Barnes and Noble Press vs Lulu

Last updated: March 03, 2024
Barnes & Noble Press and Lulu are both self-publishing platforms that provide authors with the tools and resources to publish and distribute their books, but they have notable differences in their distribution networks, target audience, and pricing models.

Barnes & Noble Press, formerly known as Nook 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.

Lulu, on the other hand, is a self-publishing platform that offers a range of services for authors looking to publish and distribute their works in various formats, including print books and e-books. Lulu provides authors with tools for formatting, cover design, printing, and distribution. It offers authors the flexibility to choose their distribution channels, including online retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and more. Lulu operates on a pay-as-you-go model, allowing authors to retain full control of their work and earn royalties from sales. It caters to authors who are seeking a self-publishing solution and want to have more control over the publishing process.

Another key difference lies in their pricing models and royalty structures. Barnes & Noble Press offers authors the opportunity to set their own pricing for their books and provides a royalty structure based on the list price of the book. The royalty rates vary depending on factors such as the list price, sales channel, and pricing promotions. Lulu, on the other hand, operates on a revenue-sharing model, where authors receive a royalty based on the revenue generated from the sale of their books. Lulu offers different royalty rates for various sales channels and provides authors with transparent reporting to track their book sales and earnings.
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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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Lulu
Lulu pioneered the self-publishing industry and paved the way for people around the world to publish books and bring them to market, while allowing authors to retain full control of their work. Operating a global network, Lulu provides worldwide distribution so that authors can reach readers just about anywhere via print, e-readers and tablet devices. As the leading independent self-publishing company, Lulu has enabled people in more than 225 countries and territories to self-publish nearly two million publications, including 1.5 million books.
Barnes and Noble Press vs Lulu in our news:

2024. Self-publishing platform Lulu integrates with website builder Wix


Directly selling books to your audience is paramount for audience growth and revenue increase, as it empowers you to oversee the purchasing process. With traditional retail channels becoming less dependable, Lulu Direct provides a solution, facilitating the connection between your personal ecommerce platform and Lulu's global print-on-demand network. Now, with expanded integration with Wix, you can seamlessly link your Wix site to Lulu Direct, streamlining direct book sales and providing sales tracking and management through Lulu Direct's dashboard. Although Wix may not offer as many ecommerce plugins as Shopify or the customization of WordPress, its user-friendly interface makes it the simplest platform for site creation and maintenance.


2022. Lulu unveiles Cover Designer



Lulu, a self-publishing platform, has introduced a new tool for designing book covers. While experienced designers and those familiar with design software may prefer a book cover template, Lulu's cover designer offers a simpler alternative for those creating books as gifts, limited editions, or for beta readers. This tool streamlines the design process by automatically calculating the spine width and position. It is compatible with all of Lulu's trim sizes but specifically designed for paperback books, allowing users to design their book covers while publishing on Lulu. The cover maker provides several design options, including templates, image uploads, text boxes with customization options, customizable shapes, and the ability to incorporate an ISBN barcode by entering the relevant information.


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.