One of the big challenges facing self-publishers today is how to evaluate the many ways to publish their books outside of traditional publishing. New technologies have created new businesses which has led to new terminology making comparison shopping confusing and difficult.

There are no standard definitions for terms like hybrid publisher, author-assisted publishing, agent-assisted publishing, and author imprints.

While each of these are contemporary terms for authors paying all or some of the costs, no terms are loaded with more baggage than subsidy publishing, or the more derisive equivalent, vanity publishing.

Much maligned for their expensive services, and many would say predatory sales practices, vanity publishing nevertheless boils down to three primary deliverables:

1. A suite of publishing services, such as editing and book design.
2. An ISBN—and this is important—which identifies the vanity publisher as the publisher of record.
3. Book printing, distribution to online retailers, inclusion in the Ingram catalog.

Examples of these companies include Lulu, Outskirts and AuthorSolutions. AuthorSolutions also publishes books under the imprints Xlibris, AuthorHouse, iUniverse, Trafford, WestBow Press, Balboa Press, and Abbott Press.

When CreateSpace is vanity publishing

Where does CreateSpace fit within the self-publishing universe?

Indeed, there is a fine line between what they offer and the 3 criteria mentioned above. Consider the services CreateSpace offers:

1. A suite of fee-based publishing services, including editing, book design, and cover design.
2. An ISBN listing them as the publisher (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform).
3. Book printing, distribution to online retailers, and inclusion in the Ingram catalog.

How many people opt for CreateSpace vanity publishing? Amazon is famous for its tight lips when it comes to information like this, but we have information from Bowker about how many books receive the CreateSpace ISBN vs. ISBNs used by other vanity publishing companies.

Looking at the pie chart below, you see that the most recent data shows CreateSpace is the publisher of record on nearly 2/3 of all ISBNs sold by Bowker.

NOTE: This isn’t to say that CreateSpace also provided editing and design services. You’d have to ask the author about that. We only know that CreateSpace provides numbers 2 and 3 from the above list.

These books are easy to spot on Amazon by looking at the product details page for paperbacks. You’ll see the publisher listed like this (an excellent book, btw):

When CreateSpace is not vanity publishing

What separates CreateSpace from its less respected relatives in the self-publishing space is their willingness to unbundle their services. You can use them solely as a printer and distributor. Specifically:

1. Editing and Design: You are you not required to use CreateSpace editing and design services. In fact, taking it a set farther, they provide free tools and resources to help you or your author services provider. You can provide your own book cover and interior book design. You can even download free Word templates, and use their free cover design tool.
2. ISBN: You don’t have to use their free ISBN. Instead, you can buy one at a discounted rate ($99 vs. $125 from MyIdentifiers), or provide your own if you already own one. (You always want to own your ISBN.)
3. Printing/Distributing/Ingram: Book printing is at cost, cost being less than you would pay to print a book with a vanity publisher. You get distribution to the various Amazon stores, and other online stores, as well as a listing in the Ingram catalog.

Be clear about what you need, and don’t need

Using CreateSpace is no different than using any of the other self-publishing options available to any author, you just need to be clear about what services you need, your branding objectives, and your business strategy.

I find it helpful to think of CreateSpace in 3 distinct ways.

1. A printer.
2. A distributor.
3. A publisher.

Print and Distribute: Authors looking for the highest quality, widest distribution, and control over their brand and files, use CreateSpace to print and distribute their books (or just printing). Many traditional publishers do the same. They hire their own designers, and use their own ISBN. This way you are protected and retain control over your book.

Do It Yourself: For authors on a budget or who have time to learn, do-it-yourself is an option.

Vanity Press Publisher Services: Authors comfortable with vanity publishing hire CreateSpace to do everything. Just keep in mind that you are locked into CreateSpace, and Amazon going forward.

But consider this. For about the same investment you would make in CreateSpace vanity press services, you can go the “print and distribute” route and retain complete control over your book and publishing ventures.

Isn’t that what modern self-publishing is all about?

Questions about what’s right for you and your book, or how to establish your own author imprint? Check out my consulting options.

¹ The book publishing process is managed by the author, or an author’s representative such as AuthorImprints.com.

² There is no industry standard definition for a “hybrid publisher” or “hybrid publishing“, nor is there a standard set of business terms common to all those that call themselves a hybrid publisher, but these companies refer to themselves as such: Evolved Publishing, Ink Shares, She Writes Press. A hybrid publisher is also not the same as a hybrid author.

³ Examples of subsidy, sometimes called vanity, publishers include Lulu, Outskirts and AuthorSolutions. AuthorSolutions also publishes books under these imprints: Xlibris, AuthorHouse, iUniverse, Trafford, WestBow Press, Balboa Press, and Abbott Press. If you contact a traditional publisher, and they refer you to a publisher where you will pay to be published, this is probably a subsidy press.

CreateSpace is a printer, distributor and publisher. Like a subsidy publisher, they can provide design services and a free ISBN. However, you do not have to use their services. You can provide your own ISBN, and use another company to help you manage the publishing process and establish your imprint, or do it yourself. IngramSpark is a printer and distributor. They do not provide a free ISBN nor do they provide design services.

Peacock photo by Andre Mouton on Unsplash