Want to Publish Wide? How to Use Amazon KDP, IngramSpark & Draft2Digital Together
When we work with clients who are becoming first-time authors, we typically recommend starting with Amazon first for both the print and digital versions of their book.
For many new authors, that's more than enough to begin. Amazon provides access to a huge book-buying audience while keeping the publishing process relatively manageable.
In fact, we've written an entire article explaining why we believe starting with Amazon can be the smartest approach for many new business authors:
→ Amazon-Only Publishing: Why First-Time Business Authors Should Skip the Multi-Platform Complexity
Then, down the road, you can decide whether wider distribution makes sense for your book and your goals.
But what if you already know that you want your book distributed as widely as possible from the beginning?
That's what we're going to tackle here.
Wide distribution can be relatively simple. For example, you may want your book available through Barnes & Noble so you can pursue opportunities such as local book signings.
Or it can be much broader, using platforms such as IngramSpark and Draft2Digital to make your book available to a much larger network of bookstores, libraries, ebook retailers, and other distribution channels.
If you want to go as wide as possible from the get-go, we recommend taking a multi-platform approach and using each publishing platform for what it does best.
Keep in mind that a strategy like this has more moving parts. It can be implemented concurrently, with the different editions and platforms set up around the same time, or consecutively, adding additional distribution after your Amazon editions are established.
The biggest consideration is that each platform requires its own account and setup process. You'll need to upload and manage your book files on multiple platforms, review the requirements of each distributor, and potentially order and approve separate print proofs.
If you're ready for that additional complexity in exchange for wider availability, here's the distribution strategy we recommend.
Paperback Distribution
Amazon KDP — For Amazon Sales
We recommend publishing your paperback directly through Amazon KDP.
This ensures that Amazon receives the book directly through its own publishing platform and gives you direct control over your book's Amazon listing, pricing, and availability.
You would not enroll the paperback in KDP Expanded Distribution, because IngramSpark will be used for distribution outside Amazon.
IngramSpark — For Bookstores, Libraries & Wider Distribution
We recommend also publishing the paperback through IngramSpark using the same author-owned ISBN.
IngramSpark has an extensive wholesale distribution network used by independent bookstores, Barnes & Noble, libraries, universities, online retailers, and other booksellers.
This makes your book available for bookstores and libraries to order through the distribution systems they commonly use.
Important: Being available through IngramSpark does not guarantee that bookstores will stock your book on their shelves. It means bookstores have the ability to find and order your book through their normal wholesale channels.
Paperback Strategy
Amazon KDP → Amazon customers
IngramSpark → Bookstores, libraries & wider retail distribution
eBook Distribution
We recommend taking a slightly different approach with your ebook.
Amazon KDP — For the Kindle Edition
Your Kindle edition should be published directly through Amazon KDP.
This gives you direct control over your ebook's Amazon listing, pricing, metadata, and Kindle distribution.
Draft2Digital — For Wider eBook Distribution
If you would like your ebook available beyond Amazon, we recommend using Draft2Digital for wider ebook distribution.
Draft2Digital can distribute ebooks to numerous retailers and library platforms, such as Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, OverDrive, Hoopla, and other international and digital book channels.
You can select which distribution channels you want to use, allowing Amazon Kindle to remain managed directly through KDP while Draft2Digital handles many of the other ebook outlets.
eBook Strategy
Amazon KDP → Kindle
Draft2Digital → Other ebook retailers & library platforms
Important: Why We Don't Recommend KDP Select for Wide Distribution
Amazon offers an optional program called KDP Select, which also makes your ebook eligible for Kindle Unlimited.
However, enrolling your ebook in KDP Select requires the digital edition of your book to be exclusive to Amazon during each 90-day enrollment period.
That means while your ebook is enrolled in KDP Select, you cannot distribute the digital edition through Draft2Digital or make it available through other ebook retailers.
Because the goal of this distribution strategy is to make your book as widely available as possible, we recommend not enrolling your ebook in KDP Select.
Instead, we recommend:
Amazon KDP → Kindle
Draft2Digital → Other ebook retailers & library platforms
This gives you a direct presence on Amazon while also making your ebook available to readers through additional retailers, libraries, and digital platforms.
Note: KDP Select's exclusivity requirement applies to the digital edition. Your paperback distribution through Amazon KDP and IngramSpark is unaffected.
What About Book Preorders?
Preorders are another factor to consider when deciding how to distribute your book.
Amazon KDP allows you to set up preorders for Kindle ebooks, but it does not currently offer preorders for paperback or hardcover books.
Amazon Does Offer Scheduled Releases for Print Books
While KDP doesn't offer print preorders, it does offer something that may be a better option for many authors: a Scheduled Release.
With a Scheduled Release, you can select a specific date for your new paperback or hardcover to become available on Amazon, up to 90 days in advance.
Your Amazon product detail page remains hidden until your scheduled release date, so customers cannot preorder the book. However, your book can go through Amazon's review process ahead of time. Once it has successfully completed review, you can also order author copies before the release.
This can be especially helpful if you're planning a coordinated book launch and want copies available for yourself ahead of time while still having the Amazon edition officially go on sale on a specific date.
There are deadlines to keep in mind. KDP begins preparing the book for worldwide release five days before the scheduled date. During that period, you won't be able to update your manuscript or book details or change the scheduled release date.
You can review Amazon's current Release Date Options and requirements before deciding whether a Scheduled Release makes sense for your launch.
What If You Really Want a Print Preorder?
If having a print book available for preorder is an important part of your launch strategy, IngramSpark can provide additional options for making your print edition available to retailers ahead of its release date.
However, for most of the first-time business authors we work with, we don't recommend adding IngramSpark primarily to create a paperback preorder.
If you use IngramSpark primarily to make your print book available for preorder, IngramSpark may initially be supplying that book to retailers, including Amazon. Once the book launches, you'll then need to introduce the KDP edition so Amazon can fulfill the paperback directly, while continuing to use IngramSpark for wider distribution.
Managing that transition can create additional complexity with your Amazon listing and distribution. In our experience, that's often more trouble than it's worth simply to offer a print preorder.
For that reason, we generally recommend:
Kindle ebook → Set up an Amazon preorder if desired
Paperback → Wait until launch to make the KDP paperback available for purchase
If you're already planning to use IngramSpark as part of a wider print distribution strategy, that's different. In that case, its ability to support advance availability can be an additional benefit rather than the sole reason for adding another distribution platform.
As with every distribution decision, the question isn't just “Can I do this?”
It's “Does doing this actually support my book launch strategy?”
Our Recommended Wide Distribution Strategy
| Book Format | Platform | Primary Purpose |
| Paperback | Amazon KDP | Direct Amazon sales |
| Paperback | IngramSpark | Bookstores, libraries & wider distribution |
| eBook | Amazon KDP | Kindle |
| eBook | Draft2Digital | Other ebook retailers & library platforms |
Our recommended wide distribution strategy uses Amazon KDP for direct Amazon sales, IngramSpark for wider print distribution, and Draft2Digital for wider ebook distribution.
Bringing It All Together
The good news is that you don't have to do everything at once.
For many first-time authors, starting with Amazon KDP for both the paperback and Kindle edition is a perfectly good place to begin. You can get your book published, learn how the process works, and then expand your distribution when you're ready.
There's nothing wrong with taking a phased approach.
You might start with Amazon, add IngramSpark when you're ready to make your paperback more widely available to bookstores and libraries, and then add Draft2Digital when you want to expand your ebook distribution.
On the other hand, if wide distribution is important to your book strategy from the beginning, you can absolutely set up all three platforms as part of your initial publishing plan.
Just remember that the wider you go, the more moving parts you'll have to manage.
You'll have multiple accounts, book files, metadata, pricing, ISBN information, proofs, distribution settings, and dashboards to keep track of. You'll also want to make sure that each platform has a clearly defined purpose so you don't accidentally create overlapping distribution.
That's why staying organized will be key to your success.
Keep a central record of your accounts, ISBNs, book specifications, pricing, files, distribution channels, and important settings. Know which platform is responsible for which part of your distribution.
Our recommended structure is simple:
Amazon KDP → Amazon paperback and Kindle
IngramSpark → Wider print distribution
Draft2Digital → Wider ebook distribution
Whether you implement that strategy all at once or build it one platform at a time is entirely up to you.
The goal isn't to get your book onto every possible platform as quickly as possible.
The goal is to create a distribution strategy that makes sense for your book, your readers, and what you want your book to accomplish.
Ready for the Next Step With Your Business Book?
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About Gillian Whitney
Gillian Whitney is a business book coach and the host of Easy Peasy Books: From Author to Authority. She helps professionals write and publish books that build credibility, attract the right clients, and establish lasting expertise. Learn more at easypeasybooks.com