What do you mean by saying, “I would like to be published in several platforms“? Look, it’s actually a pretty smart goal these days. The publishing world has totally changed, you’ve got digital options, print books, audiobooks, even subscription services where readers can discover your work.
Here’s the thing, different readers hang out in different places. Some people only buy from Amazon, others love browsing indie bookstores online, and plenty of folks are discovering new authors through apps like Kindle Unlimited or Scribd.
What does it take to get your book out there on multiple platforms? And how do you do it without loosing your mind in the process?
Here is how to do that, how to do it step by step, the writing, publishing and positioning yourself so that the right people see your stuff. Believe me, it is not too complicated as it may seem first.
Should You Go Wide or Stay Exclusive?
Here’s the big question you need to figure out, do you stick with one platform or spread your wings? Amazon’s got this thing called KDP Select where you can join Kindle Unlimited and get some cool promotional tools, but there’s a catch. You can’t publish that same ebook anywhere else while your enrolled.
If you’re thinking “I would like to be published in several platforms,” then going wide is probably your best bet. It gets your book in front of readers everywhere and keeps you from putting all your eggs in one basket. Services like Draft2Digital or PublishDrive make it pretty easy, you upload once and they distribute everywhere.
How Do You Format for Multiple Platforms?
Okay, this is where things get a bit tricky. Each platform wants your book formatted differently, and you want it looking professional no matter where someone finds it. EPUB is kind of the standard for digital books, but Amazon prefers it’s own Kindle format. Print platforms like IngramSpark or KDP Print? They’ve got their own requirements for cover sizes, margins, all that technical stuff.
If you want to publish wide without going crazy, check out formatting software like Vellum (if you’re on Mac) or Atticus (works on everything). These programs export your manuscript into the right formats for each store. Too overwhelming? No worries, there are professional formatting services that’ll handle this headache for you.
How Do You Handle ISBNs Across Platforms?
ISBN is International Standard Book Number; you can consider that to be the social security number of your book. Amazon will provide one to you, however; the thing is that it would be of no use elsewhere. In case you need every bit of control and intend to go wide with publishing, purchase your ISBNs at the official outlets such as Bowker (in case you are located in the US).
Having ISBNs of your own also gives you your own metadata, and you would also be able to utilize the same ISBN on different forms of publication, ebook, paperback, hardcover, audiobook. It is another step to that aim of publishing in every place.
What About Audiobooks and Alternative Formats?
It is not only the print books and ebooks that are published. Audiobooks are massive, and you can find an audio version of your book on platforms such as ACX, Findaway voices, and Kobo Writing Life to put it on Audible, or iTunes, etc. Some readers only do audiobooks, they’re listening while they commute, work out, or do chores.
Don’t forget about newer platforms either. Kindle Vella and Wattpad are also fantastic when it comes to serialization, particularly in case you are an author of specific genres. These are those platforms that will meet the needs of readers who enjoy their stories one episode after the other thus providing you with another opportunity of connecting with people.
Can You Keep Track of Everything on Your Own?
Let’s be honest, managing a book across multiple platforms can get messy fast. You’ve got to watch pricing, track sales from different stores, monitor your marketing, and keep everything updated when you make changes.
The good news? There are tools that make this way easier. Distribution dashboards let you update everything in one place metadata, pricing, files and push those changes to all your stores at once.
Set up a central landing page using something like BookLinker, Books2Read, or even just Linktree. In this way, it is possible to know that when the result of someone wanting to purchase your book arrives, he or she will be able to choose among his or her favorite stores in just one easy page. In case your dream begins with the phrase, I would like to be published on different platforms, then organization with good tools is an absolute necessity.
How Can You Build a Brand Across Platforms?
It is one thing to do publishing on various platforms but it is another to establish a coherent author brand. That is the magic there. Always use the same author picture, biography and style of writing in description of your books throughout. Your website and social media should match this brand too.
Make sure all your book pages link back to each other and keep everything up to date. Consistency builds trust with readers, and trust builds fans.
Can You Succeed Across All These Channels?
In one word, yes, but with patience and regularity. Publishing broadly gives you a greater visibility and more opportunities and a larger possible audience. Ok, it has a little bit of set up which may require some time initially, but after you have your system up and running, it does itself.
There are numerous writers who began with the idea of wanting to be published on multiple channels, and have developed and maintained successful careers through distribution of their work on a sequence of channels, and over a long-lasting period.
It is an opportune time to consider multi-platform publishing, especially, in case you have been considering this. The technology and the tools exist to enable you to make your book available to the reading population of the world, in whatever format the reader wants.
Your publishing journey should be as big as your vision. Start preparing your manuscript, look into distribution options, and begin building your presence across platforms. Whether this is your first book or your tenth, getting published on multiple platforms is totally within reach when “ I would like to be published in several platforms” becomes your actionable plan.
Ready to make it happen? Let us help you take your idea from draft to distribution with expert guidance and publishing support.
