By now, authors who print with KDP have been informed that the book printing costs increase they have been hinting at will take effect on June 20, 2023. Before you panic, there are some things should do and can do to offset this price increase. I wish the industry was set up so that writers could focus on their writing and not have to worry about the business side.
If you haven’t published your book there are some strategies to consider which will help keep the print charges down and your royalties up. These strategies can also help prevent wasting time and money on changes once your book is finished and formatted. Like any project you undertake, proper planning is essential.
Paperback books with 24-108 pages using black ink have a fixed cost of $2.15. Effective June 20th this will increase to $2.30 for regular trim sizes and $2.84 for trim sizes 6.12 x 6 and larger.
Paperback books with 24-40 pages using premium color ink have a fixed cost of $3.65. Effective June 20th this will decrease to $3.60 for regular trim sizes and increase to $4.20 for trim sizes larger than 6.12 x 9 and larger.
Any book that is 6.12 inches by 9 inches or higher will cost more so understanding this can help you decide which trim size is best for you. Be careful not to make decisions on trim size based on cost alone. The size of the book should be appropriate for your genre.
Note: More information on these costs can be found on the KDP website pricing for all types of books.
The total page count including the front and back sections of your book is a component of how the printing costs are calculated. Understanding how the page count affects the price of your book before you start writing can provide some options about the length of your book. Having said this, it’s better to write freely and then make some adjustments through the editing process.
Another way to reduce printer fees and page counts is by reducing the font size and in some cases the line height. There are some things to consider when attempting to use this strategy. If your book is targeting older readers, it’s a nice touch to have the font size and line height in consideration of your reading audience. But overall, you don’t want the pages to seem crowded by having small text on sentences too close to each other. Collaborating with your interior designer will help you make the best decision. To get the process exactly like you want it you might need to order different proof copies to make sure you are addressing this issue.
Using B&W ink instead color ink is another way to keep the costs down. Children’s books need to be in color but might not need premium ink. For other books, there are times when using black and white photos, graphs, and charts instead of color ones won’t affect the quality of the book. Especially if the images are high resolution and converted properly. A few clients on ours create a black and white book to distribute and a color version to print author copies.
If you are deciding between a paperback or hardcover book, paperbacks are by far the less expensive way to print. It’s best to offer your readers different versions of your book, so having a paperback, hardcover, eBook, and in some cases, an audiobook will attract all readers and give them options that suit their needs. Hardcover readers understand that they will pay more for that version and are willing to do so. Printing charges and reseller discounts will affect the retail price of the book, but having choices will appeal to all readers.
If your book is already published, making changes to your existing book gets a little tricky. You can consider making the above adjustments, but if it means having to create a 2nd edition or , you should understand the pros and cons of such action. It might be best to focus on implementing these strategies with your new books.
Authors have seen pricing increase in several areas within the field and this price increase is not surprising. IngramSpark and other print-on-demand companies have all increased printing costs as paper, ink, and cost of living have increased. You can raise the price of your books to make sure you are earning some royalties but be careful not to outprice yourself. You can also focus on selling your eBook and or audiobook. In most cases, the royalties earned for a lower-price eBook will be the same as the paperback.
Rick Lite, the founder of Stress Free Book Marketing, stands at the forefront of the ever-changing book industry. He is a seasoned sales and marketing professional with over 20 years of experience in the book industry. Rick’s experience comes from tirelessly working on new and innovative ways to promote books. Embracing the core values of integrity, innovation, and growth, Rick works closely with authors to create custom, robust book marketing programs. His easygoing manner provides “stress-free” support and comfort to authors going through the self-publishing and marketing process for the first time. Rick is quick to share his knowledge and “insider tips” for a successful campaign that will lead to increased exposure, awareness, and most importantly, sales. You can read more about Rick and his success in the book industry by visiting his website at www.StressFreeBookMarketing.com.