Guest Post by EO Writes
In this article, we are going to consider Ingramspark vs KDP. We will look at what they have in common and which one I like the best. I hope by the conclusion of this article you will have a good sense of which one is best for you. As a self-publisher, you have options, and Ingramspark and KDP are two of the commonly known ones. Both have a lot of potential. Ingramspark vs KDP, let’s take a look at them.
Ingramspark
What is Ingramspark? Ingramspark is a publish-on-demand platform. It allows you to publish books on demand, rather than buying a bunch of books that you sell outright. Ingramspark has three options: print and ebook, print book only, or ebook only. What is the price for using Ingramspark? Ingramspark publishing is free!
What will you need before setting up an account with Ingramspark? You will need to decide which of the three options is best for you. Decide whether to use their free ISBN or buy your own. Have an email address that you want to use when corresponding with them and for updates on your books, as well as a preferred payment method for the sales of your books. As you go through the steps you can decide whether or not you want to design your cover or have someone else do it for you.
What are the benefits of using Ingramspark? For starters, if you are not sure about this whole self-publishing thing, you go to their website and download a free guide: How to Self-Publish a Book: The Complete Guide to Publish Like a Pro! I don’t know about you, but that alone entices me. When you are new to the game of self-publishing, knowledge is power. Customer service around the clock and classes that teach you everything from how to self-publish your book, to building an author platform. There are four areas that are covered with Ingramspark:
- How to Self-Publish
- Publish
- Distribute
- Manage
So as you can see, Ingramspark has a lot to offer. But hold on a second, I have not talked about KDP yet which I have to say is pretty nice. So don’t click on that Ingramspark button just yet. If you are ready, let’s go!
KDP
I was first introduced to the concept of self-publishing on Amazon last year through Shelley Hitz of Christian Book Academy. Shelley is a strong advocate of the KDP program, Kindle direct publishing. I was reluctant at first, but then the more I learned about them, the more I liked what they had to offer. Much like Ingramspark, KDP is a publish-on-demand platform. The cost to self-publish on Amazon is the same as Ingramspark- free! You can self-publish your book in three formats: kindle, paperback, or hardcover. What will you need before uploading your manuscript to KDP? You will need to set up an account, establish a way to be paid, and decide whether to use their free ISBN or buy your own.
There’s help available through the KDP page such as formatting for ebooks and print, marketing and distribution, and payments. They also offer a free software called Kindle Create that you can download to help in the formatting of your ebook. It will convert your doc file into a Kindle-ready format. You will view it on three different devices: Kindle, tablet, and phone.
I just recently uploaded a manuscript for print, and for Kindle. I used Kindle Create to format my doc into a Kindle-ready format. Publishing a book on Amazon is pretty self-explanatory. Once you set up an account on KDP and start the upload process, it will walk you through the steps. I found it very user-friendly when setting up my book in print and ebook form.
I highly recommend using KDP. Not to mention, Amazon is well known. In my opinion, KDP has so much more to offer, is user friendly, has accessible customer service, and an intensive help page. Not to mention if you look for resources like books and websites on KDP you will find an ample supply.
Best Choice
Gone are the days of having to get your manuscript approved by a publisher. Now you don’t have to depend on someone else to get your story out. By self-publishing, you own the book and you can decide the price, and when and how you want to market it. Now with platforms like KDP and Instaspark, you can do it yourself. Now that you have heard of both these self-publishing platforms and my experience, you can decide whether one of these is a good fit for you.
About the Author
Lizzy, pen name EO Writes, was first called to write for the public in 2012 when God placed it on her heart to pen an article titled “Where Have the Children of Yesterday Gone?” For a season, articles on homeschooling were her forte until 2018, when God said to her, “Your voice will change.” In 2024, she began her self-publishing journey with A Case of Mistaken Identity, a book that was born through a three-month writing class Procrastination to Publication. The fuel she needed to complete her book. Her passion is sharing God’s love through her art and writing. She has many works in progress and is looking forward to sharing them with the world.
Resources for Ingramspark vs KDP
- How to Publish a Book On Amazon by Sam Kerns
- CBA: What Are the Best Companies to Self-Publish a Book?
Leave a Reply