Pros and Cons of Publishing Books With Draft2Digital (After 18 Months)

For the past 18 months, I've been publishing my 'wide' (ie: non-exclusive to KDP) novels.
Here's an honest review about the things I love about it, the things I wish were different, and some of the features that you might find helpful during your author journey.
Ready to try it yourself?
Sign up for a free account here: www.draft2digital.com/katheri...
Want to see my review from when I first signed up for Draft2Digital? Check it out here: kzbin.infoZGu4CJHG6_4
*While I was NOT sponsored or paid to film this video (and this video is not endorsed by Draft2Digital), the sign-up link in the description box IS an affiliate link, and I may be compensated for sign-ups. Any and all opinions expressed within this video are exclusively my own, based on my personal experiences, and do not reflect Draft2Digital's.*

[@JQRose]

Thanks for this report on your experience with D2D. I have used D2D exclusively for my last 3 books. No KDP. I submitted my latest release on Nov. 8. I agree with all of your points. I would like to add their customer service is fantastic. I had a problem with the ToC. All the chapters were not in there. So I emailed for help. Within 3 hours I had an answer and clear instructions on how to fix that. I later had a problem with amazon not showing up on my universal link so readers could click the link to go to amazon. The sales page was up on amazon. I called and again I received an email back within hours. It turns out that sometimes amazon doesn't always show up right away. But the helpful gentleman emailed the method to add the amazon link myself. DIY which I appreciated because I had a 99-cent promotion that week and really wanted amazon on the list of booksellers! I learned a lot of little tricks by having things go wrong, so I guess there's always something good that comes when something isn't right. LOL. Silver lining. Best wishes with your writing projects!! Janet

[@yawboateng8188]

I tired D2D but I had a bad experience. I needed some corrections done and it took so long. The formatting was not great and even thought customer service was responsive, the problem was never fixed. So I went to KDP and I am glad I did. KDP may look scary if you are not used to it, but if your formatting is not on point, they will tell you immediately so you can fix it. I like that D2D affords you wide distribution but personally, I will not go back to them.

[@KatherineDGrahamAuthor]

Thank you for sharing your experience! I personally have decided that if I go through D2D as it is today, my formatting should be ready to go (not using their formatting tool). That is one element I hope continues to improve with them.

[@christinegourley7564]

Thanks, Katharine! I've been procrastinating re D2D. This has really been encouraging.

[@KatherineDGrahamAuthor]

Thank you for watching! It can be a lot to take in when you first sign up.

[@user-xs4mg2lk2h]

Great video. I am getting ready to publish my first book. I did some research and felt this medium was going to work best for me. Your video was concise and very informative on stuff the author can't see until they hit that scary PUBLISH button. I like the pros and cons and the honest look at what they have to offer. I have to admit, that customer service on Draft to Digital has been responsive, even though I have yet to publish. Thank you

[@KatherineDGrahamAuthor]

Their service team has been great. I haven't decided whether to try their print side yet or just go straight to Ingram, but they definitely have a good mix of pros on the e-book side.

[@r.s.4672]

This was really helpful. Thank you!

[@KatherineDGrahamAuthor]

Thank you for watching! I'm so glad that you found it helpful.

[@SuperPastorgary]

Thank you, Katherine!

[@KatherineDGrahamAuthor]

It is my pleasure! Thank you for watching.

[@fightingdreamers5599]

Another drawback to Draft2Digital is that their printers require 64 pages in order for the book to be published.

[@KatherineDGrahamAuthor]

Thank you for sharing! To clarify, that would only apply to their print book side, not the ebook side. 🙂

[@fightingdreamers5599]

@@KatherineDGrahamAuthor Okay, thank you.

[@intheworldbutnotofit8002]

Just found your channel. Thank you for the tips and guides.

[@KatherineDGrahamAuthor]

It is my pleasure! Thank you for watching!

[@MimiMimi-xu1gx]

Can i use the same size in draft2 as in kindle? Such as 8,5/11.... ​@@KatherineDGrahamAuthor

[@daniellabarrett624]

Thank you for sharing! I've been using D2D for 4 months now and what I can tell is: D2D print is what generates the most income. Print books sell way more than ebooks.

[@ingridf5542]

Yes so true. Print books are the one where u will see maximum sales. Ebook no one reads through D2D. What about the payment on D2D it's so confusing? I was supposed to get 94 dollars my royalties due showed only 12.21 dollars. But I sold so many print books. They told me the amount from print books will take 4 months to reach them. Have u even experienced this too?

[@daniellabarrett624]

@@ingridf5542 Hi! Yes, it's true... it's the same with me, you're only gonna receive payments from D2D Print 4 months after the sale was made. That money you see in royalties due is probably only from the ebooks. I am only receiving now, payments from D2D print from sales made in January. Yeah, it works like that, each retailer as its own schedule for payments, I think D2D print it's the one that takes the most time to pay. But you're gonna get paid, don't worry about that.

[@daniellabarrett624]

​@@ingridf5542 Yes, it's true. It's the same with me. Each retailer has its own payment schedule, and D2D print is the one that takes the most time to pay. You're only going to receive payments from D2D print four months after the sale happened. I'm only receiving payments now (May) from sales made in January. That money you see in your royalties due is probably only from ebooks.

[@wac74]

Thank you Katherine great video.

[@KatherineDGrahamAuthor]

Thank you for watching!

[@artline7776]

Thank you very much

[@guardianmiketv1586]

Helpful TY

[@JQRose]

I forgot to add I had D2D print this latest book. Still waiting for my author copies. They told me 2-4 weeks and I am almost into the 2 weeks. I did not order a $30. proof, but checked the ms via their viewers for PDF, mobi (which amazon doesn't use anymore) and epub. So I am comfortable with the formatting. Not sure about the paper quality, font, binding or how my book cover will look and fit. I'm on pins and needles waiting.....

[@amandawilmot6780]

They charge you thirty dollars for a proof copy?! That's insane!

[@thomasd8549]

Proof books are printed by Ingram, which views them differently. in other words, D2D says its print on demand, yet Ingram will over print, unauthorized duplications of your copyright. ask retailers how many it shows are in stock with Ingram. it isnt a placeholder. ask ingram, they will not tell you how many books they printed. its an unauthorized duplication of your copyrights.

[@oyezenithtv]

Two of my book is on publishing since 5week now

[@KatherineDGrahamAuthor]

Congratulations! I hope it's going well for you.

[@elinafeliu1237]

Who is the Ffiver book formatter that you use? MBaby? Greatly appreciate your video!

[@KatherineDGrahamAuthor]

Thanks for watching! It's M Davie: www.fiverr.com/mdavieformatter

[@AdiKanda]

Thank you, this was very clear and informative. Could I ask for the name of your formatter on Fiver? Couldn't quite catch it.. :)

[@KatherineDGrahamAuthor]

Thank you for watching! Yes, M Davie does my formatting: www.fiverr.com/mdavieformatter

[@AdiKanda]

@@KatherineDGrahamAuthor thank you!

[@georgemyth]

Does it accept right to left languages like Arabic ?

[@Kossy22]

Please am a new subscriber, I am having problems inputting my tax information on draft2digital. Please what can I do, the continue button is not take my me to the next stage to input details.

[@KatherineDGrahamAuthor]

Thank you for watching! I suggest sending a chat to their support team on this one. They respond super fast usually. Best of luck on the tax side!

[@IanHollis]

Where do you get your covers done?

[@KatherineDGrahamAuthor]

It depends on the book, but usually either from MiblArt (miblart.com/?ref=katherinedgraham), their sister company getpremades, or from Jesh Art Studio.

[@leticiatoraci9855]

Who's your Fiverr formatter?

[@KatherineDGrahamAuthor]

I use M Davie: www.fiverr.com/mdavieformatter . He is not always available (as he works for a press full-time, I believe), but you can message to see if he's accepting work. I have also used MiblArt's formatting for Splitting Dawn: ( miblart.com/?ref=katherinedgraham )

[@leticiatoraci9855]

@@KatherineDGrahamAuthor Thank you!

[@sbronch01]

Hi, i have a question. So, Draft2Digital did not pay you nothing?

[@KatherineDGrahamAuthor]

Draft2Digital definitely pays me the royalties I accrue, if you're asking if I get paid for books I publish with them. It's not immediate (they have a threshold you have to meet before they pay you), but they're good about sending royalties on schedule. If you mean whether I was paid to do this video, as per my spoken disclaimer in the beginning and the affiliate link disclaimer in the description box, I was NOT paid to film the video (it is unsponsored), but I do receive compensation for sign-ups through the affiliate link. I have other reviews that are NOT affiliate reviews (with no affiliate sign-up link, so 100% unpaid) about Draft2Digital on my channel as well if you are interested in confirming my thoughts on them. 🙂

[@sbronch01]

@@KatherineDGrahamAuthor interesting, i want to learn more about d2d and you, i began weeks ago...but i don't have sales yet 🥲

[@sbronch01]

@@KatherineDGrahamAuthor how difficult is to have sales at Draft2Digital?? I don't have a lot of readers yet, and prefer to be anonymous.