Diversify your income and reach more readers by publishing beyond Amazon. Learn the pros and cons of going wide and how to optimize for each platform.
Going wide—publishing beyond Amazon—diversifies your income, reduces platform risk, and reaches readers Amazon may not serve. This guide compares Apple Books for Authors, Kobo Writing Life, Barnes & Noble Press, Draft2Digital, and IngramSpark, helping you decide when and how to expand your distribution.
Why Go Wide?
Amazon dominates, but it's not the only game in town. Going wide offers strategic advantages:
Income Diversification:
- Reduce dependence on single platform algorithm changes
- Multiple revenue streams protect against market shifts
- Different platforms excel in different regions
Expanded Reader Reach:
- Apple users often prefer Apple Books
- Kobo dominates Canada and parts of Europe
- Library readers access books through OverDrive/Hoopla
- International markets have platform preferences
Long-Term Brand Building:
- Own your audience across platforms
- Build recognition beyond Amazon ecosystem
- Capture readers who avoid Amazon
Direct Upload vs. Aggregators
Direct Platform Upload
Pros:
- More control over metadata and pricing
- Faster reporting and data access
- Direct relationship with platform
- No middleman taking a cut
Cons:
- More accounts to manage
- Separate uploads for each platform
- Multiple dashboards to monitor
Best For: Authors with time to manage multiple accounts who want maximum control.
Aggregator Services
Pros:
- Upload once, distribute everywhere
- Consolidated reporting
- Simpler management
- Often include library distribution
Cons:
- Slight delay in updates
- Less granular control
- Aggregator takes small percentage (usually 10-15%)
Best For: Authors prioritizing convenience or testing wide distribution.
Platform Deep Dive
Apple Books for Authors
Market Position:
- Second-largest US ebook retailer
- Strong in US, UK, Australia, Canada
- Premium audience willing to pay full price
Unique Features:
- Series metadata (link books in series)
- Preorder bonuses (extended preorder window)
- Apple Books Marketing Tools
- Clean, reader-friendly interface
Royalty Structure:
- 70% for books priced $0.99-$14.99
- 35% outside that range
- No delivery fees
Optimization Tips:
- Use series metadata to boost discoverability
- Leverage preorder campaigns (up to 1 year)
- Optimize for Apple's category structure
- Test promotional pricing
Upload Requirements:
- EPUB format (no MOBI)
- Mac or iTunes Producer for direct upload
- Or use aggregator (Draft2Digital, PublishDrive)
Kobo Writing Life
Market Position:
- Dominant in Canada (40%+ market share)
- Strong in Europe, Australia, New Zealand
- Growing presence in Asia
Unique Features:
- Kobo Promotions tab for authors
- Strong library partnerships (OverDrive)
- International pricing tools
- Author-friendly promotional support
Royalty Structure:
- 70% for books priced $1.99-$12.99
- 45% outside that range
- No delivery fees
Optimization Tips:
- Price competitively for Canadian market
- Use Kobo Promotions when available
- Optimize metadata for international readers
- Participate in Kobo Plus (subscription service)
Upload Requirements:
- EPUB format preferred
- Direct upload via Kobo Writing Life
- Simple, user-friendly interface
Barnes & Noble Press
Market Position:
- Third-largest US ebook retailer
- Strong for romance and mystery genres
- Nook device users loyal to platform
Unique Features:
- Print-on-demand for bookstore distribution
- Promotional opportunities via B&N
- Integration with physical stores (limited)
Royalty Structure:
- 65% for books priced $2.99-$9.99 (US sales)
- 40% outside that range
- Different rates for international sales
Optimization Tips:
- Focus on genres that perform well (romance, mystery)
- Optimize for Nook category structure
- Use print option for store visibility
- Monitor promotional opportunities
Upload Requirements:
- EPUB or Word document
- Direct upload via Barnes & Noble Press
- Cover must meet B&N specifications
Draft2Digital (Aggregator)
Distribution Network:
- Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Google Play
- OverDrive (libraries), Hoopla, Bibliotheca
- Tolino (Europe), 24Symbols (subscription)
Key Benefits:
- Free auto-formatting from Word docs
- Universal book links (books2read.com)
- Consolidated reporting dashboard
- Library reach without separate contracts
Royalty Structure:
- Platform rate minus D2D's 10% (of net)
- Example: 70% platform rate = 63% to you
- No upfront fees
Best Use Cases:
- Authors starting with wide distribution
- Accessing library market
- Managing multiple platforms simply
- Testing markets before going direct
IngramSpark (Print Distribution)
Market Position:
- Industry-standard print quality
- Distribution to 40,000+ retailers and libraries
- Professional bookstore and library access
Key Benefits:
- Highest print quality available
- Returnability option (important for bookstores)
- Global distribution network
- Hardcover options
Cost Structure:
- $49 setup fee per title/format
- $25 for revisions after publication
- Printing costs + wholesale discount (usually 55%)
Best Use Cases:
- Authors targeting bookstores
- Professional non-fiction
- Premium presentation requirements
- International print distribution
Important: Calculate margins carefully—IngramSpark printing costs are higher than KDP.
Going Wide: Strategic Approaches
Staggered Release Strategy
Amazon First:
- Launch exclusively on Amazon (KDP Select)
- Use KU page reads and promo tools
- Build initial reviews and rankings
- After 90 days, expand to other platforms
Benefits: Maximize Amazon's discovery tools early, then expand reach.
Simultaneous Wide Launch
All Platforms at Once:
- Release everywhere on same day
- Unified marketing campaign
- No exclusivity period
Benefits: Reach maximum audience immediately, diversify from day one.
Series-Specific Strategy
Hybrid Approach:
- Book 1 exclusive on Amazon (funnel readers)
- Books 2+ wide distribution
- Or: complete series on Amazon, standalones wide
Benefits: Test what works for different projects.
Platform-Specific Optimization
Metadata Tailoring
Description Variations:
- Apple: emphasize series connections and quality
- Kobo: highlight international appeal
- B&N: focus on genre conventions
Keyword Adjustments:
- Research platform-specific search behavior
- Adjust for international spelling (colour vs. color)
- Consider platform user demographics
Price Parity and Strategy
Maintain Price Parity:
- Readers notice price differences
- Amazon may price-match automatically
- Consistent pricing builds trust
Territorial Pricing:
- Adjust for currency and market
- Consider local purchasing power
- Test pricing in different regions
Marketing for Wide Distribution
Universal Book Links
Tools:
- Books2Read (by Draft2Digital)
- BookLinker
- Get Book Report
Benefits:
- One link directs readers to preferred retailer
- Track which platforms drive sales
- Professional presentation
Platform-Specific Promotion
BookBub Featured Deals:
- Available for wide distribution
- Select which retailers to include
- Significant sales boost across platforms
Chirp (Audiobook promotions):
- Focus on audio-specific deals
- Works with multiple audio distributors
Newsletter Swaps:
- Share retailer links strategically
- Highlight non-Amazon options
- Educate readers about alternatives
Reader Education
Help Readers Find You:
- Include "Also available at..." in emails
- Link to all retailers in social bios
- Use universal links in promotions
- Thank readers for supporting indie retailers
Financial Comparison: KDP Select vs. Wide
Example Scenario: 1,000 Books Sold
KDP Select (Exclusive):
- Amazon sales: 1,000 @ $3.99 = $2,793 (70% royalty)
- KU page reads: $500-$1,000 (varies)
- Total: $3,293-$3,793
Wide Distribution:
- Amazon: 700 @ $3.99 = $1,955
- Apple: 150 @ $3.99 = $419
- Kobo: 100 @ $3.99 = $279
- B&N: 50 @ $3.99 = $130
- Total: $2,783
Analysis: KDP Select often earns more short-term (especially in KU-heavy genres), but wide builds long-term stability.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Neglecting Platform-Specific Features:
- Use Apple's series metadata
- Leverage Kobo Promotions
- Don't just upload and forget
Poor Metadata Management:
- Inconsistent descriptions across platforms
- Missing keywords or categories
- Outdated links in back matter
Expecting Instant Results:
- Wide distribution builds slowly
- Takes 6-12 months to see full potential
- Requires consistent new releases
Decision Framework: Should You Go Wide?
Go Wide If:
- You write genres with lower KU penetration (non-fiction, literary fiction)
- You value income diversity over maximum short-term revenue
- You can commit to consistent releases (2-4+ books per year)
- You're building a long-term author career
Stay in KDP Select If:
- You write in KU-heavy genres (romance, sci-fi, fantasy)
- You're just starting and need discovery boost
- You don't have time to manage multiple platforms
- You want to maximize short-term revenue
Test Both:
- Try KDP Select for first 90 days
- Then go wide and compare results
- Different series can use different strategies
Your Wide Distribution Checklist
Pre-Launch:
- Decide: direct upload or aggregator?
- Create accounts on chosen platforms
- Format files for each platform's requirements
- Plan metadata variations
- Set up universal book links
Launch Week:
- Upload to all platforms simultaneously
- Verify listings and pricing
- Update website with retailer links
- Announce across all marketing channels
Ongoing:
- Monitor sales across platforms
- Optimize underperforming listings
- Test promotions on each platform
- Keep back matter updated with all retailers
Final Thoughts
Going wide isn't one-size-fits-all. It requires more management, builds more slowly, but creates a sustainable, diversified author business. The best strategy depends on your genre, goals, and capacity.
Start where it makes sense. Test. Adjust. Many successful authors use a hybrid approach: some books in KDP Select, others wide. The power is in having options and data to make informed decisions.
Your readers are everywhere. Going wide ensures you can reach them, wherever they prefer to read.
