Google has finally announced officially its Google Books for the Android Marketplace. This comes 2 months after its venture started into eBooks, and the Google eBookstore.  With over three million titles available, Google is now set to be able to rival bookstore giant Amazon and to take on Apple and the iPhone.

To make its new venture even more appealing to everyone, Google ebooks and Google eBookstores will operate with all eBook formats.

All this makes the Google eBookstore another great market for self-publishers to distribute and sell their ebooks through.

How will a self publisher be able to jump on publishing with Google eBooks while it is hot?  First, you will need to create an account with Google (if you don’t already have one) and sign up with Google Books.  Once you have done this, and agreed to terms to allow your books to be listed, you will be allowed to join eBookstore and become a Google Books Partner.

You are able to physically mail your books to Google for scanning or upload them in PDF format.  This is done through the Google Books Partner Program.  *There are different Terms of Service for Google Books and Google eBookstore.   Once you submit your books to Google’s eBookstore, it will be linked back to your Google eBook listing.  You are able to control how much of your book is being shared, and you can change the amount.  20% is the average amount, but you can adjust that to be higher, or lower.

One negative aspect to this seemingly simple process is that, as stated above, you need to submit your book in PDF format and each book must have an ISBN number (specifics are at http://books.google.com/support/partner/bin/answer.py?hl=en_US&answer=20028)

Of course you can send Google a hard copy of your book and they will enter it manually, but that would be a timely process.  You can read more about submiting a copy of your book for scanning and processing here: http://books.google.com/support/partner/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=106169

So, should you bother when Amazon and Apple offer a larger market? Well, they also have more competition between authors. So, even though you’re listing in a smaller market, your exposure might be higher.  I would recommend list your ebook in all the major ebook store and seeing which one works best for you.

Comments (7)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Chris Buckley said:

	Is Google eBooks a Platform for Digital Only Self-Publishing? The use of Amazon as a digital-only self-publishing channel got a lot of attention this week. http://www.businessinsider.com/amanda-hocking-2011-2 I notice the approach you describe with Google Books presumes a printed copy with an ISBN number. Can it also support digital only self-publication?
	report abuse vote down vote up

March 01, 2011 | url
Votes: +1

Paul said:

	... Chris, we did mention above that the books can be uploaded to Google in PDF format ... hope that helps!
	report abuse vote down vote up

March 02, 2011
Votes: +0

Madelynn said:

	Poet/Writer Thank you for posting this, and thank you for your great new website. Madelynn
	report abuse vote down vote up

March 09, 2011 | url
Votes: +0

Jay Swanson said:

	Discovery time Being out of the country meant I had no idea Google had finally opened this up. It sounds like a potentially great option for self-publishing, but I guess I'm most worried about losing control of my book with them. I love Google, just a bit worried about how they'll end up using it I guess.
	report abuse vote down vote up

March 17, 2011 | url
Votes: +1

Paul said:

	... Good point Jay, I think indie authors need to be careful. Not only with big G, but will all the big distribution services like Apple and Amazon too.
	report abuse vote down vote up

March 17, 2011
Votes: +0

Petrind from eBook Maps said:

	I prefer more universal services I prefer more universal services like Scribd.com - your books are uploaded once to this service and they will distribute it to others as well - like to Amazon, Google (here I am not sure) etc.
	report abuse vote down vote up

August 24, 2011 | url
Votes: -2

Ian said:

	Shame the Usability is So Bad! Just saying what everyone else is thinking. Try uploading your ePub version. Unreal. Great Article Guys.
	report abuse vote down vote up

October 16, 2011
Votes: +0

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (registered users only)

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment