Are you a writer looking to self-publish your work? Do you need a reliable and secure platform for hosting your eBooks and share it with your readers? You need eBook hosting platform.
Demand for eBooks are on a continuous rise and the number of eBook readers is expected to reach 1,123.2m by 2027 and revenue in the eBooks segment is projected to reach US$14.38bn in 2023 (Source).
If you're also an author or an eBook publisher looking to publish your book online, you'll need a reliable hosting platform.
In this blog post, I'll discuss the best eBook hosting platforms available, so you can make an informed decision about which one is the perfect fit for your needs.
Let's get started.
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What are the Best eBook Hosting Platforms?
1. Kotobee
overview
Kotobee is an all-in-one platform for creating, hosting, and distributing eBooks online. It’s a powerful and easy-to-use platform, designed with authors and publishers in mind.
With Kotobee, you can easily create an eBook from scratch or upload a PDF or EPUB file and customize it to your liking.
If you have created an eBook using Kotobee Author or from any other eBook maker, you can host your eBook on the Kotobee server. It allows you to create subdomain of your choice (mysite.kotobee.com) and publish eBooks.
After you publish your eBook, you’ll be able to create a customized URL and share it with your readers. Anyone with your eBook URL will be able to view your eBook from any device and there is absolutely no need to download the eBook to read it.
When you make any changes to your eBook, most book hosting platform require you to re-upload it again.
The most important feature that I like in Kotobee is that it allows you to edit the hosted eBooks and the changes will automatically be applied without requiring you to upload it again.
To host your eBook with Kotobee, click on the “Export” tab at the top bar, then choose “Host Online” from the left panel and enter a unique subdomain of your choice.
Now, click on upload to host your eBook on Kotobee's server. Once the upload is over, a pop-up box will appear with the button “Publish Now” on it. Click on the button and your eBook will be successfully hosted on Kotobee.
Apart from the eBook hosting feature, if you need more adavanced features like security, restricting access to certain users or the ability to sell eBooks, you'll need Kotobee Cloud.
kotobee cloud
Kotobee Cloud offers the following advanced features:
- You can restrict access to your eBooks so that non-registered users are not able to read your eBooks. Your users can register themeselves at Kotobe Cloud and login with their email id and password to read your eBooks. By using this feature, you'll also be able to build your email list.
- It also offer DRM protection which means that you can limit the number of devices for each user so they won’t be able to share your eBook with others. Plus, Kotobee Cloud also allows you to disable exporting your eBook into PDF or the option to print or copy its content to the clipboard.
- You can also sell your eBooks using this hosting platform. You can collect payment from your users using popular payment gateway PayPal or Stripe. Once the payment process is successfully completed, buyers will be able to access your eBook immediately. It also offers a WordPress plugin or Developer API that allows you to sell eBook access from your own website.
Kotobee is one of the best software to create interactive eBooks. You can get 10% discount on your purchase if you sign up using the special link given below. At checkout, use the code - TECHNICALWALL10.
2. Kitaboo
Kitaboo is another popular eBook hosting platform that also allows users to create, host and distribute eBook to their audience.
Thus, using Kitaboo, you can easily upload and store your digital content, manage its distribution, and monitor its performance.
Plus, it also offer security features such as DRM protection, DRM-protected eReader and more.
Kitaboo provides a wide range of distribution channels for digital publishers, including Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. This ensures that your content reaches the widest possible audience.
3. Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
You can consider self-publishing you eBooks with Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). With KDP, you have full control of your rights, prices and make changes anytime, and finally earn royalty on each sales.
KDP is Amazon's publishing platform for independent authors to access a global readership. With KDP, authors can get their work to market quickly and reach wider audiences around the gloeb.
It also offers a variety of tools and resources to help authors create, promote, and sell their books. Authors can convert and publish their files in various formats, and may even benefit from Amazon's marketing services.
You can earn up to 70% royalty on sales to customers in these countries - US, Canada, UK, Germany, India, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Australia and more. I would advise you to enroll in KDP Select and start earning more money through Kindle Unlimited and the Kindle Owners' Lending Library.
With its accessibility and user-friendly features, KDP remains one of the most popular eBook hosting platforms available today.
4. Barnes & Noble Press
Barnes & Noble Press is an ebook hosting platform that enables authors to publish and distribute their books in both digital and print formats. The platform offers a variety of tools to design, advertise and self-publish eBooks or print books.
Authors can also benefit from the 70% flat rate royalty on all books sold and an efficient distribution system that reaches people in over 180 countries.
Barnes & Noble Press allows authors to easily manage their titles and keep track of their sales and royalties. Additionally, authors can enjoy access to the expansive Barnes & Noble network which provides great marketing opportunities for their books.
5. Sellfy
Sellfy is an excellent platform for creators and bloggers to sell their digital products such as eBooks online. It provides simple and easy solutions to upload and sell eBooks, digital art, videos, audio, music, courses, and branding kits with ease.
Sellfy has been used by more than 300,000 writers since 2011 and offers tools to help build an online store quickly and efficiently.
The platform also allows users to make their digital products available on various platforms such as Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, Google Play Books and more.
Sellfy is a great choice for creators who are looking for an easy way to make money selling their digital products.
Why You Need an eBook Hosting Platform?
As an author/publisher, you have a lot to consider when it comes to getting your work out there.
You have to decide on the best platform to use, decide which steps to take to get it published, and you have to make sure that your work is presented in the best possible way.
And for authors who write digital books, one of the best ways to do that is through eBook hosting platforms.
An eBook hosting platform is an online service that allows you to store and distribute your eBook files. It provides a secure, easy-to-use space where readers can access and purchase your book, and you can manage it all from a single dashboard.
You can upload your book, set pricing, and even manage distribution to the various eBook stores, such as Apple Books or Amazon Kindle.
But why do authors or publishers need an eBook hosting platform? Here are some reasons why:
- Secure Storage: An eBook hosting platform is a secure way to store your work. Your eBooks are stored in the cloud, meaning they’re backed up and protected against loss or theft. And since you own the platform, the eBooks are yours and not shared with anyone else.
- Easy Distribution: One of the most difficult parts of getting your eBook out there is the distribution process. You need to make sure that it’s available in all of the major eBook stores, and you need to make sure it’s easy to find by readers. An eBook hosting platform simplifies this process by allowing you to upload your book to the platform and then distribute it to all the major stores with just a few clicks.
- Secure Payment Processing: When it comes to selling your books, you want to make sure your readers’ payments are secure and that the payment process is streamlined. With the help of an eBook hosting platform like Kotobee, you can provide secure payment processing (PayPal, Stripe and others), allowing your readers to purchase your books without any worries.
- Increased Visibility: An eBook hosting platform can also help to increase the visibility of your work. By hosting your eBooks on the platform, you’ll be able to tap into a larger audience and make sure your work is seen by more readers.
- Cost-Effective: An eBook hosting platform is a cost-effective solution for authors. It allows you to easily manage, store, and distribute your work without the need for costly infrastructure or investments. You don't need to host eBooks on your own website thereby incurring charges on hosting, domain, etc.
- Manage Your Royalty Payments: As an author, you want to make sure you get paid for your work. With the help of an eBook hosting platform, you can manage and track your royalty payments, making sure you get paid on time and according to the terms of your agreement with the retailer.
- Advanced Analytics: Having access to analytics is a must for authors who want to track how their book is doing. An eBook hosting platform provides you with detailed stats, such as how many times your book has been downloaded and the number of reviews it has received. This can be incredibly helpful for understanding where your book is performing well, and where you need to make changes.
Overall, an eBook hosting platform is an incredibly valuable tool for authors. It makes the process of getting your book out there easier, helps your book look more professional, and provides you with valuable analytics.
So if you’re an author looking to get your work out there, make sure to consider an eBook hosting platform.
How to Choose the Best eBook Hosting Platform?
Here are some factors that you may want consider before opting for a book hosting platform.
- Cost: When selecting an eBook hosting platform, the cost is likely to be one of the most important factors. If you’re on a tight budget, you may want to opt for a free option or opt for a plan that offers enough features to support your needs without going over budget.
- eBook Update: The eBook hosting platform should be able to allow you to make updates to your eBook and apply the changes to your eBook automatically without requiring you to re-upload the book. Though this feature is not mandatory but it makes the process of updating eBooks much easier and faster.
- Compatibility: Many eBook hosting platforms are compatible with various types of devices, operating systems and also eBook formats. You’ll want to ensure that your chosen platform is compatible with the hardware and software that you plan to use.
- Ease of Use: You’ll want to select a platform with an intuitive user interface and features that are easy to understand and use. This will help ensure that you can get your eBook up and running quickly and without any hassle.
- Analytics: eBook hosting platform should offer detailed analytics, such as page views, downloads, and sales to monitor the performance of your eBooks. Detailed analytics will help you track the success of your eBook and make adjustments as needed.
Which eBook Hosting Platform I Recommend?
I recommend you to try Kotobee because it allows you to create interactive eBooks and offers lots of useful features that keep your eBooks secure and also allows you to distribute it to multiple platforms.
It makes it easy to host, create, distribute and market your eBooks. It has a range of features that enable you to create attractive and interactive eBooks, customize their look and feel, and track the analytics of your readers.
It is an ideal place to host your eBooks because it offers an all-in-one solution. You can upload your eBooks in any format, and quickly turn them into interactive content. You can also add interactive elements such as audio, video, and quizzes to make your eBooks more engaging.
Kotobee also provides a range of features to help you market your eBooks, including the ability to post them directly to social media and embed them into websites.
You can prevent your eBook from unauthorised access. Using Kotobee Cloud, you can only allows users who have registered themselves to get access to your eBooks.
It also has a powerful analytics system which allows you to track the performance of your eBooks and understand how your readers are engaging with your content.
Wrapping Up
Thus, when it comes it eBook hosting, you have these options - your own website, publishing platforms or third-party hosting sites.
If you’re just starting out and want a free platform, many authors choose to host their eBooks on their own websites. And if you don't have your own website, you can choose to host eBooks on publishing platforms or the third-party hosting sites.
Ultimately, the best place to host your eBook will depend on your individual needs, whether that’s a platform with easy uploads and great promotion tools or a platform that allows for more customization.
Which eBook hosting platform you like the most and why? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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