Lulu Press is one of the most popular self-publishing companies out there. It provides print-on-demand services, ebook conversion, and cover design.
They also provide global distribution. This makes it possible for your book to be sold at 40,000+ retailers worldwide, including Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Print-On-Demand
Lulu Press offers print-on-demand (POD) publishing and distribution services for books, manuals, and other printed goods. POD allows authors, artists, and businesses to avoid minimum order quantity orders and large upfront printing costs by creating products as they're ordered.
Lulu offers a variety of print-on-demand formats, from paperback to hardcover. This flexibility makes it a good option for authors who want to customize their book design and printing.
For example, an author who wants to create a paperback book with a glossy cover may choose to use Lulu's Cover Designer. This service allows an author to upload a PDF file and then add cover text, images, and other graphics to customize the look of their book.
Another great feature of the Print-On-Demand service is that an author can make changes to their book's cover and interior without having to order a new print run. This is an invaluable feature for writers who have errors in their manuscripts, cover art, or book design and need to edit them before they're published.
When an author uses a POD service, they also have the option to sell their books online, which can help to increase their visibility and reach potential readers. This is especially helpful for new authors who aren't sure how to promote their books or who are looking for a way to build their author brand.
Using Lulu's POD service is relatively simple. There are plenty of helpful guides on the Lulu site to help authors get started.
While there are many benefits to choosing Lulu's POD service, it's important to note that authors should be wary of the company's reputation for taking substantial cuts of royalties. This has left many authors wondering if it's even worth it to publish with them.
Lulu also has a high cost per book, and authors should be aware that their books will not be sold on Amazon. However, authors can still sell their books on other sites and through social media. They can also use Lulu's Open API to integrate their book sales data with other ecommerce platforms.
Distribution
Lulu Press is one of the most popular self-publishing platforms in the world. In fact, it’s considered among the top print-on-demand companies (with KDP Print, BookBaby, and Blurb all right behind it).
However, it also has a negative reputation for taking substantial cuts of author royalties. This can leave some authors feeling like they are getting paid pennies per book.
The problem with this is that it can make it very difficult to sell your book, especially if you want to earn a reasonable profit. It also makes it hard to track the sales and revenue of your book, so it’s important that you take the time to set up your own sales and revenue tracking system.
In addition to printing books, Lulu offers a distribution service that reaches more than 40,000 retailers worldwide. This includes Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the Ingram network, as well as its own Lulu Bookstore.
With that being said, distributing an ebook through Lulu can be an expensive endeavor for a self-published author. In order to save money, it may be better to work with an ebook company that doesn’t charge distribution fees.
It’s possible to upload your book to Lulu’s website, but the process can be a bit confusing for those who are new to publishing. The interface is easy to use, but it does have a learning curve.
Many authors report that the quality of Lulu’s books is good, with covers that have a high resolution and pages that are thick and well-aligned without any bleed through. However, some users have complained that the quality is slightly worse during busy seasons.
Several customers have reported long delays in formatting and printing their books. Often, they were not even aware that their books were being printed until weeks had passed.
Some authors have also complained that their accounts were frozen for copyright infringement, which left them unable to access their royalty checks. They had to wait weeks for customer support to help them.
While Lulu does offer a comprehensive virtual help center with frequently asked questions, it can be difficult to get the information you need. This is especially true for those who are unfamiliar with self-publishing.
Pricing
Lulu Press is one of the most popular self-publishing companies, and it offers a wide range of print book and ebook formats. It also has a variety of distribution channels, including Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
Pricing for self-published books on Lulu is based on the cost of printing, as well as a percentage of the sales revenue. This gives the publisher control over how much to charge for their book, while allowing Lulu to keep a profit.
The company's pricing structure is a bit complicated, but it works fairly well overall. In general, the company's prices are better than those of CreateSpace on Amazon (but worse if you get a distribution plan), and slightly better on color or short or medium-length B&W books sold on both companies' sites.
Alternatively, you can use a Free ISBN provided by Lulu, which identifies your book as a Lulu publication and cannot be changed. A Free ISBN allows you to assign an indefinite publication date to your book, which can be helpful if you want to retire it at some point.
When you publish your book, you will have to configure your cover image and set the retail price. The latter is a critical factor in determining your book's success, so it's essential to do this correctly.
In addition, you will need to set the price of your book in multiple currencies. For example, if you want to sell your book in Canada, you'll need to set it at $19.99 in Canadian dollars and $19.95 in US dollars. This will ensure that you get the correct amount of money in your account.
Finally, you will have to specify the book's size and page count. This is important because you'll need to upload the correct files for your book. If your file exceeds 300mb, you'll need to break it into several smaller files and upload them separately.
You'll need to specify the book's main category and at least one BISAC code, which is a standard coding system for book stores and libraries. Using multiple categories and BISAC codes will make it easier for readers to find your book.
Customer Service
The customer service department is a hotbed of innovation at Lulu Press. They've recently introduced a virtual "Help Center" that features a variety of interactive tools to help users navigate their way through the process. The site is user-friendly and if you have a question, the team is always ready to answer it.
The staff is well-versed in the POD industry and will be able to provide you with an informed recommendation for any questions or concerns you may have. In fact, they've won numerous accolades for their stellar customer support, including the Customer Service Excellence Award from the National Association of Independent Publishers and a Best of Show trophy from the International Association of Self-Publishers.
They even have a blog called Lulu Writes that offers helpful tips and tricks for authors. Their top-notch customer service and attention to detail are a big reason why they have more than 1 million satisfied customers and have been named as one of the fastest growing small businesses in America.
They also have the honor of being one of only a few companies to win a coveted Golden Book award, the most prestigious accolade awarded by the Book Industry Association for excellence in the book publishing industry. Their awards are based on a number of factors, including the number of published books, the amount of sales generated by those books, and the quality of the books themselves. In addition, they have won numerous prizes from book retailers and distributors for their contributions to the publishing community and their ability to deliver on their promises to the consumer. They are a great place to get started if you're looking for a low-cost and effective way to publish your next book.