Episode 83: PublishDrive
An eBook aggregator service takes your eBook and submits it to multiple eBook stores, such as Apple, Nook and Kobo. The reason why these services are useful is it means you don’t have to manage several different system dashboards and in some cases it allows you to get into stores where there isn’t even a direct route for self-publishers into that store (for example Google Play).
I must admit that I thought Smashwords and Draft2Digital were the only major eBook aggregator companies, but after joining the International Indie Authors Facebook group I heard about a whole host of new and international companies, primarily PublishDrive and Streetlib. I’ve decided to try and get representatives from these companies on to the show to learn a bit more about them. This week I talk to Kinga Jentetics from PublishDrive.
What is PublishDrive and why should self-publishers consider putting their eBooks on it?
PublishDrive is set up to allow publishers to submit books to a wide range of eBook publishers, including Apple, Kobo, Google Play and for submission to libraries and stores in places like Eastern Europe and China. They allow you to submit to over 400 stores in over a 100 countries. They take 10% of the revenue from the books you sell via their platform.
If I choose to submit my book to PublishDrive can I choose which eBook stores to submit it to, or do I need to do it to all services?
You can select which stores you want to use with PublishDrive, if you want to go direct to some platforms for example.
It is just eBooks you can submit?
Yes, though they are working on adding support for digital audio books. This will be for digital audio books not CDs.
Do I need an ISBN for my eBooks to use PublishDrive?
You don’t need an ISBN number to use PublishDrive, however some stores do require ISBNs (you are shown this on the list of stores within PublishDrive).
What makes you different from Smashwords and Draft2Digital?
Kinga has a lot of respect for the people who run these services. She lists 5 differences between PublishDrive and them:
- The number of stores. They have more stores, and some such as Google Play and some stores in China that aren’t on the other platforms.
- Payment terms. They try to provide the best financial terms in terms of paying royalties quickly based on sales reports and not based on the funds arriving from the stores.
- Real-time sales data. They try to show sales in real-time for some of the stores they connect to.
- The User Interface. Kinga says she has received feedback that the publishers like the User interface and prefer it to the other providers.
- Customer support. Kinga says they have an amazing team on support.
From my understanding Google Play have closed their portal for direct publication, can you still do this with Publishdrive?
Yes is the answer. You could potentially just use PublishDrive to publish on Google Play alone.
There is no issue with using a different aggregator for the same book for different stores?
Kinga confirms there is no issue as long as you don’t try and use different aggregators for the same book in the same store.
How can people find out about you and PublishDrive?
They have a website publishdrive.com, which contains the main interface and information about the platform. You can also e-mail support@publishdrive.com for general questions. They are on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also contact her at kinga@publishdrive.com or on LinkedIn. They also have a YouTube channel.
If you liked this interview then you might also like The World outside Amazon, Ingram Spark with Andy Bromley and EBook Discovery Services with John Doppler
Learn to Self-Publish an eBook
(Note the link to PublishDrive above is my affiliate link)