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

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Publishers urged to respond to Amazon's new ebook offer

The European Commission (EC) has confirmed that Amazon has offered to remove controversial Most Favoured Nation (MFN) clauses in ebook contracts and is asking publishers for feedback on the pledges. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-01-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Are small publishers doing all the hard work for the big ones?

These days, it is minimally staffed and funded firms who invest in new authors. The giants avoid such risk, only picking the writers once their names are madePaul McVeigh and Kirsty Logan are authors you may have heard of. Both of their debuts were published by Salt, an independent publisher.... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-12-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Swings Into Header Bidding With Cloud-Based Service for Publishers

Amazon plans to announce a cloud-based header bidding solution aimed squarely at publishers as early as next week, according to people familiar with the matter.Header bidding has become one of the most important areas of ad tech because it lets publishers take more offers for their ads at once... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2016-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publisher protests as Amazon Japan cuts back its KU offering

After underestimating the ferocity of Japan's manga fans, Amazon has made major adjustments to the contents of its Kindle Unlimited offer in the country, while dropping some publishers from the service altogether. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Frankfurt Industry Notes: Sharjah GoH at São Paulo; Amazon Publishing Signs Strobel

Among stories coming out of Frankfurt Book Fair: a new liaison between Brazil and the UAE, and a German bestseller signs with Amazon's Edition M imprint. The post Frankfurt Industry Notes: Sharjah GoH at São Paulo; Amazon Publishing Signs Strobel appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-10-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Publishing signs major Catherine Cookson deal

Amazon Publishing has acquired two new and unseen titles by the late novelist Catherine Cookson, including a memoir. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Saraband’s Sara Hunt: A View From the ‘Small Independent Publishing World’

When readers are wooed by 'global entertainment,' an independent press like Saraband, home to a Man Booker longlisted novel, can use 'a little bit more traction.' The post Saraband’s Sara Hunt: A View From the ‘Small Independent Publishing World’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-08-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Biggest-selling' self-published book of 2016 lands Amazon deal

Self-published author Adam Croft has been snapped up for a publishing deal by Amazon imprint Thomas & Mercer after releasing what he says is the biggest-selling book by a self-published author in 2016. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Small Beer to Publish 400-Year-Old SF Novel

The Easthampton, Mass., press is preparing to release an English language edition of what it is calling the world's first science fiction novel, 'The Chemical Wedding,' written in German in 1616. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-05-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ahead of LBF at IPA Congress: Many Publishers, Great and Small

Dichotomies of local and global, major and modest, resonated throughout the International Publishers Association's 31st Congress, convened in the run-up to London Book Fair. The post Ahead of LBF at IPA Congress: Many Publishers, Great and Small appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Small Publishers Still See Benefits of Oft-Maligned Digital Ad Networks

So, digital advertising networks are back in the news, to borrow a common joke template used by late-night comedians.In March, Distractify, one of hundreds of publishers who belong to the Vice Digital Network, was singled out in a Variety story for contributing to a drop in traffic for Vice... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2016-04-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishing Industry Speculates About Expansion Plans for Amazon Books

Opinions were mixed about what Amazon's rumored plans to open more physical bookstores could mean for the publishing industry. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-02-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishing giant George Weidenfeld dies aged 96

Towering figure in British publishing, who worked with authors from Harold Wilson to Vladimir Nabokov, remained engaged with the business until very recently“I try not to think that I might not be here when some of my projects come to fruition”: a 2009 interview with Lord WeidenfeldLord George... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon, EDC Drive Big Jump in Publishing Industry Stocks

The Publishers Weekly Stock Index jumped 59.2% in 2015 over 2014, propelled in part by a huge boost from Amazon. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-01-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Keeps Firm Grip on E-book Market, Even as the Format Loses Market Share

With sales of ebooks slipping and print books enjoying a mild rebound, ebooks’ share of consumer spending on books has declined over the past two years. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-01-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Bottlenecks Frustrating Indie Publishers

This is the season in which the entire book industry depends upon consumer holiday purchases to drive sales and, for some, issues at Amazon are leaving their hottest titles languishing on shipping docks and sitting in truck trailers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Education Publisher Ditches Amazon, Sales Soar

Since its highly publicized decision to stop selling books through Amazon, sales at EDC have skyrocketed. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How German Publishers Deal With Amazon

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-10-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How Apple's Ad-blocking Software Could Put Small Publishers Out Of Business

With an iOS update expanding ad-blocking's reach, experts say smaller publishers and bloggers have fewer means of survival.As the debate over online ad blocking heats up with the arrival of iOS 9, experts say the biggest casualties of the online ad war may be small publishers and bloggers with... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2015-10-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon a better retailer than publisher, says Redmayne

Amazon is not as good at publishing as it is at retailing, Charlie Redmayne, c.e.o of HarperCollins has said. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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