Amazon, the greedy giant with small publishers in its grip

To sell online, indie publishers must use Amazon. But its methods leave them out of pocket – or out of sight, paying hidden charges, says the founder of Linen Press Indie publishers need transparency and support from online companies that sell their books. Amazon fails such publishers on both counts. Ostensibly, it offers two ways of selling, but only one – the costly Amazon Advantage – does the job. So, in effect, Amazon offers no choice at all, since the successful sales method is financially prohibitive. The cheaper, more confusing marketing option disadvantages small publishers by making them less visible on Amazon and landing them with hidden problems and costs. Related: Amazon's profits are small publishers' losses Related: Amazon is not the small publisher's enemy We’re down to a profit of 60p. But after the author's royalty, we're in minus figures Related: My week as an Amazon insider Our authors expect us to sell on Amazon, but they don't always know the full and hidden story Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2015-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #small publishers #indie publishers #online companies #small publisher

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Amazon, the greedy giant with small publishers in its grip'


Amazon Publishing Launches New Imprint

Amazon Original Stories will publish short fiction and nonfiction works available in the Kindle Singles store. The new imprint has launched with two titles, including one by Joyce Carol Oates. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-11-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Small indie publishers report booming sales

In a sector that has struggled elsewhere, figures for 60 of the smallest players in the UK industry show sales up 79% in the last yearIndependent publishers have unleashed a boom in sales, according to new research. Latest figures from Inpress, which works with 60 of the smallest players in the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-11-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Your Tuesday Wake-Up Call: Amazon Feels the Love. And Facebook Just Gave Publishers the Jitters

$10 millionCalifornia billionaire Tom Steyer is waging a $10 million campaign to convince lawmakers to impeach President Trump. His video ad is to-the-point: He calls Trump "a clear and present danger who is mentally unstable and armed with nuclear weapons." Money says his commercials have run... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2017-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Alleges Violations by KDP Authors, Publishers

Amazon has filed arbitration complaints against five individuals who it claims offered services to KDP authors and publishers intended to help them manipulate the reading platform for financial gain. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-09-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #reading platform #financial gain


Amazon's Naggar tells publishers to slash ebook prices

Amazon’s publishing chief David Naggar has said publishers should slash their ebook prices to 99p to sell more books. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook prices


Multimedia Giant China South Publishing Invests in IPR License

To 'explore new uncharted waters,' China South Publishing takes a stake in Frankfurt Book Fair's global rights and license trading platform, IPR License. The post Multimedia Giant China South Publishing Invests in IPR License appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-08-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ipr license #uncharted waters #global rights


Self-published archaeological thriller takes £20,000 Amazon award

The Relic Hunters by David Leadbeater is inaugural winner of online retailer’s DIY publishing prizeThe writer David Leadbeater has struck gold with his self-published archaeological thriller, The Relic Hunters, scooping up the first Amazon Kindle Storyteller award.Leadbeater pronounced it “a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-07-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #relic hunters #david leadbeater #inaugural winner #online retailer #struck gold


Best of the week: Amazon makes push for video publishers

This week, our top stories examined Amazon’s video platform and Facebook’s tool that will give publishers more Instant Articles performance data. The post Best of the week: Amazon makes push for video publishers appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-07-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Look out, YouTube and Facebook: Amazon’s coming for video publishers

Amazon has paid out "tens of millions" of dollars to video publishers self-distributing on Amazon Prime -- and that's just one way to make money through Amazon. The post Look out, YouTube and Facebook: Amazon’s coming for video publishers appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-07-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Best of the week: Publishers are embracing Amazon

This week, our top stories covered magazine publishers’ relationship with Amazon, consumer trust in ads and life as a new mother at an ad agency. The post Best of the week: Publishers are embracing Amazon appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-07-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ad agency


For small publishers, Facebook is often a force for good — and frustration

They love Facebook's ability to turbo-charge their audience growth, but they hate perpetually being the last to know about changes. The post For small publishers, Facebook is often a force for good — and frustration appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-06-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Sets Up Shop in the Heart of the Publishing Industry

Customers shopped during a preview on Tuesday for Amazon’s first New York bookstore. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2017-05-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New Amazon Buy Button Program Draws Ire of Publishers, Authors

Industry members claim the program, which allows third-party re-sellers to win the main buy button on book pages, has the potential to "decimate authors' and publishers' earnings," especially on backlist books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-05-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon will no longer strong arm ebook publishers in Europe

The European Commission has accepted Amazon's changes to how it sells its ebooks. Following a 2015 investigation over the retailer's anti-competitive behaviour, Amazon said back in January that it would change its ebook contracts, removing clauses t... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2017-05-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Surprise, small publishers screwed the most by net-neutrality rules

Independent publishers would struggle to pay for better internet speeds and large publishers would deal with onerous taxes and competitive disadvantages. The post Surprise, small publishers screwed the most by net-neutrality rules appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PRH's Shona Abhyankar joins Amazon Publishing

Amazon has appointed Shona Abhyankar, currently head of PR at Penguin Random House Children’s and formerly senior publicist at Ebury, as publicity lead of Amazon Publishing. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Publishing at London Book Fair: Literary Fiction, Suspense, Memoir

Amazon Publishing, the largest publisher of translations, will be at the London Book Fair with a rights list of suspense, memoir and literary titles. The post Amazon Publishing at London Book Fair: Literary Fiction, Suspense, Memoir appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon publishing #literary fiction #largest publisher #rights list #literary titles


Amazon Publishing’s Newest Imprint Makes Its Debut in Germany

Tinte & Feder is Amazon Publishing's second German-language imprint, and is to focus on contemporary and historical fiction. First titles out March 7. The post Amazon Publishing’s Newest Imprint Makes Its Debut in Germany appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-02-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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‘The Outsider Becomes the Mainstream’: A Key UK Self-Publisher Opens a Small Press

Joanna Penn—known as The Creative Penn in the self-publishing community—takes a step made by many strong self-publishers: launching a small press. The post ‘The Outsider Becomes the Mainstream’: A Key UK Self-Publisher Opens a Small Press appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-02-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon simplifies self-published paperback printing

Amazon has a program in place allowing people to self-publish both printed and electronic books, but until now the workflow has been clunky as authors were forced to use a different tool for each format. The company is now streamlining the experience... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2017-02-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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