Should You Self-Publish with Lulu? Lulu Publishing Review & Book Unboxing
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- Опубліковано 2 сер 2024
- Should You Self-Publish with Lulu? Lulu Publishing Review & Book Unboxing // Let's talk all things Lulu publishing. When you're a self-published author there are a ton on print on demand options for your book. If you want to check the all out, be sure to watch my Beginners Guide to Self-Publishing a Book playlist: • A Beginner's Guide to ...
Today we're going to review Lulu publishing. I'll be talking about the distribution options Lulu has, their printing options, the cost of printing, and the retail price you can expect for your book. And we will also talk about the quality of their books, so be ready for a book unboxing at the end! Let me know in the comment below, would you self-publish your book through Lulu publishing?
Watch my unboxing on my children's book from Lulu: • Lulu Book Unboxing & Q...
Curious about other printing options?
Kindle Direct Publishing: • Step by Step Self-Publ...
Barnes and Noble Press: • Should You Print Your ...
IngramSpark: • IngramSpark Publishing...
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Mandi Lynn published her first novel when she was seventeen. The author of multiple books, Mandi spends her days continuing to write and creating UA-cam videos to help other writers achieve their dreams of seeing their books published. Mandi is the owner of Stone Ridge Books, a company that works to help authors bring their books to life through cover design and digital book marketing. She is also the creator of The Book Launch Planner, a planner designed to help authors publish and market their books. When she’s not creating, you can find Mandi exploring her backyard or getting lost in the woods.
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DISCLAIMER: This video and description contain affiliate links. By purchasing a linked product or service, Mandi Lynn will receive a small commission at no additional fee to you.
Curious about Lulu's children's book quality? Watch my unboxing video here: ua-cam.com/video/wlM-ZEOM9nk/v-deo.html
I prefer the thicker paper that Lulu uses. To me it signifies better quality. The thicker paper has more longevity (shelf life/permanence) and doesn't yellow at the edges like so many of the commercial/traditional printing companies these days.
I print without a barcode for my sample books. And when I am ready to sell I add my barcode. Their printing is amazing!!
I think is a cool option if you want to make a book for a personal project that you dont want to publish!
After years of promising myself that I would publish something I wrote, I'm finally getting to a point where I'm ready to take that plunge. I'm leaning towards KDP, but I have been briefly considering Lulu. I actually like the concept of thicker paper, though the pricing is a little intimidating for me. Then again, writing is mostly a hobby for me, and I'm not sure how "famous" I really want to be (sometimes fame can be a curse as much as a blessing . . . I had an uncle in the country music business, and he attested to that). Not sure if you'll see this comment, but your videos have been a wealth of information for me. Thank you for your efforts.
This is a great alternative for graduate students who need to turn in a book of their work to a university. I only needed one and other alternatives where way to expensive. Lulu's options put my book (200+ pgs., it's an architecture thesis so most of the pages are drafts and drawings, and renders) at around $50-60. Other alternatives put my book around $100-150.
Thank you so much for doing this video. I'm learning about self publishing novels and have heard Lulu, but never that it's so expensive to print! I'm looking forward to watching your other video with all the comparisons side by side. Cost is such a huge factor. Thank you for doing this video.
I prefer the thicker paper, if too thin then tear easier and won't last as long.
Really appreciate how objective and detailed you were with this. You did such a great job Mandi. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
This is SO helpful, thank you so much!
I prefer the feel of Lulu paperbacks for sure. My KDP paperbacks feel warped and cheap. Glad to see I’m not alone in thinking this! Think for my next book I’m going to try them for both the paperback and hardcover editions.
Thank you for this concise review. I like KDP I just wanted a spiral journal
Good review. I just got my first copy from Lulu for my first book "Queens Of Real Estate Chicago". I actually love the quality of the full color images. I took stills from my Red Dragon 6k camera and I used the normal cropped headers, seeing this video I'm glad I thought better than to trust a any printer with my edges
The quality of the spiral bound books from lulu is not very good. I ordered one for a planner once, and never again. Lol. Thanks for this awesome Lulu overview and novel printing review!
I love Lulu! I use them mainly to print books that I write. I just like writing for fun and just put them on bookstore for my friends to purchase.
This was helpful. Thanks, Mandi Lynn.
From the video the quality looks great. I would have no problems with a thicker page. Its a matter of preference.
I also published my first book through Lulu and I am quite perplexed with their pricing if you choose the global distribution option
Thanks for making this informative video!
Thank u. I now know that I really don't want to use lulu💯🤦🏽♂️ great vid👌🏼😊
Good video, subbed.
I've been considering Lulu as they are the only POD that does coated paper. My first proof copy for a non-fiction (120pgs, std color, coated, paperback) was excellent and print cost is
Thankyou for an honest review. I am wanting to publish coloring books with spiral binding and perforated pages. I thought Lulu looked good for that as regards quality.
The book looks so crisp! The price is so high!!!! Is there an option on print on demand companies to choose the weight of the paper? Do you know where Lulu does the printing? US, China, etc.? Great info!
Very informative video, Mandi. Thank you for your time and effort in sharing this. I am still considering the option of using Lulu to print my first novella. So far I have come across mixed reviews for Lulu. Their web site seems good and informative.
I published an autobiography via Lulu in 2009, and found the whole process difficult. In all fairness, that may have just been my inexperience, as it was my first time using a POD service. You do not have to have a barcode if you're not using their distribution system. My book does not have an ISBN or a barcode. Thanks for the price comparison info. I'm planning on switching to KDP for both a revised edition and for future books.
like yr down to earth style 😅
I published with Lulu a year ago and am very happy with how my book turned out. The print quality was great, though the bar code they supplied did not come out as crisply printed but as a later-generation image (fuzzy). My only real issue with them, which is probably typical of ALL such publishers, is the lethargy of communicating with them. Their slow turn around for communications, measured in days not hours, was unacceptable in my opinion. Should I publish again I'm likely to go with another source.
Good to know about their customer service! Thanks for sharing :)
Does it cost money to register?
Thanks for sharing! Do you perhaps know if they removed the option of choosing a release date? And the option for pre-orders? I am waiting for the proof copy and I can't see this option anywhere.
Lulu is fairly good for just printing… I need to build my own website
I have used lulu to just print one book for myself, and it doesn't come with the kdp banner "not for sale" before publishing it. It's decent but they don't understand your "mate" order.
Thank u so much for the detailed info. I was thinking of publishing with lulu after printing thru kdp. But now i won't have second thoughts on this bcoz i find it just a waste of money!
The biggest thing I was getting out of Lulu was global reach- getting books into all kinds of online stores (Amazon, Ebay, B&N) but the last time I tried five of my books were immediately rejected. It's their policy for you to first buy and review your book. I was cheating for so long, approving them for global reach an hour after I bought them. I guess you can't do that anymore?
I've never heard of them. I don't think Id use them to publish my book, but I may use them for their other services as that sounds cool.
Would you be covering Creatspace in your beginners guide videos?
Createspace no longer exists. It had been bought out/replaced by Kindle Direct Publishing. I have a KDP video here: ua-cam.com/video/_Z4UCeblBpg/v-deo.html
Those extra costs for global distribution are from the outside distributors (Amazon, Barnes and Noble). If they seem too high, it's because those outside distributors are greedy.
Hi Mandi, I'm thinking of publishing an Art Instructional Book through Lulu. Do you have any suggestions on what I should do? It has a lot of photos and I'm thinking of self publishing a hard cover with full color pages. Also, would creating an e-book be significantly cheaper? Also, would I own the rights to an ebook? Lot's of questions as a first time publisher.
I looking to print a family genealogy history book to distribute to family members (about 25 copies), not for resale. To me, LuLu's price per book is very reasonable. Are there any hidden costs if you don't plan to do marketing through them?
Hello! I am wanting to add full colored illustrations(not like the ones you'd see throughout the book) in the very front and back of my book, is lulu or any on demand publishing companies good for this or should I just go with an actual publishing company as the on demand publishing companies don't have options for this? thank you
I have a question, if a page image or words run into the margins on Lulu then with that page be cut off at the margin when printed? I'm finalizing a children's workbook and 6 out of the 105 pages barely cross into the margins. Do I take the time to adjust the 6 pages to fit in the margins or will it still print the full page?
T y 👍
please. how to setup my payees as a not us resident publisher
You're young so you may not know but traditional publishers have gone "cheap" just like everyone else. So the book pages you think feel normal based on the fact that it's what traditional publishers are using is well... a silly way to view that (I'm a traditional publisher btw). Books used to be printed on heavy quality paper which is why you still have books around that are 100+ years old. It's only recently (since like the 90s) that traditional printers are really wanting to use cheap paper in books. The heavier paper is superior.
I buy physical books because I want them to last for years. Within this last decade paper quality from traditional pubs is going down but I thought it's just my snobby inner bibliophile 😅 Reading your response is really helpful, thanks.
Ordered 2 small books (40 odd pages), it’s been about a week, not sure if it’s been shipped or they’re still printing it, first time printing the book and I’m located in Europe. I believe they have printers in UK France and Poland though so it shouldn’t take long to receive, UK and France are very close to me.
They take a while. About 3 weeks
Takes about 15 days.
Can I publish on lulu from Nigeria 🇳🇬
I have a notebook that is just an extra for one of my book series, that I have through Lulu. It’s spiral bound and only available through my website, or in person at events. Every time I order, the color (and sometimes the matte feel) on the cover is different than the last. I added a generic barcode that I generated for free online to the back, but it is only for me to scan during checkout, or when entering inventory. My price for each notebook is $5.00 and I am able to sell them for $8.00 to my customers. I think Lulu is good for small add on items, but I wouldn’t use them for my books.
Thank you for sharing about the notebooks! I was defiantly wondering how the pricing was for the other items they offer, but I think you're right about Lulu being good for add on items.
Good lord .... verbal diarrhea....I mean this is time wasting to the max ... With whining nasal problems
Please I just created my Lulu account but I don't know how to add my bank account details to receive payment, I need your help please, I don't know if you can make a video of it
The book looks absolutely flawless and I totally love the cover image, however, I was wondering which size you chose for the book, searched up on Amazon and it says the book is 5.5 x 8.5 which on Lulu these dimensions are the size of Digest. But I wanted to confirm the size with you before jumping into conclusions !! :D
I don't actually use LuLu to distribute my book. I was just testing it out. My book is distributed through Kindle Direct Publishing and the size is 5.5 x 8.5
Can we have a tutorial on how you published it from a google docs PDF...? Ive been trying to but something isn't lining up.
I format my books manually using Adobe InDesign. I have a course where I teach you how to do it here: bit.ly/formattingcourse
I'm curious to know what software you use to format your manuscript before uploading to Lulu.
Adobe InDesign, which I use to format books for all platforms. You can learn more about it here: bit.ly/formattingcourse
I am fairly happy with lulu so far. Also, Amazon KDP refused to publish my book whereas lulu had no issues.
Why did KDP refuse the publish the book?
@@MandiLynnWrites Because the author's name is "1" (the number 1). In their emails they stated, "The author's name (1) might be too confusing to their customers." ... Automated bots are stifling our creativity!
Amazon KDP is crazy
@@kasiakuzma430 *"Amazon KDP is crazy"*
... The automation is the problem. You can't have an automated "bot" deciding what types of creativity is best suited for humanity.
@@0-by-1_Publishing_LLCidk if you solved it it's been a year but i've heard that writing "please have a human read this" in emails makes the bot redirect to employees
So if I buy the books for myself they are cheaper? And then I can re sell and make the profit?
It's cheaper, but in my opinion not cheap enough to make it worth it. I've found other print on demand companies allow you to make more per sale
Don't do Magazines through Lulu if you can avoid it. The quality is less than stellar. I publish a quarterly magazine called The Cloven Hoof, and I've had so much bad quality control from Lulu that it is ridiculous. I've also been publishing through them for years and am now planning to go to a new set of publishing platforms to lower the outrageous costs of my books. Honestly I wish I had found your channel before I ever began using Lulu 10 years ago. Now because I'm trying to get off the platform I have to republish everything from scratch to make it all affordable because I used the lulu ISBN, and not ones I bought myself. Lesson learned. My advice with Lulu is use the platform with extreme caution and care, or you could find yourself in a bit of a pickle.
Wow lulu gets expensive!
yeah 😅
Amazon is a strategic partner of the WEF...
you made breathtaking ! talk you later!buddy-👏
Options ?? Limitless?? Limitless costs. Limitless marginal return
Nooooooioooooooooooooo🤐
I am the author of dozens of English test books. I do not recommend publishing with lulu. It would be wise to be away from this company.
So what do you recommend
@@Dobetter.blessed Other publishers.
@@fevzikarsili7713 can you give names ???
@@Dobetter.blessed yes sure. Amazon is a highly respected company and is respectful to publishers
I took.pisn lessobs from one digitagw as a xhild up.until
A college freshnan ,and taught piano for 10 years. I m still learning.
I used Lulu back in 2014 to publish a hardcover book of a novella I wrote. They continued to sell the book after I pulled it from the site.
🎀Did you still get paid even after they sold it?🎀