Here’s the official news from Barnes & Noble on PubIt, a platform that offers independent publishers and authors a way to digitally distribute their works through BN.com and the Barnes & Noble eBookstore:
Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the world’s largest bookseller, today launched PubIt! by Barnes & Noble (www.PubIt.com), an easy-to-use platform that offers independent publishers and authors a lucrative way to digitally distribute their works through BN.com and the Barnes & Noble eBookstore. With clear and competitive terms – and no hidden fees – this self-service Web portal provides qualified content owners a simple and profitable way to bring their works to millions of new readers.
With PubIt!’s launch, Barnes & Noble is adding tens of thousands of titles from thousands of independent publishers and self-publishing writers who pre-registered for the new service since it was announced. PubIt! titles are incorporated into Barnes & Noble’s expansive eBookstore, one of the world’s largest digital content catalogs, offering more than a million digital books, periodicals and more. Newly submitted PubIt! content will be available for sale within 24 to 72 hours after upload.
“We’re delighted at the enthusiastic response we’ve received from thousands of independent writers and publishers who are eager to introduce their exciting works to a broader audience of readers,” said Theresa Horner, director, digital products, Barnes & Noble. “The launch of our PubIt! platform further reinforces our long-standing commitment to authors and writers, and offers a significant opportunity to provide an even greater selection of reading material to our millions of customers.”
Added Horner, “Thanks to the overwhelming success of our award-winning NOOK™ devices and software, Barnes & Noble customers represent the largest fastest growing base of digital content consumers in the world.”
Among the features and benefits of PubIt!, independent publishers and self-publishing authors will enjoy a simple and competitive compensation model, with no hidden terms or fees. PubIt! uses a Web-based platform for publishers to independently set up their accounts, upload their eBooks, set the list price and track their sales and payments. Publishers can price their titles between $0.99 and $199.99 and receive a competitive royalty based on the given price. For PubIt! eBooks priced at or between $2.99 and $9.99, publishers receive 65 percent of the list price for sold content. For those priced at $2.98 or less, or $10.00 or more, publishers receive 40 percent of the list price. PubIt! publishers can be confident they will be compensated from the list price they set with no additional charges, regardless of file size.
Publishers’ intellectual property will also be well-protected with Barnes & Noble’s leading digital rights management technology and offered in ePub format, the industry standard that allows content to be enjoyed by customers on hundreds of the most popular mobile, computing and eBook reading devices. Publishers with U.S. rights to their content can easily upload their ePub files or their Microsoft Word, TXT, HTML or RTF files which the PubIt! platform will convert to ePub at no cost. Publishers can also see how the content will look on one of Barnes & Noble’s eReading devices using the NOOK emulator.
In addition to the company’s competitive compensation model, independent authors and publishers will gain greater visibility for their works through a range of programs and promotions that only Barnes & Noble can offer. Publishing an eBook through PubIt! will make the content available via Barnes & Noble’s innovative Read In Store™ program which gives Barnes & Noble bookstore customers the ability to browse the complete contents of eBooks at no cost. Barnes & Noble is also the only company to offer customers the ability to share eBooks with friends through its breakthrough LendMe™ technology. All eBooks offered via PubIt! will be lendable, giving the customer the opportunity to share the book once with any friend for up to 14 days.
Works offered through PubIt! will be merchandized through special promotions on Barnes & Noble’s eBookstore, including a PubIt! bestseller list, and select content will be featured in e-mails, newsletters and throughout BN.com. Barnes & Noble also offers e-mail support and a robust online community for those interested in PubIt!. More information on PubIt! can be found at www.PubIt.com.
PubIt! titles can be enjoyed across the company’s entire family of NOOK products and software, including NOOK eBook Readers, third-party eBook Readers powered by the Barnes & Noble eBookstore, and NOOK software-enabled iPad™, iPhone®, iPod touch®, Android™ smartphones, and Windows-based PCs, laptops or netbooks. For more information on free NOOK software, please visit www.bn.com/NOOKapps.