There are currently three major self-publishing platforms: Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), IngramSpark, and Draft2Digital. I’ll lay this out below in the most simple, non technical terms.

KDP is where upwards of 90% of the market purchases their books. This is a direct to individual customer, print on demand service.

IngramSpark is an aggregator. Think of it as the connection you can use to a brick and mortar store. You can use IngramSpark to drop ship bulk orders (if you are speaking at a conference), or for a local store to directly order copies of your book. ***Be advised***There is a 55% configuration for royalties as well as a return and destroy feature that is selected (per industry preferences), so ordering books through IngramSpark for retailers can cost you money should those copies not sell.

Draft2Digital is the connection to all digital options for your book, outside of Kindle. Additionally, this option helps connect you with libraries that use Libby.

There are more features that these include and they have additional capabilities but this is the abridged, simplified answer to “what does that publishing platform do?” Feel free to visit each platform for additional information, or go to Google/YouTube and search your question for more detailed answers.

Be advised that the publishing platforms can take at least 90 days to process your first royalty payment AND there is an earning threshold of $10.00 before a payment is sent to your bank account.

Log into each publishing account and check the reports section to see the status of your earnings.

If it’s been over 90 since your launch, your reports show that you’ve earned more than $10, and you still have not received a payment, contact their customer support.

Each publishing platform- KDP, IngramSpark, and Draft2Digital has a “Reports” section where you can easily track and check on sales.

Visit that area and check it out. Should you still think there is a problem, contact their customer service department.

If you are ordering under 999 copies of your book, the most cost-effective place for you to do that is through KDP.

Log in to your KDP account. Your Bookshelf should automatically appear, but if it does not, click on Bookshelf (located across the top section).

Find the book/book version you wish to order, look directly to the right side of the page, and select “Order Author Copies.” If you do not see it listed, hover your mouse over the three dots until the menu pops up, and then select “Order Author Copies.”

Enter your quantity, select your market (usually amazon.com), and order. Your Amazon shopping cart should pop up in that window and you can continue the ordering process.

If you wish to drop ship a bulk order (over 999 copies), you will want to do this by visiting IngramSpark. Navigate to the Books/Title section. Next to the book you need to order use the menu to select “place order.” Follow the remainder of the instructions to get your order placed.

There are YouTube videos for both of these processes online should you need more help.

Now it’s time to market your book. If you need help with that, I highly recommend either purchasing You Must Market Your Book by Honorée Corder.

Or purchase this masterclass, Book Marketing Mastery. Which will help you become your very own Book Marketing Expert!

Go over to Amazon and in the search bar type in the title of your book. Click on your book and scroll down to the Product Details section. Then scroll down a little further in that section to where it says “Best Sellers Rank” and you will be able to see how you are trending. If your book is a “top seller” sometimes they will show that at the top of the listing. Remember, this is algorithm based so include an active Advance Reader Team to help make early sales on the book AND impress on them the importance of leaving verified (which means they purchased the book or ebook from Amazon through their own account) reviews on Amazon/GoodReads.