Ignite the Light from Within: Successful Publishing with IngramSpark

Many authors struggle with the same question: how do I reach a wider audience with my book? With IngramSpark, which ranks #2 in self-publishing, you are always guaranteed a wide book distribution to several retailers. IngramSpark is an incredible book aggregator, which means that if you plan on publishing an ebook version of your work, you will be connected to many online retailers and be offered benefits such as formatting, cover design, and marketing tools. While authors are still responsible for promoting their work, IngramSpark helps to streamline the process while also monitoring your progress through sales reports, monthly sales figures, and promotional campaign outcomes. 

There are many useful tools in IngramSpark that authors can take advantage of. In global distribution, IngramSpark ranks high, which means you have more online retailers in your corner. In our experience, we have found many indie shops that prefer to work with self-publishers instead of retail giants. This is due to the fact that self-publishers prioritize getting books into readers hands over the book market—a similar mission to indie bookstores. Here, let’s talk about the various tools that you can use to publish your book through IngramSpark!    

On-Demand Services 

Print-on-demand services are also offered through many book aggregators. For IngramSpark, you do have to pay for copies that you distribute based on the versions of your book you would like to publish. Since there are so many ebook services (like Libby, Audible, Kindle, and Scribd), we recommend taking advantage of this sustainable and cost-effective version of publishing. These savings can be passed on to your readers via discounted costs on ebooks, and you reach online retailers just the same as print or hardcover published versions of your book. 

You can also set up your own editorial team by hiring editors from organizations such as Kirkus Reviews and Reedsy. They can help with developmental, copy, and line edits of your manuscript. IngramSpark has a Book Building Tool where they offer pre-designed layouts, interior templates, and chapter openers, as well as tools to create cover and interior files for both print and e-books! For many authors, it’s a struggle to format a book, ensuring margins are correct and the layout does not cut off words or images. By offering specific instructions for document type and size, there is no confusion about how to properly format your book. You end up having more control over the publishing process, which is always a plus as an author.      

Print, Ship, Compensation, and Conversion Calculator    

One of the major parts of being a successful author is being able to calculate how much printing and shipping costs for your book in bulk. On IngramSpark, they ask you to provide the trim size of your book (length by width), country of residence, currency, state, postal code, and quantity. In calculating these costs, IngramSpark gives you a great estimate of what it will cost you to print and ship your book in bulk for future events such as book signings, local bookstore events, or events where many of your readers congregate. In publisher compensation, you also receive an accurate assessment of how much you would be paid on print titles. By selecting a trim size, interior color/paper, binding, cover finish, page count, and list price, you will be able to calculate how much you would be paid! 

There are other features in this calculator to calculate the weight and spine of your book, and a cover template to use for creating your book cover. In e-book conversion, you can convert your print book to an e-book format for $0.60 a page. E-book royalties are very flexible with conversion between formats, and you earn 85% of the net revenue received by IngramSpark with every new sale. There is a section where it talks about bulk printing discounts if you need to access this. 

Print Books Through IngramSpark

There is no initial setup fee for print books, which is a wonderful bonus for putting out physical copies of your book. Print books never go out of stock on IngramSpark, and you get a selection of paper options for your book that range from white, to creme, to groundwood. You also get to choose book binding and interior design options for your print book. Since IngramSpark is a global distributor, your book will get to readers much quicker. While there is still an incurred cost for printing a print book through page count and format (paper or hardback), there is bulk print pricing offered to help you save money. You also print more copies of your book this way!       

Book Distribution Through IngramSpark 

IngramSpark has cultivated global relationships between several different countries—including China, Spain, Brazil, and Italy—to create print channels. In offering collaborations, workshops, and consulting services (which we will talk about in a moment), IngramSpark has been able to expand its reach in transnational book distribution. Thousands of online retailers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Indigo, have been presenting book titles from IngramSpark-published authors for a long time through successful e-commerce channels. In maintaining printing companies across several countries around the world, IngramSpark has eradicated the anxiety that authors face when they are trying to promote their book across publishing and print channels. 

Educating Yourself on IngramSpark

IngramSpark has many services on its website dedicated to educating you about the publishing process—including educational guides and courses. You can also connect with IngramSpark Experts who are guaranteed to steer you in the right direction. In addition,  they’ll connect authors with publishing associations that help with networking, provide industry insights, and keep you informed on self-publishing trends. Another great perk is getting involved with the IngramSpark Community to learn more about the publishing industry with other authors working to publish their manuscripts through IngramSpark. 

It’s always important to do thorough research on your way to publishing your book. With that being said, it’s very useful to get an expansive view of what the publishing industry looks like through the experts and other published IngramSpark authors. Make sure to check out workshops that IngramSpark Experts offer soon-to-be and published IngramSpark authors for the editing process, marketing, and promotions! IngramSpark also has a blog dedicated to providing authors with additional resources, like how to fund a book launch or how the social media platform Reddit is a great tool for connecting with your readers and building their trust. 

An IngramSpark Published Author: Sara Noe 

Sara Noe is definitely an IngramSpark author who built the trust of her readers! Sara is a photographer, artist, and author from Northwest Indiana who published her science-fiction Chronicles of Avilesor series through IngramSpark. She works on providing self-published authors tips and a checklist for pre-publishing, and works with an editor who provides copy, line, and proofreading services. Sara received the Literary Titan Book Award for the first three books in her Chronicles of Avilesor series, and is in the process of publishing her fourth book in this series. Sara has worked on networking with other self-published authors in the publishing industry, while offering pieces of art prints, photography, and her books through her author website. She focuses on collaborative work with organizations whose missions align with hers, such as her collaboration with the Old Soul Artisan, where profits go to support wolf conservation! 

Sara has partnered with Hic Sunt Dracones for some projects. She also maintains different variations of revenue through her business, such as her online store, book signings with booths at events, and her Patreon! For reader engagement, she makes sure to maintain her monthly newsletter along with a blog on writing, entrepreneurship, display aesthetics, and publishing. With Sara’s insights into the publishing world and author resources, you will be set to publish your first title on IngramSpark.          

Publishing Your Book on IngramSpark

The time has come to publish your book on IngramSpark. Be sure to make an account on IngramSpark, and put in your banking information to receive compensation and to make use of their paid services. When you get to the “Home” page, you will see three options for uploading a title: “Print and E-Book, “Print Book Only,” and “E-Book Only.” Refer to the “Print, Ship, Compensation, and Conversion Calculator” section for what it costs to upload both an e-book and print book!   

The “Title” section focuses on uploaded book titles, including the status of your book with the words “Pending Approval” or “Pending Price Changes.” The “Reports” section gives you “Sales by Region,” “Percentage of Sales by Subject,” and “Sales at a Glance.” The “Order” section is where you can place an order for the bulk of your print book with the statuses “Pending,” “Submitted,” “Search,” and “Address Books.” 

The “E-Commerce” section of IngramSpark is new, and allows a set up of shareable purchase links for your books—which makes it easier for readers to purchase them directly! Once ready, you can peruse the “Promote My Book” section for more resources helping you get your newly-published out in the world. With that, you are ready to rumble in the world of self-publishing! 

IngramSpark is an extremely valuable platform for helping authors bring their stories to the global market. With the push for e-commerce, educational tools, and flexible purchasing options for bulk print books, authors are set for success in the self-publishing world. In advocating for “authorpreneurship,” IngramSpark is a powerhouse in putting your book into everyone’s hands.                

If you would like to see more of IngramSpark’s resources for self-published authors, read more here!

If you would like to see more of Sara Noe’s blog for self-published authors and her business, read more here!        

To see some of Wildebeest Publishing’s published authors’ works, click here! 

Kinsey Krachinski is an English graduate student who will be starting at Indiana University South Bend this year! She has extensive publishing experience that ranges from articles to children's books, essays, and poetry. Kinsey's dedication to mental health support initiatives, non-profit organizations, and community outreach allows her to reach several diverse communities. Just like the wolf, her spirit animal, she leads with fierce passion in her journey to support marginalized voices in publishing.