Welcome to the first of a four-part series on going wide vs. KDP Select!

. . . But don’t yawn or feel intimidated just yet. 😉 At its heart, this is a simple issue. It can get complicated quick, and everyone has their own agenda: I’ll tell you upfront that I am a “wide” author, though I do also upload my ebooks directly with Amazon. And if you’re wondering what that even means, don’t worry! Today we’ll look at the basics, focusing specifically on ebooks. Get ready for some jargon and acronyms . . .

So, what exactly is “wide”? Let’s start with what it is not. “KDP” is an acronym for Kindle Direct Publishing–Amazon’s ebook service. Any author can upload an ebook to KDP, but many authors go an extra step by registering for “KDP Select.” Those authors have made an agreement with Amazon: their ebook will be exclusive to Amazon (i.e., available nowhere else online to purchase or for free) in exchange for being enrolled in Kindle Unlimited (KU), where subscribers can read the book for free. In this system, the author is paid based on “pages read.“

In contrast, if an indie author says their book is “wide,” they have not made that exclusive “Select” agreement with Amazon. That means the book won’t be free in KU, but it probably is still on Amazon as well as being on other retailers’ sites.

So why is “wide vs. KDP Select” a big deal? Because there are legal and financial repercussions. If you make the choice to go with KDP Select, you’re committing to at least 90 days, and there will be consequences if you (knowingly or otherwise) break your promise to Amazon. There is also a big learning curve to going wide, so the decision represents an investment of time and effort.

That’s the difference in a nutshell, but from here we branch out into the weeds. “Wide” encompasses a multitude of options you’ll have to weigh: book distributors like IngramSpark, services like Draft2Digital or BookBaby, markets that require direct upload like Google Play, even pitches to libraries. Just because your book could be for sale everywhere doesn’t mean it will be–not without a lot of effort on your part. It’s a lot to take in, and while there is a lot of advice out there for indie authors, not all of that advice is accessible or comprehensive or even up to date. The rules and trends are always changing!

In my experience, most indie authors are–or at least, start out in–KDP Select. It’s hard to argue with the fact that the KU audience is ready-made and voracious, and Amazon’s upload process is relatively friendly. So why, having said all that, would anyone go wide?

As a wide indie author myself, I can say there are many reasons. 🙂 Now, this is a deeply personal issue for authors, and I can’t hope to address everyone’s thoughts or concerns in a blog post. But over the course of this series, I’ll look at several different reasons to choose wide vs. KDP.

We’ll start with the simplest: reach.

When you opt for wide publishing, you can reach audiences beyond Amazon’s KU (which is a subscription service for readers, let’s not forget). You can reach those folks who still love their Nooks, you can reach folks on Scribd, on Smashwords, on Kobo, on Apple–you get the idea. You could even sell your ebook yourself or put it on Hoopla, a popular site for libraries. Every reader has their favorite service. And while Amazon’s KU is a big slice of the market, it will not reach every reader.

Of course, when you’re first starting out, this might feel more like reaching for stars than reaching for readers. I can’t emphasize enough that it is tough out there, and it does take effort to get your book noticed, no matter where it is. But if you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re definitely not alone: most of us indie authors can relate. We’ve been there, and many of us–myself included!–are happy to help or share advice.

And if, on the other hand, you’re still looking for more reasons, stay tuned! Next week we’ll talk about how publishing wide can create a safety net.

Psst! Could you use a little help?

I’ve added coaching, research assistance, and classes to my offerings! Check out my author services and group workshops. It may be a tough, dark world out there, but together we can share some light.

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