Because people associate "publishing" with books in bookstores, print books are assumed to be the preferred format for publishing. In traditional publishing, that is mostly true. There are some ebook-only publishers, but they tend to be seen as a step below the large publishers that do both print and ebook.

Is the same true in self publishing? Let's look at the pros and cons of each format for self-published books.

eBooks

--eBooks require no upfront payment in order to list them on Amazon, Smashwords, or Draft2Digital. They make their money from your sales, so there's no financial risk to you.

--The majority of self-published books sold are ebooks.

--Your ebook can be listed in the Barnes & Noble online catalog, even though your print book won't be on the Barnes & Noble shelves.

--You will have very few returns to deal with.

--On the downside, it's hard to sell ebooks at marketing events unless you have a way for customers to purchase at the table using their phone or technology you provide.

Print

--Print books cost money up front. You have to pay the printer to make your books; if the book doesn't sell, you eat that cost.

--An alternative to printing a number of books ahead of time is print-on-demand, or POD. The downside to POD is the cost. POD books are significantly more expensive, often pricing themselves out of the market.

--Most bookstores don't stock self-published books. It is virtually impossible to get self-published books into Barnes & Noble, Target, or Walmart at the national level. You might be able to visit individual independent bookstores and convince them to carry your book, but it takes time, money, effort, and salesmanship to do so.

--Independent bookstores and other shops that might carry your book are, essentially, taking your book on consignment. That means they will return any stock that doesn't sell -- and that stock is likely to be in horrible condition so you can't sell it elsewhere. You may not make enough money on the sales to cover the returns.

--On the plus side, print books are great to have for readings and other marketing events you set up. If you attract a reader in that moment, you need to be able to get a book into their hands (and money into yours). They are much less likely to buy the book if you give them a link to your ebook.

--Amazon does carry print books, but self-published books tend to sell a significantly higher percentage of ebooks, so again, you may end up with a lot of extra stock on hand.

Final vote:

Unless you have a lot of money to put into your book, stick to ebooks. Print is a lot of extra hassle, and the chances of making back your money are very slim.

Get your feet wet with ebook only. If your book takes off and there's a lot of demand for print copies, you can add a print version later.

And don't worry. Publishing an ebook only doesn't mean you can't have a few print copies for yourself and your friends. Check out Lulu.com or CreateSpace.com. Both let you print just a few not-for-sale copies for a very reasonable price.

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Did this chapter answer a question you had? It would be great if you would press that little star graphic in the top right corner. If not, just carry on reading and vote for one you find more helpful. Oh, I'd be happy to answer your questions in the comments below, as well. --XG