end customers) In your personal experience, how do your earnings per book compare between KDP and Ingram?

[@1MKWilliams]

It's up to you on how you want to set up the discount. Overall, about 50% of my royalties in a given year come from Amazon. I've only used IngramSpark since 2019 but my percentage of royalties from that platform is growing year over year. You can always set the % discount higher and then lower it if you would like. Best of luck!

[@AnnaDobrydina]

@@1MKWilliams thank you for your reply! I am watching your other videos, and finding tons of useful info in a great concise manner! 👍🏻

[@1MKWilliams]

@@AnnaDobrydina That is so great! Let me know if you have any self-publishing questions that I haven't answered yet with a video and I can get that on my list.

[@Nicki022683]

@MKWilliams I am also confused about the pricing model. I have published a hardback only and have used Ingram because of that, and I have the pricing set at $28.99. But the price on Amazon shows up differently at all times....when I first published, it was $32, now it's down to $8. Does Amazon take any pricing guidance from Ingram to set their price, or do they set their price separately? I am not getting any profit at $8 per book....definitely losing money....and I have no idea if I'm being charged to print those?

[@Halloweirdo2013]

​@@Nicki022683 the $8 might be a reseller who got a copy of your book used from someone else

[@kenharrip]

Thanks very much for your video. I'm about to self-publish my first book but I'm not sure whether to publish on KDP as well as Ingramspark or just on KDP. The general view seems to be that I should publish on both. But here's my question: if I publish on both, and someone buys my book through Amazon, will I be paying a fee to just KDP or will Ingramspark take a fee as well? In other words, if I publish on both, will I be paying two fees for every book sold through Amazon? If that's the case, shouldn't I just publish on KDP? Amazon will likely be the major source of sales anyway (as I understand it), so maybe just going with KDP would be a better (and less stressful) way to go. I understand that by publishing on both there's a much wider distribution network, but the idea of paying two sets of fees for every Amazon sale doesn't sit well with me. It's all very complicated! Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[@1MKWilliams]

Hi Ken, Great question. If you are distributing through KDP you will only pay a cut of royalties to Amazon. If you leverage IngramSpark to do print preorders on Amazon then during that phase you will also pay a cut to IS, but once the book is live and on KDP that listing supercedes the IS one. I hope this helps! Best of luck - MK

[@kenharrip]

@@1MKWilliams Hi! Thanks very much for your reply. It clears things up very nicely. I'll go with both. Kind regards, Ken.

[@user-nn5vt1ez1v]

How do these stores get my book? How can I get them to order from my Ingram account ? How willl I know when they contact me

[@1MKWilliams]

Most brick and mortar stores order through the Ingram network. Once you have the book available and enabled for distribution, the stores can make the order. As far as how the stores know the book is there, that will be on you to market the book to local bookstores to let them know it is available.

[@user-nn5vt1ez1v]

@@1MKWilliams okay thank you . How can I marketing it to them? I see Ingram has iPages

[@1MKWilliams]

@@user-nn5vt1ez1v I've not heard of many people having success with the IngramSpark marketing package. Best bet is to go in person to your local bookstores and ask them about carrying your book.

[@user-nn5vt1ez1v]

I am going to use Ingram, spark, I pages. I just called my local Barnes & Noble and they said they would shortlist three copies of my book! Well, I see this on my Ingrahm reports page. Thank you so much for answering all my questions.

[@Goffyuno]

How does IngramSpark Worrrrk?.... I just opened an account with them. It is not ready to publish yet, but it will be later this year after the general election if the country still stands...LOL

[@Weewy1996ka]

How I have ISBN for free?

[@1MKWilliams]

I have a bunch of videos about ISBNs you can check out here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHzQe2WJf7CGd6M

[@Weewy1996ka]

@@1MKWilliams thank you

[@sauton8604]

Good content Quit all the hand motions

[@rywilliams445]

you mentioned avoiding dual fees, and that is what i have a question about. If I go through IS and they get my book on a platform, I assume now that platform needs their cut as well as IS. Now say it is a $10 paperback. After IS gets their cut, the platform gets their cut and I cover print costs and shipping, how much profit is actually left?

[@1MKWilliams]

The best way to see what you actual compensation will be with IngramSpark or Amazon KDP is to use their calculators. The print cost varies by trim size, ink color, and binding: IngramSpark: myaccount.ingramspark.com/Portal/Tools/PubCompCalculator KDP kdp.amazon.com/en_US/royalty-calculator

[@vikash7541]

One give me one information i am add international debit card in payment method but ingramspark suspended my account in some time and forex and ingramspark debit short payment fees is refund