Why now is the perfect time for indie authors to go global
For decades, the world of writing was locked behind traditional publishing gatekeepers. These were the literary agencies, big publishing houses and massive marketing budgets that decided who made it big and who stayed in the shadows. Now, the game has changed. Self-publishing through Print On Demand gives authors greater autonomy over their work along with faster release timelines and much higher royalties.
Thanks to all-in-one services like BookBaby, authors and their work can look truly professional from start to finish. When you print on demand with BookBaby, you're in complete control of your creative. You can release your book at your own pace and earn the highest royalties possible.
Why Print On Demand (POD) is changing the way we publish
Forget stocking a warehouse full of books. Print On Demand, or POD, involves printing copies only when someone orders them. That means there's no up-front inventory to deal with, no risk of having a glut of unsold books, and no boxes cluttering up your garage or your library.
BookBaby's paperbacks start at around $4.95 per copy, which makes it an affordable option to get your story into the hands of readers without breaking the bank. We can handle bulk orders as well, thanks to our U.S.-based, in-house printing facility. With our in-depth POD expertise and experienced team, you can enjoy super-fast turnaround times of anywhere from 3–5 business days for small runs (25–500 copies). Larger runs (up to 10,000 copies) take 6–10 days).
What's more, our print quality is second to none. We use premium digital presses (both HP Indigo and Xeikon) and we've earned the G7 master certification for consistent, high-quality color. That means you'll get big publishing house quality without the big publishing house price tag. And if you find a cheaper price from a reputable U.S. printer for the same specs, we'll match it!
We publish books across a wide range of genres too, including large print, right-to-left, activity books, coffee table books, and children's books — all with an impressive eye for detail.
eBook distribution across 170 countries and over 60 stores
If you thought Print On Demand was impressive, wait until you hear about our eBook distribution services. Now, your book can reach even more readers, even faster. Our eBook distribution services put your book in front of readers in 170 countries and more than 60 online stores, including:
- Barnes and Noble
- Apple Books
- Kobo
- Scribd
- Libby (27,000+ libraries)
- Gardners (Europe)
- eSentral (Southeast Asia)
- Vearsa
- Hoopla (North American libraries)
Take a peek inside BookBaby's global distribution network
One of the best reasons to choose BookBaby as your global book publishing and distribution platform is our incredible worldwide network. Here's what we offer for both your printed book and eBook.
Retail and wholesale exposure
Your printed book gets exposure on all popular bookstore and reading websites, including:
- Amazon
- Barnes & Noble
- Books-a-Million
- Powells
- NACSCORP (university campus bookstores)
- Bookazine
- As well as specialty retailers like Christian book distributors and comics.
This means that whether your book is in a local independent bookstore in Vermont, in the hands of a library curator in London, or in a student bookstore in Chicago, all of them have access through their preferred channels; you don't have to pitch them individually to carry your book. Thanks to BookBaby's powerful publishing partnerships, your book is discoverable through the same catalogs that bookstores already use.
Online in all the right places
From Apple Books and Amazon Kindle to libraries and worldwide online bookstores, your eBook gets greater visibility in the places where global readers shop. For example, Kobo is huge in Canada and Europe and Gardners is Europe's largest eBook wholesaler.
Thanks to our worldwide network, you're not just “on Amazon.” You're in 170 countries, across 60+ stores.
Complete control and profits
As a self-published author, you keep all the rights and control of pricing and formats. You'll also earn considerably more royalties than traditional publishing: as much as 50% on printed books, 85% on eBooks, and 70% on audiobooks.
A one-stop shop for all things writing, printing, and publishing
At BookBaby, we're about much more than just printing. We're a one-stop shop for all things writing and publishing, too. Even if your book is still just a rough draft, we can help you make it shine with professionalism and polish. Here's how:
Expert book editing
A polished manuscript tells readers that your book is professional and worthy of space on their bookshelf. Reviewers and retailers also appreciate professionally edited and polished books. When a book has been printed at a local print shop without much in the way of editing or professional design — it shows. When you want your book to sit alongside titles from Penguin Random House with pride, expert editing makes it happen.
Our editing team at BookBaby has worked on New York Times bestsellers, giving you access to the same level of precision and editing quality that big publishing houses expect. We offer copy editing, line editing, and proofreading services. Plus, our editors work quickly and diligently. Your finished project should be ready within 8–10 business days.
Print and eBook cover design
Unfortunately, people do judge a book by its cover. Even if you aren't a graphics genius, you don't have to worry, because the professionals at BookBaby can make your book cover look truly outstanding. Our in-house print book designers create captivating, beautiful covers that are custom made to fit your book's theme, subject, and personality.
Be sure to check out our before and after gallery to see just what a difference professional cover design can make for your book! Remember, your cover isn't just about art — it's also a sales tool that often makes or breaks the reader's decision to pick it up, click, or walk away.
Professional typesetting and interior formatting
Having a memorable story or helpful tips isn't enough to sell your book. It has to look good inside, too. We offer professional typesetting and interior formatting services to make your book look as if it came from a professional, high-end printing house (but without the high-end cost).
We also have professional layout services for print-heavy books like novels, as well as highly visual books like art and photo books, cookbooks, and children's books. Our hands-on designers make sure that spacing, font choices, and margins are all correct, clean, and professional. We also handle eBook formatting as well, including dynamic layouts for adjustable text, and Fixed Layouts for better visuals.
Premium book printing
Our high-quality book printing technology starts with HP Indigo Presses backed by our G7 certification for the highest quality color consistency. We can print from 1 to 10,000 copies, whether you want a single copy for yourself, or you're part of a massive book signing or sales event.
We also print in both paperback and hardcover, black and white, or full color. All of our books are proudly made in the U.S.A.
eBook conversion and distribution
If you've taken the time to format your book (or have it professionally formatted), you unfortunately can't just save that as a PDF and expect your eBook to look flawless. That's where BookBaby's eBook conversion and distribution services come in.
Our eBook conversion services make sure your book is compatible with leading digital readers including Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and Apple Books. You also keep 100% of your net eBook sales with BookBaby, unlike with many other self-publishing platforms which skim a percentage, even from your eBooks.
Create a home for your book on BookBaby Bookshop
Sometimes, the vast majority of your sales don't come from retailers at all, but rather your own website. BookBaby's Bookshop lets you sell your book directly to readers through your customizable Bookshop page. When you sell books through Bookshop, you also earn higher royalties than you would through Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
Bookshop is more than just an online home for your book, though. It also comes with marketing tools that let you capture reader emails, run discounts, and personalize your storefront. You can see exactly what types of marketing are moving the needle. Plus, you get payouts weekly, not quarterly like with other platforms.
Track your sales
BookBaby also makes it easy to get your hands on the valuable data you need to see which type of marketing is resonating with your readers, and where best to direct your advertising dollars. Our detailed, user-friendly dashboards let you easily see when, where and how your book is selling. Our royalty transparency also shows you exactly what you earn through each channel.
And perhaps most importantly, when it comes to payment, BookBaby gives you options. You can choose to get paid directly by check, PayPal or Payoneer. Don't wait months for vague royalty statements. Get speed and transparency with BookBaby.
Going beyond printing for even greater value
BookBaby is more than just a print shop. Our global book publishing and distribution network lets you take advantage of expanded services that give self-published authors the same professional-level toolkit that traditional publishers use.
Direct-to-reader sales via BookBaby Bookshop
Selling directly to readers through Bookshop means higher royalties, greater control, detailed marketing information, and faster payments. You earn up to 3x more than you would through Amazon, and you can track sales performance directly through the dashboard. Whether you're building a mailing list or nurturing loyal fans, Bookshop gives you a way to earn more, without any design skills needed.
Marketing and launch support
Even after your book is printed, BookBaby is here to support your growth as a professional author. Visibility is everything in the publishing world, and our marketing services help you cut through the noise and get noticed.
One of the best ways to make sure your book gets noticed right from the start is metadata optimization. This is where our professional team optimizes every part of your book description, making sure it gets found in the vast catalogs of Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other retailers. Getting the metadata optimization correct helps you be found by more readers and can potentially increase your sales. Metadata optimization costs only $199.
From there, we recommend our Ads for Authors advertising service. Our professional graphic artists create attractive ads and place them on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and/or across the web to reach a targeted audience that's interested in your book genre. Our team designs the ads and finds the audience, and then you choose the budget, continuing as you feel comfortable with the spending and the results.
Want to promote your Bookshop page on our homepage? Want to get the word out to over 60,000 indie book buyers? We can include a Bookshop promotion for your book for just $399.
Transparent pricing up front
One of the best reasons to rely on BookBaby is our transparent, up-front pricing. We display our prices up front so you're not dealing with percentages or seeing your royalties nibbled away with extra fees and charges. Tens of thousands of independent authors trust BookBaby because of our clear and easy-to-understand pricing as well as our free online quotes. No matter which service you choose, you'll know exactly what's included and how long it takes. And, we back our services with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you're not satisfied for any reason, we'll work with you to make it right.
Professional translation services
One of the most attractive and lucrative ways to take advantage of global book publishing and distribution is through professional translation services. Our expert translation team can translate your book into 59 different languages. What's more, our professional translators understand the unique cultural differences and nuances between languages, so they can take steps to translate your book accurately in ways that AI or online translation platforms can't.
Our online quote program gives you an instant accurate quote on your translation project, which you can easily save in your dashboard for when you're ready to take your next steps and embrace the global part of global book distribution!
Audiobooks in multiple narration styles
Audiobooks are one of the fastest-growing segments of the book industry. Making sure your book can be heard is what our expert audiobook producers specialize in. We offer a variety of options for audiobooks. For example, our author-narrated audiobooks let you lend your own voice to your work through our guided recording process. This way, you can record your book right from the comfort of your home or office.
If you'd rather have a voice actor narrate your book for you, we can make it happen. Just submit a section of your book for a casting call and we'll have professional narrators audition for your project. We also offer AI-assisted, author-narrated audiobooks, so that you can enjoy all the benefits of a book narrated by you, but with the assistance of AI. If you want to create an audiobook as quickly as possible, this is your best option. You'll be pleasantly surprised by just how accurate the AI voice sounds! Your part of the process only takes an hour and a half, so it's perfect if you're on a tight schedule (with book launches and signings and other events!)
Getting started on your global publishing journey
The world of publishing has been built with barriers in mind. In the past, if you wanted your book in the hands of a global audience, you needed a literary agent, a contract with a major publishing house, long production timelines and modest royalties at best. Print On Demand has turned that old model on its head, and platforms like BookBaby are leading the charge.
What makes global distribution and publishing so powerful is just how many options it opens up for independent authors, especially through a platform like BookBaby. One single manuscript on our platform can be turned into multiple editions, including a paperback or hardback, eBook, audiobook, and translated work, and then submitted to retailers in more than 170 countries. See your book in major retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble, as well as niche distributors, libraries, university bookstores, and more.
We know where the buyers and readers are. Amazon may be the bookstore leader in the U.S., but in other markets, eSentral are where books are bought. Now, you're no longer limited by geography. A debut novelist in Ohio can now share their memoir with a reader in Berlin, Buenos Aires, or Bangkok just as easily as a traditional publisher.
But global distribution isn't possible without the professional infrastructure to match. From book editing to professional cover design, flawless formatting, and precision printing, it all comes together at BookBaby. Make your book stand out alongside traditionally published works with a high-quality design that looks like it cost much more. No longer does “self-published” have to mean “homemade.”
BookBaby's tools allow you to take charge of your marketing in ways that traditional publishers can't match. With BookBaby, you get more than just publishing and distribution freedom; you get the benefits of a publishing model that's finally giving control (and a large chunk of the royalties) back to authors — where it belongs.
Ready to learn more? It's time to take your next steps and turn that manuscript into a voice that reaches out beyond the borders of your hometown or even your country. Contact the experts at BookBaby today and get started with a free quote.