In this blog post we talk about the ultimate guide to Barnes & Noble self publishing
It’s when you partner with a big publishing house with the resources, connections, and expertise to get your book on bookstore shelves.
The chances of having the book read by as many people as possible are much higher this way.
But what if you don’t want to wait for a publisher’s timeline?
What if you want more control over the entire process and your copyright?
What if you want to market your book yourself?
These instances call for self-publishing.
What is Barnes & Noble?
Barnes & Noble is a chain of bookstores in the United States.
The company was founded in 1886 and is now one of the largest retail booksellers in the country, with over 600 stores across all 50 states.
Barnes & Noble offers a wide selection of books, including new releases, bestsellers, and rare and collectible titles, as well as a range of other products such as magazines, toys, games, and gifts.
They also sell their own e-reader device, the Nook, which allows users to download and read e-books, magazines, and newspapers.
In addition to its brick-and-mortar stores, Barnes & Noble also has an online store where customers can browse and purchase books, e-books, and other products, and they offer a membership program called Barnes & Noble Membership, which offers discounts and other benefits to frequent customers.
What is Self-Publishing, and How Does It Differ from Convention?
Self-publishing refers to a book’s production and distribution without the assistance of an established publisher. The process is both long and intricate, comprising of the following:
- Editing and proofreading
- Designing the cover and interior layout
- Printing the book through a print-on-demand (POD) service
- Distributing the book to major retailers, i.e., Barnes and Noble, Amazon, etc.
The major difference between traditional and self-publishing is that the author takes on all of the responsibilities and risks associated with producing a book. While it allows authors more control over their work, it requires additional effort to ensure the highest possible quality.
Fact: Did you know that it usually takes more than a year to publish a book the traditional way? This timeline begins with submitting your manuscript to the publisher until it reaches bookstores.
So, the primary reason why would-be authors opt for self-publishing is that it’s faster and more affordable.
That said, a few potential drawbacks exist before diving into the process. For instance, the onus of marketing falls solely on the author.
Without a publisher’s backing and resources, there exists a greater risk associated with investing your time, effort and money into the venture.
But if you’re brave enough to take it up a notch and go the self-publishing route, Barnes & Noble offers what we believe is the best platform for authors to bring their work to the limelight.
While other platforms are available, Barnes & Noble stands out for its wide-reaching distribution channels and simple self-publishing process.
Barnes & Nobles is A Response to Amazon
Barnes & Noble Press is a compelling response by the company to Amazon’s self-publishing service.
The platform aims to afford an easier alternative with its wide array of book formats, pre-order strategy and various payment options.
Since its launch in 2018, Barnes & Noble Press has been a valuable resource for self-publishers looking to expand their audience.
Reasons to Self-Publish with Barnes & Noble
1 – Increased control over product design
With self-publishing, authors have the luxury of full editorial control over their work, i.e., cover design and text formatting.
2 – Wider distribution
Barnes & Noble’s self-publishing platform is available to over 300 million shoppers across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, boosting an author’s chances of selling their book.
3 – Easier submission process
The company’s self-publishing portal allows authors to upload and format their work in just a few easy steps.
4 – Fast turnaround time
Once the submission process is complete, books can be available on Barnes & Noble’s website two weeks after they are sent for review.
So, with the perks of self-publishing your book via Barnes & Noble out of the way, let’s dig into the process.
Step-by-Step Guide to Self-Publishing on Barnes & Noble
1 – Sign up; it’s free!
The first step of self-publishing your book is signing up for an account with Barnes & Noble Press. Doing so can’t be any more straightforward.
Go to this link: https://press.barnesandnoble.com/create-account.
What’s the best thing about choosing Barnes & Noble in your first-ever foray into self-publishing?
It’s free!
Granted that other platforms also offer free sign-up, Barnes & Noble stands out for its user-friendly design and great features.
2 – Fill in the details.
Begin submitting your manuscript once your account is all setup. You will be asked to provide basic information about the book, i.e., title, author name, language, and ISBN.
Note that you may create your ISBN or use one provided by Barnes & Noble Press.
The ISBN ensures your book is discoverable on retailers’ websites.
3 – Weigh the formatting options.
Drafting a book means making decisions about margins, fonts, font size and line spacing.
The platform’s individualized guidelines help you navigate the different formats and page sizes.
Barnes & Noble Press also offers you the option of previewing your work before you confirm submission.
Don’t forget to read about the formatting guidelines for the following:
- ePub
- eBook for M.S. Word documents
- TXT
- HTML
You must learn to format all these things because you can’t expect your book to look good if you don’t.
4 – Upload the content.
Now comes the fun part: uploading the contents of your book, i.e., cover art and interior file(s).
Be sure to upload a high-resolution JPEG file for the cover art.
Otherwise, a low-resolution image may hinder the quality of print copies.
As for interior files, you have several formats to choose from. However, Barnes & Noble recommends uploading an MS Word document or PDF file.
Meanwhile, the title page should include the copyright notice, acknowledging you as the author.
The essential details will follow, including the book’s title, subtitle (if any), keywords, and price. Spend as much time as possible to prevent errors from seeping in.
5 – Pay and submit the manuscript.
Remember that there’s a fee for your publishing package.
After making the payment, you will submit your manuscript for review.
Barnes & Noble has three packages — Starter, Standard and Premium – which range in cost.
The starter package review process typically takes two weeks.
The more expensive packages include a complimentary professional review; these manuscripts usually take three to four weeks to complete.
6 – Your book is live!
After a few weeks of review, your work will be available on Barnes & Noble’s website. It will also be available at retail stores and Barnes & Noble’s Nook store.
Getting Your Self-Published Book on a Bookshelf
Perhaps the biggest challenge of self-publishing on Barnes & Noble is getting your book into retail stores.
This is where a good distribution and marketing strategy comes in handy.
Formatting is Everything
An attractive book cover will attract readers.
But it’s not the only thing you should consider when formatting your book for self-publishing on Barnes & Noble.
Text formatting and print layout are as crucial, so see to it the text is easy to read and that all elements of your design come together nicely.
Also, make sure your manuscript is error-free.
Typos and grammar mistakes will put off potential readers, so spend time proofreading your work before submitting it for review.
Pre-Order Strategy
Gauging interest is a pre-order strategy’s focal point. But in the case of self-publishing a book through Barnes & Noble, it’s about marketing.
The platform allows you to employ a pre-order strategy, with either eBook or print as options.
It’ll help you build buzz and allow customers to plan for the book’s release.
The Paper Types
Barnes & Noble offers three types of paper quality, and you must choose one before proceeding with the order.
There’s the paperback, which is the least expensive option and is made of lightweight paper.
The second option is a hardcover with a print case.
This one offers a colour print on the exterior, and the paper type is thicker than a paperback.
The third option is an enhanced hardcover with a dust jacket. This gives your book extra protection with its dust jacket casing.
Royalties, Payments, and Support
One of the best parts about self-publishing with Barnes & Noble is that you always keep your rights to your work.
It’s one reason why independent writers are better off self-publishing.
You also get a share of the sale based on your chosen package and purchase options.
And should you have any questions or concerns about self-publishing with Barnes & Noble, you can always reach out to their support team.
The best we can do is discuss the initial payment and royalty considerations.
Every book sold corresponds to a 55% royalty for paperback, but that percentage goes up to 70% for an eBook sale.
It’s an enticing proposition, especially when Amazon only has a 35% royalty for the books sold via Kindle.
At the moment, uploading a book to Barnes & Noble is free.
As mentioned earlier in the guide, the only expense is the ISBN, but some writers already have that through other sources.
In any case, Barnes & Noble assigns ISBNs to books sold on the platform.
The platform hands out payments every 30 days, and you get a financial report about your book’s sales performance.
This is handy when you want to market and promote your book more effectively.
A Comparison to Other Self-Publishing Options
Barnes & Noble is an excellent choice compared to other self-publishing options.
Amazon may be the most popular platform, but Barnes & Noble’s royalty percentage is higher than its competitors.
Also, uploading your book on their website is straightforward and intuitive.
You probably don’t know that Amazon has a distribution option that goes through Barnes & Noble, which means there’s a chance that your book could be on both platforms.
Anyone in the right mind wouldn’t skip this opportunity of selling a book on two of the world’s biggest self-publishing platforms.
In publishing, Barnes & Noble gives the advantage of releasing books with a sleeve.
You won’t find this option with other platforms.
Also, Barnes & Noble has an extensive network of physical retail stores, which can greatly help in marketing and selling your book.
Furthermore, Amazon’s Kindle format is, in a way, limiting the options for readers.
So, what happens is that self-publishing artists have to look beyond Amazon, which is why Barnes & Noble isn’t a bad option.
For one, the platform embraces the standard EPUB file, allowing readers to access the book using any device.
Amazon’s proprietary format is an attempt by the company to lock in its customer base, but Barnes & Noble’s openness to ePub allows a much wider reach.
So, if you’re starting out, it would make more sense to use Barnes & Noble as your primary publishing platform.
And if you already have a book on Amazon, you can add the same title to Barnes & Noble for further reach.
How the Platform Sells Your Book
There’s more to the platform than self-publishing a book.
It’s not like the partnership ends soon after you publish your work. Promotional opportunities abound, and Barnes & Noble sees that your book reaches the right audience.
BN.com and the company’s NOOK device bring millions of people, and that alone puts you in a prime position to get noticed.
The Barnes & Noble website also features books on its homepage, electronic newsletters and catalogues with customer recommendations.
Self-published books may be featured in the Barnes & Noble Press emails, boosting exposure and, in turn, increasing sales. There are also opportunities to participate in Barnes & Noble events where authors can share their work with customers.
Another advantage of Barnes & Noble’s self-publishing is the attached affiliate marketing programs, most notably BookTrib.
It’s a program that assists authors in marketing their books in various ways, allowing them to reach different readers.
Don’t forget to include the platform’s Facebook page when promoting your book.
The best approach is to look at how other authors use Barnes & Noble’s social media page for marketing their books. You can also use Twitter, Instagram and other social media sites to reach more readers.
If you want to get the word out about your book, use free social media platforms like Twitter, your website, or your blog and link back to BN.com when recommending it!
Don’t forget that by signing up for their affiliate program, you may earn a commission on every sale that comes through your links.
And then there’s the B&N Press community, where linking readers directly to your book description could help boost interest in your work.
As in all other self-publishing platforms, the money-making aspect of Barnes & Noble is covered by them, at least for the most part.
That said, Barnes & Noble may not be the best option for those looking for a huge profit, but it’s perfect for authors who want to increase their reach and get more readers.
Further Reading
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Joel Mark Harris graduated from the Langara School of Journalism in 2007. Joel is an award-winning journalist, novelist, screenwriter and producer.
He has ghostwritten numerous books in all types of genres including true life crime, business, memoir, and self help. With over 1,000 blog posts to his name, he has helped hundreds of business owners scale their business and increase their visibility. You can email him at info@ghostwritersandco.com
