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Going wide or going exclusive with an ebook
Some ebook programmes require exclusivity to a single retailer in return for their benefits. Whether that trade is worth it depends on the book and the plan.
When publishing an ebook independently, one of the early decisions is whether to sell it through many retailers or through only one. Selling through many is usually called going wide. Selling through one, as a condition of joining a particular programme, is going exclusive.
Neither choice is right for every book. The decision is a trade-off, and it helps to be clear about what is being traded.
What exclusivity involves
Some ebook subscription or promotion programmes require that the ebook is available only through the retailer running them for the period of enrolment. In return, the book may be included in a subscription reading service, where the author is paid according to how much of the book subscribers read, and may have access to promotional tools that are not otherwise available.
The exclusivity usually applies to the ebook edition rather than to print or audio, but the precise scope depends on the terms. It can restrict not only sales through other retailers but also making the ebook available in other ways, such as through the author's own website, or sharing substantial extracts elsewhere. Enrolment is typically for a fixed period and may renew automatically unless it is cancelled.
Terms change, so it is essential to read the current ones before enrolling and to check them again before each renewal.
What going wide involves
Going wide means making the ebook available through several retailers, library platforms and, where relevant, direct sales. The book can be found by readers who use different stores, in different countries, and by libraries that lend ebooks.
No single retailer controls the book's availability, and changes in one retailer's policies affect only part of its sales. On the other hand, building a readership across several platforms can take longer, and each platform has its own tools, promotions and audience.
Factors to weigh
Genre and readership matter. Some kinds of books, particularly in genres where readers consume many titles quickly, are well suited to subscription reading. Readers who read heavily and prefer subscriptions may find a book there that they would not otherwise try. Other kinds of books find their readers through a wider range of shops and libraries.
Geography matters. The dominance of any one retailer varies from country to country. A book whose readership is spread internationally may find more readers through a wide approach.
Libraries matter. An exclusive ebook generally cannot be made available through library ebook platforms while enrolled, which excludes a group of readers who borrow rather than buy.
Series and backlist matter. An author with several books can use different approaches for different titles, or change approach over time, though frequent changes can make things harder for readers to follow.
Control matters. Exclusivity concentrates dependence on one company's policies, which may change during the enrolment period.
Changing course
Enrolment periods are finite, so a book that starts exclusive can later go wide, and a book that is wide can be withdrawn from other retailers and enrolled. Moving in either direction takes some administration. Removing a book from other retailers can take time to complete, and rebuilding visibility on platforms it has left can take longer still.
The useful question is not which approach is better in general, but which suits this book, its likely readers and the author's plans. It is worth writing down what you expect to gain from either choice, then reviewing the result after a set period.
Whichever route is chosen, read the terms closely and keep a note of when enrolment starts, when it renews and what it prevents.