Barnes and Noble Press vs Google Play Books Partner Center

Last updated: July 09, 2023
Barnes & Noble Press and Google Play Books Partner Center are two distinct platforms that cater to different aspects of the publishing world, with notable differences in their distribution networks, target audience, and platform ecosystem.

Barnes & Noble Press is the self-publishing platform associated with Barnes & Noble, a prominent bookstore chain. It offers authors the opportunity to publish and sell their books directly through the Barnes & Noble website and Nook e-reading devices. Barnes & Noble Press provides authors with access to a wide distribution network, including the Barnes & Noble retail stores. It also offers various publishing and promotional tools to assist authors in the publishing process. Barnes & Noble Press primarily targets authors who want to reach readers within the Barnes & Noble ecosystem and tap into the customer base of the bookstore chain.

On the other hand, Google Play Books Partner Center is a platform that enables authors, publishers, and content creators to publish and distribute their books and other written works through the Google Play Books store. It provides a platform for authors to manage their content, set pricing, and control distribution. Google Play Books Partner Center operates on a sales model, where authors earn royalties based on the sales of their books. It offers a wide reach through the Google Play Books store, which is accessible to users across different devices and platforms. Google Play Books Partner Center is focused on commercial publishing and offers authors the opportunity to reach a global audience.

Another key difference lies in the platform ecosystems. Barnes & Noble Press primarily operates within the Barnes & Noble ecosystem, which includes its retail stores and Nook devices. Authors who publish through Barnes & Noble Press have the advantage of reaching readers who are specifically browsing Barnes & Noble's online platform or visiting their physical stores. On the other hand, Google Play Books Partner Center is part of the Google Play ecosystem, which spans across various devices and platforms. Books published through Google Play Books have the potential to reach a broader audience on Android devices, Chromebooks, and through the Google Play Books app.
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Barnes and Noble Press
Welcome to Barnes & Noble Press—a free, fast, and easy-to-use self-publishing service that enables you to publish and sell directly to our millions of readers. We've taken all the great aspects of NOOK Press and created one unified experience to make publishing your print or eBook as seamless as possible. Whether you're a seasoned or first-time author, or you simply want to print a beautiful book for personal use, Barnes & Noble Press helps you create your book, your way. We're here to help independent authors and content creators succeed by using the expertise and resources of Barnes & Noble.
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Google Play Books Partner Center
Publish your books on Google Play and reach billions of readers around the world. Books on Google Play can be discovered and previewed on the world's most popular search engine through Google Books. The Play Books Partner Center makes it easy to upload content, set prices, and choose the countries where you want to sell your books.
Barnes and Noble Press vs Google Play Books Partner Center in our news:

2018. Google reopened Play Books Publisher Program



The Google Publisher Program, which allowed independent authors to sell ebooks on the Google Play bookstore, was temporarily suspended in 2015 due to piracy concerns. Consequently, authors and publishers had to rely on aggregators to distribute their digital content on the platform. However, Google has now relaunched the Play Books publisher program, incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into the ebook submission process. When a title is submitted, it undergoes a comparison against existing books in the Play Bookstore, and if significant similarities are found, the submission is automatically rejected. Digital books also have the option to include an ISBN number, allowing for retrieval of ebook metadata and enabling sales tracking through Nielson. In cases where an ISBN is not available, Google will assign a GGKEY, which can be utilized for Google Books and Google Play.


2018. Barnes and Noble Press added new author tools



Barnes and Noble Press (formerly known as Nook Press) has introduced a range of new tools to enhance their self-publishing platform. Among the updates, authors can now schedule price changes for their eBooks in advance and easily track trends using the new 30-day graph for quick insights. For those aiming to distribute their hardcover or paperback versions across all Barnes and Noble bookstores in the United States, the self-publishing unit of Barnes and Noble Press provides the most viable solution. Additionally, authors have the opportunity to make their digital editions available for purchase in the digital store, ensuring that readers can access the eBook version. To further support authors, Barnes and Noble Press has increased royalties and streamlined the process of creating both print and eBook formats.


2016. Barnes & Noble launched Nook Press Print self-publishing platform



Today, Barnes & Noble made an exciting announcement regarding the introduction of a new self-publishing print platform called Nook Press. This innovative platform empowers authors to transform their ebooks into print editions, enabling them to be sold both in B&N physical stores and online at BN.com. Nook Press offers a self-service program that allows authors to effortlessly create both hardcover and paperback versions of their books. Additionally, authors who have achieved the milestone of selling 1,000 copies of a single ebook within the past year will have the opportunity to showcase and sell their print books on a local, regional, or even national level through Barnes & Noble.


2014. Nook Press adds Print on demand service



Barnes & Noble has entered the Print on Demand (POD) market, taking on competitors such as CreateSpace, Lightning Source, and Blurb, with its newly launched Nook Press print service. This comprehensive platform enables users to embark on a do-it-yourself experience to create their own hardcover or paperback books. The Nook Press print service offers a range of options, including black and white or color printing, a variety of high-quality paper choices, and multiple trim sizes and cover treatments. With pricing starting at $4 per copy for a 5x8 paperback, Nook Press POD supports both color and black and white, as well as hardcover and paperback formats. However, it is worth noting that the service does not currently offer distribution options, unlike competitors such as Lightning Source and CreateSpace, which provide distribution to bookstores.


2014. Nook Press self-publishing platform is now available in Europe



Barnes and Noble, the renowned bookseller known for the Nook e-reader devices and e-reader store, has made an exciting announcement. The Nook Press self-publishing platform, which was previously limited to the United States, is now accessible to authors and publishers in several European countries. These countries include the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Belgium. As part of this expansion, Nook Press now offers support for multiple languages, such as French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Dutch. Authors will also receive their payments in their local currencies, as confirmed by the company. Despite facing declining revenues, the executives at Nook remain committed to developing and growing the business.


2013. Nook rebrands and refreshed its self-publishing platform



Barnes & Noble has rebranded its self-publishing platform, PubIt!, as Nook Press, and has introduced several new features aimed at simplifying and expediting the self-publishing process. With these updates, the company seeks to establish itself as a competitor to Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing and other self-publishing tools available in the market. The key addition is a web-based platform that enables authors to write, format, edit, and preview ebooks directly within the interface. Additionally, a new "quick start" option allows authors to test the product without initially entering all their vendor information. Furthermore, authors can securely and promptly invite their network of friends and editors to read and provide feedback on any Nook Press project. The pricing structure remains the same, allowing ebooks to be priced between $0.99 and $199.99, with royalty rates of up to 65% (compared to Kindle's 70%). It's important to note that currently, the platform is exclusively available to authors based in the United States.