- Barnes & Noble .

PubIt! Support and Resources Page

Please take a look through the comprehensive information below; chances are your question has already been answered! And if not, see our More Support section below.
Service Policies
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  1. Pricing and Payment Terms
    Barnes & Noble may update or alter the Pricing and Payment Terms at any time and changes will be effective and binding on you on the date thirty days from posting, as described in the PubIt! Terms & Conditions.

    Publisher will set a List Price for each NOOK Book between $0.99 and $199.99. An equivalent price in GBP (£) will be auto-calculated according to that day's exchange rate for NOOK.co.uk sales. Publisher has the option to manually input the price in GBP.

    Publisher will be paid a royalty off the List Price in USD according to the following terms:
    1. For eBookNOOK Books with a List Price at or between $2.99/£1.50 and $9.99/£7.99
      • 65% of the List Price
    2. 2. For NOOK Books with a List Price at or below $2.98 /£1.49, or at or greater than $10.00/£8.00 (but not more than $199.99/£120.00 and not less than $0.99/£0.75)
      • 40% of the List Price
    Publisher will, at all times, ensure that the NOOK Book List Price:
    1. Is no greater than the eBook's List Price at any other retailer, website, or sales channel.
    2. Is no greater than the eBook's print edition (if applicable).
    3. Complies with the minimum and maximum pricing policy as stated above.
    Sample royalty calculation:
    1. List Price: $9.99 - Publisher Royalty: $6.49
    2. List Price: $20.00 - Publisher Royalty: $8.00
    3. List Price: £6.99 - Publisher Royalty: £4.54
    4. List Price: £10.00 - Publisher Royalty: £4.00
  2. Content Policy
    Publishers using PubIt! are responsible for complying with the Content Policy. Barnes & Noble may update or alter the Content Policy at any time. You are responsible for checking for updates and your continued use of the service after we post amendments will constitute your acceptance of the changes, as described in the PubIt! Terms & Conditions.

    Barnes & Noble reserves the right to determine, in the exercise of our sole discretion, whether or not your content (including, but not limited to your eBook file, cover image, and product data) is compliant with the Content Policy. This includes but is not limited to content we deem illegal, libelous, infringing, offensive, harmful or potentially harmful, threatening, harassing, legally obscene, defamatory, or intentionally hateful in any regard.

    We also reserve the right to remove from sale your eBook or other content at any time, if we determine, in our sole discretion, that the content in your eBook is not appropriate for sale through Barnes & Noble.

    You are responsible for knowing and following all local, national, or international laws regarding publishing content that are relevant to you or your business.

    Please be advised that submitting or posting any of the following content in your eBook file, cover image, or product data may, in the exercise of Barnes & Noble's sole and unfettered discretion, result in the removal of said content and/or termination of your account. Please be advised that the content listed represent examples only and the following list of content is non-exhaustive. Such content includes but is not limited to:

    • Obscene or Pornographic material: This may include content that graphically portrays sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.
    • Libelous Material: False defamatory statements that intentionally harm or have the potential to harm an individual or a third party.
    • Infringing Material: Any content to which you do not own the copyright or otherwise control the right to distribute. Additionally, content that may violate any other intellectual property rights, such as trademark and trade dress, and/or content that may infringe upon a party's proprietary rights, such as the right of privacy or the right of publicity.
    • Illegal Content or Other Offensive Material: As we may determine in our sole discretion, content that is illegal, content that violates the laws of any jurisdiction, whether or not we sell in such jurisdiction, or other content we deem offensive in the exercise of our sole discretion including but not limited to works portraying or encouraging incest or pedophilia or content that encourages hate or violence.
    • Material Violating Privacy: Any content that violates an individual's privacy.
    • Advertisements: Content contained within your eBook or other content that primarily seeks to sell a product other than the eBook or content itself.


    Product Data

    As stated above, the information that describes your eBook (Product Data) is also subject to our Content Policy. Please note that in addition to the points listed above, Barnes & Noble prohibits the following data points in your Product Data:
    • Hyperlinks of any kind, including email addresses.
    • Request for action (i.e.: "If you like this book, please write me a review.").
    • Advertisements or promotional material (including author events, seminars, etc.).
    • Contact information for the author or publisher.


    Public Domain Content: Barnes & Noble may, at any time, request validation that any content you designate as public domain content in fact is in the public domain for any jurisdiction in which such content will be sold.

    As stated above, Barnes & Noble reserves the right to make changes to the Content Policy at any time without notice or liability. These terms were last revised on February 13, 2012.

  3. Barnes & Noble Programs: Read In Store™, LendMe™, Samples, eGifting
    As discussed in the Terms & Conditions, NOOK Books put on sale via PubIt! will be included in Barnes & Noble's innovative NOOK Book Programs, such as Read in Store, LendMe, Samples, and eGifting.

    Read In Store:

    Read In Store allows customers in Barnes & Noble bookstores to browse the complete contents of eBooks available in our NOOK Bookstore at no cost for up to one hour on any given day and browse through as many eBooks that have the Read In Store option as they wish. This innovative program will provide further exposure for your eBooks, offering customers the chance to sample the entire contents of the book for up to an hour.

    Sharing eBooks with LendMe Technology:

    Only Barnes & Noble offers customers the ability to share eBooks with friends through its breakthrough LendMe? technology. Customers can share LendMe-eligible eBooks once, for up to 14 days. Customers can send a lend offer and a personal message about the eBook they are offering to any friend's email address. The lend offer is available for 7 days and can be accepted or declined on a NOOK or online.

    The recipient can easily download the book to their NOOK eBook Reader or on a computing or mobile device enabled with free NOOK eReading software. While the eBook is with the recipient, the customer who shared the title will not have access to it. All eBooks offered via PubIt! will be eligible for sharing through the LendMe program and noted with the LendMe icon.

    Samples:

    Barnes & Noble customers have the option to try before they buy. For all PubIt! eBooks, interested customers will be able to download up to 5% of the eBook to their NOOK or to their computing or mobile device enabled with free NOOK eReading software. From the sample, it is easy for customers to buy the full eBook and download it in seconds.

    eGifting:

    Giving a digital gift is quick and easy - we call it eGifting! NOOK Books and NOOK Apps can be eGifted to anyone with a valid email address (currently not available on NOOK.co.uk). You do not need a NOOK to purchase a digital gift, and your eGift recipient does not need one to receive your eGift either. For more around the eGifting experience as it pertains to the customer, visit our eGifting FAQ's. Reference the eGifting section below for more information as it applies to publisher royalties and reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions
PubIt! Program Basics
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  1. What is PubIt!?
    PubIt! by Barnes & Noble is an online, self-service Web portal where independent publishers and authors can upload their eBooks and make them available for sale through the Barnes & Noble eBookstores. This easy-to-use distribution platform offers qualified users the expanded distribution, visibility, and protection that only Barnes & Noble can offer. eBooks, essays, articles, poems, and short stories sold through the Barnes & Noble eBookstores are available for sale on BN.com, NOOK.co.uk, NOOK eBook Readers, and our free NOOK eReading software for iPad, iPhone/iPod touch, Mac, Android, PC, etc.
  2. How does PubIt! work?
    PubIt! by Barnes & Noble gives you everything you need to sell your NOOK Books, essays, articles, poems, and short stories through the B&N NOOK Bookstore in one place. It walks you through creating an account, uploading your eBook file, cover image, and product data, and tracking your sales and payments.
  3. How much does PubIt! cost?
    There is no charge for using PubIt!. When your NOOK Books sell, Barnes & Noble will retain a percentage of the List Price, as explained in our Pricing and Payment Terms.
  4. Who can use PubIt!?
    PubIt! is currently for U.S. publishers. PubIt! requires a U.S. Bank Account, U.S. Credit Card, and a U.S. Tax ID, that are ALL tied to a U.S. address. The content will be offered for sale in the U.S and in the UK (unless otherwise specified).
  5. Can publishers based outside the U.S. use PubIt!?
    No - PubIt! is currently only available for publishers with a U.S. Bank Account, U.S. Credit Card, and a U.S. Tax ID, that are ALL tied to a U.S. address.
  6. If I sign up and publish my eBooks with PubIt!, can I sell them anywhere else?
    Yes. PubIt! is NOT an exclusive agreement, as outlined in our Terms & Conditions.
  7. What is an eBook?
    eBook is short for "electronic book" - a book or any text (like a short story, essay, poetry collection, etc.) that is digitized and made available for viewing via laptop or desktop computer, a handheld computer, a smartphone or a dedicated eRreading device, like NOOK.
  8. What is a NOOK Book?
    A NOOK Book is simply Barnes & Noble's name for an eBook that is live for sale on BN.com, NOOK.co.uk, and NOOK devices.
  9. What is NOOK?
    NOOK is Barnes & Noble's line of eReading products that includes a dedicated eBook Reader as well as free eReading software applications that work on many different computing and mobile devices including iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Android smartphones, and PCs.
  10. Do I need special software to use PubIt!?
    No. PubIt! is a self-contained Web portal that works with your Internet browser. PubIt! is optimized to work in Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 8, and 9, Mozilla Firefox 3.6 and later, Google Chrome 8 and later, and Apple Safari 5.
  11. Where do I start?
    The first step is to go to www.PubIt.com and follow the instructions for creating an account. If you have an existing account at BN.com you can (but are not required to) use that login and password information. Once you have created an account you can begin uploading your eBook.
  12. Where are PubIt! NOOK Books sold?
    PubIt! NOOK Books are available for sale on BN.com, NOOK.co.uk, NOOK Book Reading devices and NOOK software for iPad, iPhone, Mac, Android, and PC.
  13. Can my friends buy my PubIt! books?
    Once your eBooks are on sale through Barnes & Noble, your friends and customers can purchase them anywhere that Barnes & Noble NOOK Books are available for sale, including at our eBookstores at BN.com/ebooks and NOOK.co.uk, and through NOOK-branded devices and NOOK software.
  14. Can I read PubIt! NOOK Bbooks on my NOOK?
    Absolutely! PubIt! NOOK Books can be read on NOOK and our free NOOK applications for iPad, iPhone, Mac, Android, and PC.
  15. Can customers download my PubIt! NOOK Books on their Computers?
    Yes. After purchasing, customers can download and read your NOOK Book on a NOOK eBook reader or on a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, or Android smartphone enabled with our free NOOK eReading software.
  16. Do I need any special skills to use PubIt!?
    No, you don't need any special skills to use PubIt! The platform does most of the work for you.
  17. Can I sell my physical book through PubIt!? Will my PubIt! NOOK Books be sold in physical Barnes & Noble Stores?
    PubIt! is exclusively for selling digital content. You must have a digital file to sell your content through PubIt!. To learn about selling print books through Barnes & Noble.com and in our stores, visit our Publisher and Author Guidelines on BN.com.
  18. What are PubIt!'s Terms & Conditions? How will I know if they change?
    The latest version of PubIt!'s Terms & Conditions are available here. You are responsible for checking for updates and your continued use of the service after we post amendments will constitute your acceptance of the changes.
  19. How much will I get paid for sales of my NOOK Books through PubIt!?
    See our Pricing and Payment Terms for information on royalties.
  20. Where can I go to connect with other PubIt! users?
    Connect with other PubIt! users on our PubIt! Community Board.
  21. Why do you need my Social Security Number or Employer Identification Number?
    Federal Law requires Barnes & Noble to collect taxpayer information and report sales income to the federal government. This is true for every publisher selling NOOK Books through Barnes & Noble.
  22. When my NOOK Books sell, can I get information about the customers?
    Barnes & Noble doesn't share any information about our customers with vendors. We do provide reporting in the My Sales tab to let you know how many NOOK Books you have sold and when to expect your next payment.
  23. How can I get special merchandising for my NOOK Book?
    Barnes & Noble independently selects which NOOK Books to merchandise. There is no official submission or application process at this time, but if you would like to have your NOOK Book considered for merchandising and promotional opportunities, please email us at pubit@bn.com to have your email passed along to our marketing and merchandising teams. We're also always interested to hear about your own marketing and publicity for your NOOK Book.
  24. Who do I contact with questions?
    If you already have a PubIt! account, first, take a look through the Support section and our PubIt! Community Board to see if your question has already been answered. If not, you can post your question to the Community Board or email it to pubit@bn.com.

    If you don't already have a PubIt! account, take a look at our PubIt! Community Board. If your question isn't answered there, email us at pubit@bn.com and ask!
  25. What's the turnaround time that I can expect from an email inquiry to pubit@bn.com?
    Customer Service monitors the pubit@bn.com email box daily. Response times vary depending on the nature of your question. Barnes & Noble endeavors to answer all questions as soon as possible but we appreciate your patience.
  26. What do I do if it looks like someone else is selling NOOK Books that I have the rights to?
    For information about reporting copyright infringement to Barnes & Noble, please reference the instructions on this page: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/include/copyright.asp
International
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  1. When will my PubIt! titles be available for sale in the United Kingdom?
    United Kingdom customers (this includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland) are now able to access NOOK.co.uk and begin purchasing eBook content, including PubIt! Titles.
  2. What do I need to do to make my PubIt! title available for sale in the U.K.?
    If your PubIt! title is marked as having Worldwide rights, then it will automatically be available for purchase in the UK. To check your rights, select Actions>Edit next to your title in the My Titles page in the PubIt! dashboard and scroll down to Section 4: "Help Readers Find Your eBook (stand out in the crowd)". If you have selected "Worldwide Rights - All Territories" under "Where do you have the rights to make your NOOK Book available for marketing, distribution and sale?", then your PubIt! eBook will be available for sale in the UK If you have selected "United States and Canada Only" or "United States Only", then your PubIt! eBook will only be available for sale in the United States on BN.com.
  3. How can I set my UK list price for my PubIt! eBook?
    We make it easy for you! We automatically convert your USD ($) list price to GBP (£). If you prefer to set your own UK list price, simply select Actions>Edit next to your title in the My Titles page in the PubIt! dashboard. In section 1, you will see a field called "List Price (UK)". Uncheck the box next to "auto calculate UK price based on US price", and then enter your desired UK list price between £0.75 and £120.00. You can check your royalty rate for each UK sale by clicking "Calculate my royalty". Note that the list price you provide should be exclusive of value-added or similar taxes which are included within the purchase price of a product ("VAT"). If we display a list price to customers, we may add applicable VAT to the list price you provide to determine the list price that we display.
  4. What are the royalty rates for UK list prices?

    For NOOK Books with a List Price at or between £1.50 and £7.99: 65% of the List Price

    For NOOK Books with a List Price at or below £1.49, or at or greater than £8.00(but not more than £120.00 and not less than £0.75): 40% of the List Price
  5. How are my UK sales reported?
    Your sales reports will break down your sales by U.S. and UK. For each PubIt! title you sell, your monthly sales report will show the country of sale, the list price (in USD$ or GBP£), your revenue per unit sold, the number of units sold, and your total revenue in USD. In the case of UK sales, you will see the revenue per unit sold in both GBP(£) and the USD($) equivalent based on the conversion rate of the day of sale. Today's Sales and Yesterday's Sales reports will display the country of sale, the list price (in USD$ or GBP£), the number of units sold, and your total revenue per unit (in USD$ for sales in the U.S., and in GBP£ for sales in the UK).
  6. How will I be paid for U.K. sales?
    You will continue to be paid in USD 60 days after the close of the calendar month in which sales occur, and when you have accrued a minimum of $10 in royalties. For U.K. sales, we will convert your royalties to USD based on the sale date's conversion rate.
Add/Edit a Title
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  1. How do I put my NOOK Book on sale?
    Click on the My Titles tab at the top of the page, then click Add a Title. Complete all of the requested fields, upload your eBook file and cover image. Once you have entered all of the required information correctly, click Put On Sale. Your NOOK Book will begin processing and will go on sale in 24 to 72 hours.
  2. What file formats does PubIt! accept?
    PubIt! accepts ePub files for direct sale. If you have not already converted your eBook to ePub, PubIt! has a simple, free tool to convert Microsoft Word (.DOC and .DOCX), HTML, RTF, and TXT files into ePub. You can preview your titles on a NOOK simulator before submitting them.

    See our Formatting Guide for more information on file formats.
  3. What is ePub?
    ePub is an open source, industry standard eBook format. For more information on ePub, visit the IDPF Website or the Wikipedia entry.
  4. How do I upload my eBook file?
    On the Add a Title page, in Section 2: to upload your eBook file, click on Browse to locate the eBook file that you would like to upload on your computer. Then click Upload and Preview to begin uploading the title. A pop up window will automatically open with a NOOK simulator. Page through your NOOK Book and make sure you like how it looks.
  5. I want to make changes to my eBook file after previewing it on the NOOK simulator. How do I do that?
    If you would like to make some changes to how your eBook looks on NOOK, there are two ways to edit your eBook:
    • Option 1: Take a look through our Formatting Guide to learn more about how best to format your source document. Make your changes, then re-upload your fixed file and PubIt! will reconvert the file. You can preview it again in the NOOK simulator.
    • Option 2: Download the ePub file that PubIt! has converted for you (you can do this from the Add a Title page once you have uploaded your eBook) and make changes to it. Note that knowledge of HTML and ePub are necessary to modify your ePub. You can learn more about formatting your ePub in our Formatting Guide.
    Once you've made changes to your original document or ePub file, click on Browse to locate your revised file and then click Replace & Preview to see it again on our NOOK simulator.
  6. Are there any restrictions on the eBook file that I upload?
    Your file must be less than 20MB in size. Your eBook must be in one of the following formats: ePub, HTML, RTF, TXT, DOC, or DOCX.
  7. How can I improve the look and feel of my NOOK Book?
    Take a look through our Formatting Guide to learn more about best practices for formatting your NOOK Book.
  8. Why should I include a cover image for my NOOK Book?
    We strongly recommend using a cover image for your NOOK Book. The cover image you provide will appear on the product page for your NOOK Book. We find that displaying a cover image has a direct impact on sales.

    Remember, you must have the rights to use any cover image that you upload through PubIt!.
  9. How do I upload a cover image?
    On the Add a Title page: Section 3: click on Browse to locate the file on your computer. Then click Upload. The image will appear in the box on the left side of the screen.
  10. Are there any restrictions on the cover image?
    Your cover image must be a .JPG or .JPEG file with a file size between 5KB and 2MB. The sides must be between 750 pixels and 2000 pixels in length.
  11. What product data do I need?
    Required product data to put your eBook on sale at BN.com and NOOK.co.uk is indicated with a red asterisk on the Add a Title page:
    • Title
    • List Price(US)
    • List Price(UK)
    • Date of Publication
    • Publisher
    • Contributor (Author, Editor, etc.)
    • Language
    • Subject Categories
    • Product Description
    You will also have to decide whether or not you want DRM encryption for your NOOK Book. For more on DRM, see the question "What is DRM?" immediately below.
  12. What is DRM?
    DRM stands for Digital Rights Management, which is technology that is intended to prevent unauthorized access to, distribution of, or copying of your NOOK Book. If you choose to have DRM applied to your eBook, we will use this technology. This choice can only be made once per title and cannot be changed once selected.

    Please read our Terms & Conditions for more information on our obligations regarding DRM.

    To learn more about DRM, visit the Wikipedia entry.
  13. Why is Product Data important?
    The more information you provide about your NOOK Book, the easier it will be for the customer to find. The information we request helps the search engine on BN.com and NOOK.co.uk categorize your title properly and helps create a robust product page.
  14. How long does it take for my eBook to go on sale?
    Once you click Put On Sale, your eBook will typically be on sale at BN.com and NOOK.co.uk in 24 to 72 hours.
  15. Can I edit my NOOK Book after I put it on sale?
    Yes. You can edit your Product Data, eBook file, and cover image after you put your eBook on sale. It will typically take 24-72 hours for your changes to be reflected on BN.com and NOOK.co.uk.

    IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT EDITS:
    • There will be a period of time from when you click Put On Sale before a title goes on sale. During this interim period, you will be unable to edit an NOOK Book's product data. Once the title is available for sale, you will be able to edit the product data once again.
    • If you choose to change or update your NOOK Book's title name, there are important ramifications of which to be aware: the NOOK Book will lose any existing reviews, sales ranking, and links to other products with the previous title name.
    • The only data you cannot change after your NOOK Book goes on sale is whether your NOOK Book is encrypted with DRM.
    • If you replace your NOOK Book file, customers who have already purchased and downloaded your NOOK Book will not have the NOOK Book replaced on their devices. If they delete and re-download your NOOK Book, or if they download the NOOK Book for the first time to a new device, they will receive the updated file.
  16. Can I upload an eBook without putting it on sale?
    Yes. You can upload your eBook file, cover image, and product data and save it to come back to later. Once you click Put On Sale, your NOOK Book will typically be available for purchase at BN.com and NOOK.co.uk in 24 to 72 hours. If you aren't ready for your eBook to go on sale, don't click Put On Sale.
  17. Can I take my NOOK Book off sale?
    Yes. You can take off sale any NOOK Book you have made available for sale. From your My Titles page, using the Action drop-down menu choose Take off Sale. See the My Titles section of this FAQ for more information.
  18. What rights do I need to sell my eBook through PubIt!?
    You must own the rights to market, sell, and distribute the eBook file, any images in that file, the cover image, and the product data that you upload or Put On Sale. Please see our Terms & Conditions for more information on the rights you must have to use PubIt!.
  19. Who determines the price of my NOOK Books?
    You set the List Price for your NOOK Book. You will be paid based on the List Price that you set. As the retailer, Barnes & Noble reserves the right to set the price that the customer pays for your NOOK Book. For more information, see our Pricing and Payment Terms.
  20. How should I price my NOOK Book?
    We recommend that you consider the perceived value of your NOOK Books to customers when setting your List Price. Take a look at how other publishers are pricing their eBooks or discuss it with them on the PubIt! Community Board.

    Make sure that your List Price adheres to all requirements in our Payment and Pricing Terms.
  21. What do the fields mean in Section 1: Product Listing?
    • Title: Enter the title of your eBook. If your eBook has a subtitle, enter Title: Subtitle in the Title field.
    • List Price (US): ): The list price is the price that you set for your title in USD ($). You will be paid based on this price and customers will see it displayed on the product page as the List Price. For more about the List Price, visit our Payment and Pricing Terms.
    • List Price (UK): This field is auto-populated with the GBP (£) equivalent of the price you entered in the List Price (US) field, based on the daily exchange rate. You may also manually enter a UK List Price into the field by unchecking the box next to "auto calculate UK price based on US price". For more about the List Price, visit our Payment and Pricing Terms.
    • Publication Date: This field defaults to today. If you would like to specify a different date, enter the date that you want displayed as your eBook's date of publication. Your publication date must be between 1/1/1500 and today's date.
    • Publisher: This field is auto-populated with the publisher name that you submitted during the PubIt! registration process. You can edit the publisher name for each title if you choose. You can use your first and last name or create a name for the eBook publisher if you are not publishing on behalf of a company.
    • Contributors: Enter the first and last name of any contributors to your eBook. You can add up to five contributors per eBook by clicking Add Another Contributor. Select the role of each contributor from the following:
      • Author - The person who wrote the eBook.
      • Editor - A person who provided editorial services or who curated the content.
      • Illustrator - A person who created illustrations within the eBook. Note that you must have secured the rights to distribute any images that you use.
      • Translator - A person who translated the eBook if it was originally written in another language.
      • Photographer - A person who took photographs within the eBook. Note that you must have secured the rights to distribute any photographs in your eBook.
      • Introduction - The person who wrote the Introduction or Forward for your eBook.
      • Created by - Any other person who contributed significantly to the creation of your eBook.
    • Contributor's City and State of Residence: If your contributor(s) would like to participate in some of our forthcoming location-based PubIt! programs (more details to come) please provide the contributor's city of residence.
  22. What is an ISBN?
    An ISBN is a 10- or 13-digit number that uniquely identifies published books worldwide. ISBN stands for the International Standard Book Number.

    You do NOT need an ISBN to sell your eBook through PubIt!. If you don't have an ISBN, just tell us that you don't have one by answering No when prompted.
  23. I have an ISBN. How will PubIt! handle it if I choose to use it?
    If you'd like to use an ISBN that you purchased specifically for your eBook, please enter that 13-digit number (without hyphens!) and select Validate ISBN on the Add a Title page. If you have purchased a 10-digit ISBN that you'd like to use, please convert it to a 13-digit number using a service like http://www.isbn.org/converterpub.asp before entering it.

    Barnes & Noble will always assign an internal 13-digit identifier to your title. This internal identifier will show on your NOOK Book's product page on Barnes & Noble's website. All of your sales and payment reporting will reference both the internal identifier we created AND the ISBN you provided.

    FYI: if your eBook already exists in a print or print-on-demand edition, you cannot use that print ISBN here. This ISBN must specifically be for your eBook edition.
  24. I have a print book. How do I ensure that my print and NOOK Books are linked?
    The title of the eBook must match exactly the title of the print book, right down to spacing and punctuation marks to ensure a link between the two formats.
  25. Why should I enter my NOOK Book's series?
    If your NOOK Book is part of a series, please enter the name of the series and the number of this NOOK Book within the series as the series name and number. That will allow us to have links on the Product Page that connect the different eBooks in your series.
  26. Why are you asking about the target audience for my NOOK Book?
    Customers on BN.com and NOOK.co.uk can browse by target age group to find eBooks that would interest them. Make sure that your NOOK Book shows up in the right place by choosing the target age group from the drop down. If you choose Juvenile, you'll have the chance to narrow it down into more specific age ranges.
  27. What if the language that my NOOK Book is written in isn't listed in the drop down?
    NOOK and NOOK for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android, and PC support the following languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Latin, and Dutch. If your NOOK Book is written in another language, you will not be able to sell it on BN.com or NOOK.co.uk.
  28. How do I know what rights I have to my content?
    Publishers who distribute their eBooks through PubIt! must have the right to do so. Select Worldwide Rights if you have the right to make your content available in all countries. If not, click United States Only or United States and Canada Only, as appropriate. Important! Your rights must include the United States in order to sell your eBook at BN.com. To sell your eBook at NOOK.co.uk, your rights must include the UK.

    If you hold copyright on your content, you automatically retain Worldwide Rights. If the content you're looking to publish has been licensed from another party, your rights would reflect the agreement made with the original publisher (e.g. you licensed rights from an Asian publisher to sell an eBook in the U.S. only). If you hold copyright on your content, but sell certain territory rights to a third party (e.g. Canadian rights to a Canadian publisher), then your rights to sell through PubIt! are limited to the world's remaining territories (e.g. US, UK, South America, etc.).

    If you have any questions about your rights, we encourage you to consult your legal advisor. More information on copyright regulations is available through the U.S. Copyright Office Website at http://www.copyright.gov.
  29. Why do I have to enter subject categories for my NOOK Book?
    The subject categories that you enter for your NOOK Book tell us where to place your product page in the B&N NOOK Bookstores, so that customers browsing through our categories can find titles that would interest them.
  30. How will the keywords for search engines that I enter be used?
    The search keywords that you enter will make sure that your NOOK Book is included in a search for the terms that you enter. The keywords must be relevant to the title that you are uploading.
  31. What should I include in my eBook's description?
    The description is a brief summary of the contents of your eBook that will appear on your title's product page on BN.com and NOOK.co.uk. Make sure to include information on the story and characters but do not give away plot-spoiling details.

    Your product description must adhere to our Content Policy, which prohibits inclusion of information like:
    • Pornographic, obscene, or offensive content.
    • Contact information for the author or publisher.
    • Information on other places or retailers where customers can acquire your eBook.
    • Reviews of your content. Include those in the review section instead.
    • Review solicitations.
    • Advertisements or promotional material.
    • Time sensitive information (e.g. information on author events).
  32. What should I include in the About the Author(s) field?
    In the About the Author(s) text field, you can provide additional information about the author or authors of your NOOK Book. As with the description, your About the Author(s) must comply with our Content Policy.
  33. What can I include in the Editorial Reviews section?
    Use the Reviewer field to credit the person who wrote each review and where each review was published.

    Use the Editorial Reviews box to quote a review or part of a review of your NOOK Book. You must have permission to quote a review.

    You can add up to five reviews for each NOOK Book by clicking Add Another Review.
  34. Why aren't my editorial reviews appearing on my product page?
    First, please confirm that the editorial review is appearing as expected on your Add/Edit a Title page within the PubIt! portal. If it is and your review still isn't showing on the product page for your NOOK Book, one possible cause is the length of your Description. Shorten your description to under 1,500 characters and your review(s) should appear as expected.
My Titles Tab
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  1. What is My Titles?
    The My Titles section of PubIt! is a complete list of all of the NOOK Books that are associated with your account.
  2. What do these eBook statuses mean?
    • Not Yet Put On Sale: This status means that you have started Adding an eBook and have saved it, but have not yet submitted your eBook to go on sale. If you are ready to do so, make sure that you click the check box to verify that you have all necessary rights and then click the Put On Sale button at the bottom of the page.
    • Processing: This status means that you have clicked Put On Sale and your eBook is currently making its way through our systems. It typically takes between 24 and 72 hours for your eBooks to go on sale.
      • If more than 72 hours goes by and your eBook still is not on sale, there may be a problem with your account information. If that is the case, you will receive an email from pubitregistration@barnesandnoble.com with a phone number you can call. You can also email pubit@bn.com if you have questions.
    • On Sale: This status means that your NOOK Book is on sale.
    • Off Sale: This status means that your NOOK Book has been taken off sale either by you or by Barnes & Noble.
  3. What do the actions in the Action drop-down mean?
    • Edit: Select Edit to update the information on your title. You can do this with any NOOK Book title in any status except when your NOOK Book is processing.
    • Take Off Sale: Select Take Off Sale to remove your NOOK Book title from the BN.com and NOOK.co.uk eBookstores. In five business days or fewer, your NOOK Book title will be taken off sale. Customers that have already purchased your NOOK Book will be able to continue to download it.
    • View Product Page: Select View Product Page to see the product page of your NOOK Book on BN.com. If there is anything that you would like to change, you can edit your NOOK Book product data as described above. You can only view the product pages of titles that are currently on sale.
  4. All of my NOOK Books have been taken off sale. Why? What do I need to do to get them back on sale?
    Your PubIt! account will be placed on hold and all of your NOOK Books will be taken off sale if one of the following has occurred:
    • The credit card on file with PubIt! has expired. Check to be sure that you have a valid, non-expired credit card on file with PubIt! Update your credit card if necessary on the My Account tab.
    • There is a business concern about your account. Email us at pubit@bn.com to discuss why your account has been placed on hold and any necessary next steps.
  5. How do I take my NOOK Book Off Sale?
    To take your NOOK Book off sale, go to the actions drop-down and select Take Off Sale. Within five business days the NOOK Book will no longer be available for sale through the Barnes & Noble.com NOOK Bookstores. Customers who have purchased the NOOK Book before it goes off sale will be able to continue to download the file as provided in the Terms & Conditions.
  6. One of my NOOK Books is off sale but I didn't take if off sale. Why?
    Barnes & Noble reserves the right to remove from sale any title it deems in violation of the PubIt! Content Policy. If you have questions about a title that has been taken off sale by Barnes & Noble, please contact us at pubit@bn.com.
  7. My Titles screen looks cluttered. How do I get rid of NOOK Book drafts?
    For any title that you have not yet Put On Sale, you can delete the NOOK Book record from your My Titles page. That option will be available in the Actions drop down for any titles with the Not Yet Put On Sale status.
My Sales Tab (includes information about eGifting in your Sales Reporting)
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  1. What information is available on the My Sales tab?
    On the main My Sales tab, you can get a quick overview of your sales and access three types of reports:
    • This Month's Sales Activity shows your NOOK Book sales activity from the first of the current month to the end of the day previous to the day that you access your My Sales page. These numbers are updated daily.
      • Number of eBooks Sold is the net number of NOOK Book units sold (total eBook units sold minus total eBook units returned) this month.
      • Revenue Due Publisher is the total revenue that you have accrued for your NOOK Book sales this month.
    • Sales Reports show detailed sales reporting over select date ranges.
      • Today's Sales shows the number of NOOK Books you have sold from 12AM on the current day through the time that you access your Today's Sales report. Today's Sales is typically accurate to within three hours, meaning that a sale on BN.com or NOOK.co.uk should show up within three hours of when the customer makes the purchase. Today's Sales does not reflect customer returns.
      • Yesterday's Sales shows the number of NOOK Books you have sold from 12AM through 11:59PM on the previous day. Yesterday's Sales does not reflect customer's returns.
      • Monthly Sales reports show the daily sales for NOOK Books in your catalog. These reports update each night around midnight. The Monthly Sales report for the current month will show sales from the first of the month through the day before you access your Monthly Sales report. Monthly Sales reports do reflect customer returns.
    • Payments Issued shows a brief summary of each payment made and allows you to link to more detailed reports.
      • Payment ID is a reference number for each payment made. If you have any questions about your payment history, please include the Payment ID in your email as a reference. Click on the Payment ID to see details of the sales included in that payment.
      • Payment Date is the date on which Barnes & Noble made the payment. It typically takes up to five days for your bank to reflect that payment.
      • Amount ($) is the amount of money you received in that payment.
  2. What do the columns in the Today's Sales report represent?
    • Date of Sale: There will always be a date in this column. Typically, this is the date on which your title was sold during a regular sale. However, if there is a date listed in the Date of eGift column to the right, it means a customer chose to give your title as an eGift; the Date of Sale column is the date the recipient redeemed their eGifted title.
    • Date of eGift: There will only be a date in this column if a customer chose to give your title as an eGift, AND the recipient chose to redeem it. Date of eGift is the date your title was initially eGifted to a recipient. eGifted titles will only appear in your reporting if the eGift has been redeemed.
    • B&N Identifier: This column shows the 13-digit identifier that Barnes & Noble assigned to your NOOK Book.
    • Publisher's ISBN: If you entered an ISBN during the Add a Title process, that ISBN will show in this column.
    • Title: This column shows the NOOK Book title you entered during the Add a Title process.
    • Publisher: This column shows the NOOK Book Publisher you entered during the Add a Title process.
    • Country of Sale: This column lists where the sale occurred (US or GB).
    • List Price: This column shows the List Price you entered for your title in the selling currency. If you have sold copies of your NOOK Book in both the U.S and the U.K in the same day, you will see two lines for your NOOK Book - one for each currency. If you changed your List Price (U.S. or UK) and customers made purchases at both List Prices, then you will see multiple lines for your NOOK Book --one line at each List Price. If the title was purchased as a regular sale, the List Price shown ties back to the Date of Sale column. If the title was an eGifted title redemption, the List Price ties back to the Date of eGift column. In this case, the List Price and the Date of eGift are bolded as a visual cue within your Sales Reporting.
    • Publisher's Revenue per Unit: This column shows the amount of money you are due for each sale of a particular NOOK Book at a particular List Price in the selling currency. This revenue is calculated based on our Payment and Pricing Terms.
    • NOOK Book Unit Sales: This column shows the number of units you sold of each NOOK Book from 12AM on the current day through the time that you access your Today's Sales report. Today's Sales is typically accurate to within three hours, meaning that a sale on BN.com or NOOK.co.uk should show up within three hours of when the customer makes the purchase.
    • Total Publisher's Revenue (GB): This column shows the amount of money you have accrued in GBP (£) for each NOOK Book sold through NOOK.co.uk from 12AM on the current day through the time that you access your Today's Sales report. Today's Sales is typically accurate to within three hours, meaning that a sale on NOOK.co.uk should show up within three hours of when the customer makes the purchase.
    • Total Publisher's Revenue (US): This column shows the amount of money you have accrued in USD ($) for each NOOK Book sold through BN.com from 12AM on the current day through the time that you access your Today's Sales report. Today's Sales is typically accurate to within three hours, meaning that a sale on BN.com should show up within three hours of when the customer makes the purchase.
  3. What do the columns in the Monthly Sales reports represent?
    • Date of Sale: There will always be a date in this column. This column shows the date on which the customer clicked to purchase your NOOK Book. If you have multiple sales of a single NOOK Book on a single day, then those sales will be included on a single line. From time to time a customer clicks to purchase a NOOK Book on one day and the sale will not be completed until the following day. In that event, you will be paid for the sale based on the date that the sale is completed rather than the click date. However, if there is a date listed in the Date of eGift column to the right, it means a customer chose to give your title as an eGift; the Date of Sale column is the date the recipient redeemed their eGifted title.
    • Date of eGift: There will only be a date in this column if a customer chose to give your title as an eGift, AND the recipient chose to redeem it. Date of eGift is the date your title was initially eGifted to a recipient. eGifted titles will only appear in your reporting if the eGift has been redeemed.
    • B&N Identifier: This column shows the 13-digit identifier that Barnes & Noble assigned to your NOOK Book.
    • Publisher's ISBN: If you entered an ISBN during the Add a Title process, that ISBN will show in this column.
    • Title: This column shows the NOOK Book title you entered during the Add a Title process.
    • Publisher: This column shows the NOOK Book Publisher you entered during the Add a Title process.
    • Country of Sale: This column lists where the sale occurred (US or GB).
    • List Price: This column shows the List Price you entered for your title in the selling currency. If you have sold copies of your NOOK Book in both the U.S. and the UK in the same day, you will see two lines for your NOOK Book - one for each currency. If you changed your List Price (U.S. or UK) and customers made purchases at both List Prices, then you will see multiple lines for your NOOK Book --one line at each List Price. If the title was purchased as a regular sale, the List Price shown ties back to the Date of Sale column. If the title was an eGifted title redemption, the List Price ties back to the Date of eGift column. In this case, the List Price and the Date of eGift are bolded as a visual cue within your Sales Reporting
    • Publisher's Revenue Per Unit: This column shows the amount of money you are due for each sale of a particular Nook Book at a particular List Price. For sales in the U.S., you will see your revenue calculated in USD ($). For sales in the UK, you will see the revenue per unit in GBP (£) and also the USD ($) equivalent based on the currency conversion rate on the date of sale. This revenue is calculated based on our Payment and Pricing Terms.
    • Units Sold: This column shows the number of units you sold of each Nook Book each day.
    • Units Ret'd: This column shows the number of units of each Nook Book that were returned by customers each day.
    • Net Unit Sales: This column shows the net unit sales (units sold minus units returned) for each Nook Book on each date.
    • Total Publisher's Revenue: This column shows the amount of money in USD ($) that you have accrued for each NOOK Book (both U.S. and UK sales) each day. Total Publisher's Revenue is equivalent to the Net Unit Sales multiplied by the Publisher's Revenue Per Unit Sold
  4. What do the columns in the Payment Details reports represent?
    • B&N Identifier: This column shows the 13-digit identifier that Barnes & Noble assigned to your NOOK Book.
    • Publisher's ISBN: If you entered an ISBN during the Add a Title process, that ISBN will show in this column.
    • Title: This column shows the NOOK Book title you entered during the Add a Title process.
    • Country of Sale: This column lists where the sale occurred (US or GB).
    • List Price: This column shows the List Price you entered for your title in the selling currency. If you have sold copies of your NOOK Book in both the U.S. and the UK, you will see two lines for your NOOK Book - one for each currency. If you changed your List Price (U.S. or UK) and customers made purchases at both List Prices, then you will see multiple lines for your NOOK Book --one line at each List Price. If the title was purchased as a regular sale, the List Price shown ties back to the Date of Sale column. If the title was an eGifted title redemption, the List Price ties back to the Date of eGift column. In this case, the List Price and the Date of eGift are bolded as a visual cue within your Sales Reporting
    • Publisher's Revenue Per Unit: This column shows the amount of money you are due for each sale of a particular Nook Book at a particular List Price. For sales in the U.S., you will see your revenue calculated in USD ($). For sales in the UK, you will see the revenue per unit in GBP (£) and also the USD ($) equivalent based on the currency conversion rate on the date of sale. This revenue is calculated based on our Pricing and Payment Terms.
    • NOOK Book Unit Sales: This column shows the net unit sales (units sold minus units returned) for each Nook Book.
    • Total Publisher's Revenue: This column shows the amount of money in USD ($) that you have accrued for each Nook Book (both U.S. and UK sales). Total Publisher's Revenue is equivalent to the Net Unit Sales multiplied by the Publisher's Revenue Per Unit Sold
  5. How are my Publisher Royalties calculated?
    Your Publisher Royalties are calculated per our Pricing and Payment Terms.
  6. When will I get paid for the NOOK Books that I have sold?
    In most cases, you will be paid 60 days after the close of the calendar month in which the sale occurs, and, when you have accrued a minimum of $10 in royalties. For more details, see our Terms & Conditions. Please make sure the banking information you have entered in your account is accurate and up-to-date so that the payments we attempt are successful.
  7. How will I be paid for my NOOK Book sales?
    All payments for NOOK Book sales will be in USD ($). If you have sold NOOK Books on NOOK.co.uk, your royalties will be converted from GBP (£) to USD ($). Your payments will be transferred into the bank account that you have on file with PubIt! via an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). If you need to update that information, you can do so in the My Account tab.
  8. What is an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)?
    An Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) is a computer-based system that transfers money into your bank account at our request. It typically takes between one and five business days from when we submit the payment for the payment to be reflected in your account.
  9. How does Barnes & Noble handle customer returns?
    Barnes & Noble will provide refunds to customers who are unsatisfied with their NOOK Book purchases at the discretion of Barnes & Noble customer service. Returns will appear on your My Sales report and will be deducted from your next payment.
  10. What is eGifting at Barnes & Noble?
    Giving a digital gift is quick and easy - we call it eGifting! NOOK Books and NOOK Apps can be eGifted to anyone with a valid email address (currently not available on NOOK.co.uk). You do not need a NOOK to purchase a digital gift, and your eGift recipient does not need one either; they may read on any NOOK device, or on devices they already own with Barnes & Noble's free NOOK apps for iPhone, iPad, Mac, PC, Android, and more. The eGift recipient is notified via email that someone has purchased an eGift for them, and the customer has a choice to redeem the eGifted title OR select an eGift card for redemption on any product at Barnes & Noble. For further details around the customer experience side of eGifting, please visit our BN.com eGifting FAQ's.
  11. What happens if an eGifted title is not redeemed?
    If an eGift recipient chooses not to redeem the eGifted title and selects the eGift card option instead, no publisher royalty is generated.
  12. When will I see royalties of eGift sales?
    Within your sales reporting, if there is a date in the Date of eGift column, it means a customer chose to give your title as an eGift; the Date of Sale column is the date the recipient redeemed their eGifted title. eGifted titles will only appear in your reporting if the eGift has been redeemed.
  13. Will I know the difference between a regular sale and an eGift sale?
    Yes! Great news - PubIt! does distinguish between regular sales and eGift sales within your Daily and Monthly Sales Reporting. eGift sales appear only after the recipient has redeemed their eGift.
  14. How are my royalties calculated for eGifted titles?
    Once an eGifted title is redeemed, the publisher earns royalties based on the original List Price at the time the eGifted title was purchased (the Date of eGift column). For all eGifted sales, the List Price and the Date of eGift are bolded as a visual cue within your sales reporting. If the eGifted title's recipient chose not to redeem their eGifted title, no publisher royalty is generated.
  15. I changed my title's List Price. How will this affect my royalties if that title has been eGifted?
    Publisher royalties are generated based on the price of the title at the time of eGift purchase. The price of the title at the time of redemption will not affect publisher royalties. If an eGifted title has been redeemed, you will find the date of the eGift redemption in the Date of Sale column, the original eGift purchase in the Date of eGift column, and the List Price associated with the Date of eGift in the List Price column. In the case of eGifted title sales, the List Price and the Date of eGift are bolded as a visual cue within your Sales Reporting.
  16. Can I gift my own NOOK Books?
    Yes! Now you may eGift your own book to bloggers, book reviewers, fellow authors, and other recipients to help build readership and get your title more exposure. Remember, you will only see eGifted sales in your Sales Reporting if/when the recipient redeems their eGifted title. If the eGift recipients choose the eGift card option instead of redeeming your eGifted title, no publisher royalties are generated.
My Account Tab
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  1. What is My Account?
    My Account is the page that you use to keep your contact, payment, and credit card information up to date.

    You cannot edit any of the Tax information. This includes the Taxpayer Type, the Tax ID, the name associated with the Tax ID, and the Tax Address.
  2. How long will it take my account to update?
    It will take 24-72 hours for the My Account tab to reflect your changes.
  3. How do I update my email address and password?
    Your email address (username) and password are the same username and password associated with your BN.com customer account. To update either your email address or your password, go to the My Account tab and click on the Edit link below your login information to launch the Account Settings page on BN.com.

    Your email address must be kept up-to-date. The majority of PubIt! communications will come via email.
  4. How do I terminate my account?
    If you wish to terminate your account, please send us an email at pubit@bn.com. We will terminate your account and take your NOOK Books off sale within five business days.

    Please note that if you terminate your account, we will be unable to reactivate that account. You will lose all access to your titles, sales history, etc.
Formatting Guides
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  1. ePub Formatting
    Download our ePub Formatting Guide for information on how best to format your ePub document.

    Preview the file in our NOOK for PC application or in Adobe Digital Editions before uploading it to be sure you like how it looks.

    Also, make sure that it passes ePub Check 1.0.5. To test your ePub file in ePub Check, go to http://code.google.com/p/epubcheck/.

    There are a number of services that you can contact to assist you in creating ePubs. Here is a partial list of conversion houses and their websites. Barnes & Noble does not endorse or recommend any one company over another.
  2. Microsoft Word Formatting (.DOC and .DOCX) and RTF Formatting
    Some tips for how best to format your Word document to improve the look of your converted ePub file:
    • Bold, italic, underline, and strike-through are supported.
    • Internal and external links are allowed in your NOOK Book, but note that customers may not be able to link out to external links while reading on NOOK.
    • To decrease the space between your paragraphs when you convert from Word to ePub, you should only include a single return between your paragraphs. Adding extra lines will cause very large spaces between paragraphs.
    • To increase the space between your paragraphs, you can use the Word paragraph tool to increase the spaces without creating excessive space. Adding extra lines will cause very large spaces between paragraphs.
    • To indent your paragraphs, do NOT use the Tab key to create the indents. It is better to set up a first line indent using the Word Paragraph tool.
    • To start a new page, use the Section Break option from within the Page Setup option. Do not insert a Page Break; they are ignored in the manuscript conversion process.
    • To create a bulleted list, use Microsoft Word's built in bulleted list tool. Do not insert symbols to create bullets-most symbols will translate into a question mark ("?").
    • To create a numbered list or multilevel outline, use Microsoft Word's built-in numbered list tool.
    • Use one of the following fonts: Times New Roman, Arial, or Courier New.
    • Use Caps Lock to type in capital letters if you want text to appear in all capital letters. Do not use the Word format for All Caps.
    • If you want small caps, type in all capital letters and change the font size for the text area that you want to appear in small caps. Do not use the Word format for Small Caps
    • Do not use columns.
    • Do not use superscripts and subscripts, as they will cause extra leading (space between the lines of text).
    • To indent a large portion of text, for example when creating block quotes, use Word margin controls.
    • Images can be formatted flush left, flush right or centered.
    • Text wraps should be above and below the images, not around the image.
    • Avoid using most symbols.
    • Ensure that any fractions are kept as "1/4." Word will automatically format the fractions to appear as symbols, which will not translate correctly into your ePub.
    • Ensure that any ordinal endings are kept in line with the text ("1st") and not autoformatted as superscript. Keeping them as superscript will produce added leading.
    • Make tables that can be viewed in portrait mode rather than landscape mode to make them fit on the page.
  3. HTML Formatting
    A few tips to improve how your HTML file will look when converted to ePub:
    • Ensure that your HTML file is well formatted and renders well in your browser.
    • Avoid adding any extra spaces between lines of text.
    • If your .HTM file contains images, please create a .ZIP file (the standard "compressed archive" format) that contains your .HTM file and all of your .JPG and/or .GIF images. Then, upload the .ZIP file instead of just the .HTM file.
    • Our NOOK eReading products supports the character set listed in our ePub Formatting Guide (available in the ePub Formatting section).
  4. TXT Formatting
    In order to ensure that your TXT file converts well into ePub, consider the following:
    • Format your text in paragraphs.
    • Avoid including hard line breaks within your paragraphs.
    • Use two line breaks to separate paragraphs. The first line break will end the first paragraph. The second line break will create a space between the first paragraph and the second paragraph.
    • HTML tags should not be used. The HTML tag will be included as text during the conversion. For example, if you type <b>bold</b>, you will see the "<b>" instead of seeing bolded text.
Marketing Support
Tools and Tips
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  1. Tips for writing my novel's description

    1. Pitch it
    If you had 30 seconds to explain to readers why they would enjoy your book, what would you say? Translate this 30-second pitch to 150-200 words or copy—that's your description.

    2. Add a headline
    Then write a shorter, grabbier 20-40 word headline that draws in readers and quickly lets them know what your book is about. Is it a love story, a period piece, a nail-biter? It's also a good idea to help identify the tone (humor vs. thriller), genre (romantic, fantasy), and main events. If your book crosses genres, be sure to note that too. For instance, paranormal romance is a hot topic and readers would be interested in knowing that you have both a steamy plot and vampires. Already have your copy? Edit the first line to include a few more details and you probably have a pretty good headline.

    3. Leave them wanting more
    Don't be afraid to leave your readers with a few questions. Once you have them hooked with the header, your reader wants to learn more. But what and how much will you tell? Create suspense—entice them to buy the book to find out more.

  2. Tips for writing a description for my nonfiction books

    1. Pitch it
    If you had 30 seconds to explain to readers why they would enjoy your book, what would you say? Translate this 30-second pitch to 150-200 words or copy—that's your description.

    2. Add a headline
    Then write a shorter, grabbier 20 - 40 word headline that draws in readers and quickly lets them know what your book is about. For a nonfiction work you'll want to explain the benefit of buying the book. Your 30-second pitch can help you identify what your books promises readers.

    3. Tout your expertise
    Include why you wrote your book and be sure to include why the reader should trust your information and experience with your topic.

    4. Include examples
    Make the case for why the reader needs the book by including sample information, key chapter titles, facts or statistics.

  3. How to get started marketing my book

    1. Join us on Facebook
    Become active on our Facebook page to make connections and learn how other authors are promoting their work, plus get PubIt! updates.

    2. Craft your online presence
    Get the word out about your writing by utilizing free and effective social networking tools such as Facebook and Twitter. If you create a website or blog for your writing career, be sure to post the PubIt! badge. It's easy and takes readers right to the product page.

    3. Let your fans know about your book
    Provide friends, family and fellow writers with your cover and a short 1 - 2 sentence book description and a link to your product page that they can pass along to their circle of readers. When you connect with the PubIt! community you get feedback and find more readers, too.

  4. What to include in my bio

    1. Tout your expertise
    If you are the author of a nonfiction book, highlight your expertise. Expertise can be everything from your training and education, to personal experience with a topic. Your expertise is an important selling point.

    2. List your other titles
    Let readers know about your other books so they can explore more of your work.

    3. Highlight accolades and affiliations
    Include awards and memberships that demonstrate your depth of knowledge in your field, or your experience as a writer. Also consider mentioning organizations that will help fellow members or alumni identify with you.

  5. How to get book reviews
    Traditional reviews can be a challenge for the self-published author, but here are some effective alternatives:

    1. Utilize customer reviews
    The BN.com customer review system is a great way to get reader feedback while allowing potential readers to see what others liked about your book. Our star rating system makes it easy for readers to give your book a boost. Be sure to mention great feedback on your blog, Facebook page or website.

    2. Contact book bloggers
    Book bloggers offer an online venue for review. Start by seeing where other self-published authors have been reviewed and send the blogger a note offering a free copy of your book and your interest in being reviewed.

    3. Collect blurbs
    Ask fellow writers in your genre to read your book and provide a testimonial quote. If you aren't part of a writing group or class, find fellow writers on the PubIt! Facebook page--or on message boards and forums. Collect quotes before you publish, and include these quotes in your product details when you launch.

    4. Reach out to reading groups
    You probably have a friend or family member who is part of a reading group. Offer a free copy of your book to reading group members in exchange for a quote or "review." You can also offer to meet with the group to hear reader reaction to your work and answer any questions they may have. Posting their review quotes also lets other reading groups know that your work is a good fit for a group discussion.

    5. Contact review sites
    There are several review sites that will review your book for a fee. While we do not make specific recommendations, you can easily find these sites through searches.

More Support
Still have questions?
  • Visit our PubIt! Community Board to connect with other PubIt! users. Scan the board postings to see if your question has been answered, and if not, post your question for discussion.
  • Email us at pubit@bn.com from the email address you used to create your PubIt! account. If you are an existing PubIt! community member, please include your Account ID (available on the My Account tab) in your email so that we can easily locate your account.