After checking out a link to a new publication service from Amazon.com, I was quite impressed by the product publication formats and the relative simplicity of the website: CreateSpace.com
They offer Books (paperback only), DVDs, Audio CDs, Audiobooks, Video Download service (tricky), and HD DVDs (with Blu-ray coming soon). Distribution is offered through CreateSpace and Amazon.com, with a variable POS (point-of-sale) percentage to each: CreateSpace with 20% for books, 15% for other media; Amazon with 30% for books, 45% for other media. Additional services include artwork design, digitization of existing media to DVD and HD DVD, and volume disc replication services through a partner PacificDisc.
The greatest advantage of using this service is the Amazon sales channel for fulfillment; greater cost advantages for publication across media formats could be found from national or international firms though. For those really interested in hardcover and e-book options, Lulu.com is the popular alternative for now.
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Publication has become easier over the last years; this will allow more Long Tail content creators to publish and distribute their wares online and get paid fairly well for it too.
What sayest you about this trend and the prospects for Amazon?
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CreateSpace’s basic idea was good. The problem is that their people have difficulties dealing with controversial subjects, like critical political literature, in which case they delay the publication, for example by sending a message that the proof is ready, but disallowing ordering the proof by not activating the shopping cart icon, and not responding to customer service requests - which so far has cost me $20,000 production costs for a ommercial alone, as in http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd596ZSmX9c
Meanwhile I have been dealing with CreateSpace for several years and I have to say that their performance has dramatically increased. I can highly recommend CreateSpace and their business model, which does not require major cash investments on behalf of the author, both book and DVD.