Tips, Tricks, Advice, & General Information | Going Wide vs. Staying Exclusive in Indie Publishing: Which Path is Right for You?

(Quick Side Note: I am a relatively new author and not an expert by any means. What I’m going to share with you are things I’ve learned along my own journey into self-publishing. I have ADHD and Autism, which is relevant because when I start something new, I tend to dive into a lot of research on the topic so I can learn as much as possible. Essentially, I’m a bundle of random information on a variety of topics. You really never know what I’m going to say if you ever meet me in person—LOL. I figured I’d share my plethora of information with you.)

One of the most important decisions an indie author has to make is whether to go wide or stay exclusive when publishing their books. Both approaches have their pros and cons, and understanding the nuances of each can help you choose the best strategy for your goals as an author. Whether you’re aiming for maximum visibility, consistent income, or long-term career growth, the choice between going wide and staying exclusive plays a critical role in your publishing success.

So let's dive into the nitty, gritty of what it means to go wide versus staying exclusive, explore how authors can succeed in either model, and discuss which might be better for your career.

What Does It Mean to Go Wide versus Stay Exclusive?

• Going Wide: This means distributing your books across multiple platforms and retailers, such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, and Google Play, as well as global distributors like Draft2Digital or Smashwords. By going wide, your book is available to readers on various platforms and in different formats, giving you a broader reach.

• Staying Exclusive: Staying exclusive typically refers to enrolling your books in Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing Select (KDP Select) program. In exchange for exclusivity—meaning your eBook cannot be sold on any other platform—your book becomes available in Kindle Unlimited (KU), Amazon’s subscription-based reading service. Readers can borrow your book as part of their subscription, and you earn money based on how many pages they read. (This means you can not even put your ebook on your own website... But the good news is... you're only locked in for 90 days... just make sure to cancel the auto renew feature if you initially sign up for it.)

How to Succeed Going Wide

Going wide can be a powerful strategy for authors looking to build a diverse audience across multiple platforms and avoid putting all their eggs in one basket. However, success in this model requires careful planning and effort.

1. Utilize Global Distribution

One of the biggest strengths of going wide is the ability to reach readers in multiple countries and markets. Platforms like Kobo and Google Play have strong global presences, especially in regions where Amazon isn’t dominant. Make sure your books are available on these platforms, and consider translating your work into other languages to grow your international audience.

2. Build a Direct Relationship with Readers

When you go wide, you have the opportunity to build a stronger, direct connection with your readers. Email marketing is especially critical in this model. By creating a newsletter and offering incentives (e.g., free stories, exclusive bonus chapters), you can grow a loyal fanbase that will buy your books wherever they’re available.

3. Focus on Marketing Beyond Amazon

When you’re wide, you’ll need to market your books on platforms besides Amazon. This may include running ads on Apple Books, Kobo, and Facebook, or leveraging social media to reach readers who use other retailers. Additionally, using services like BookBub and book funnel to promote your wide titles can help you gain visibility across multiple platforms.

4. Diversify Your Income Streams

Going wide allows you to tap into multiple revenue streams. Not only are you earning royalties from different platforms, but you can also sell directly from your website, distribute to libraries via services like OverDrive, or even create special editions for independent bookstores. This diversification ensures that if one platform underperforms, others can help balance your income.

How to Succeed Staying Exclusive

Staying exclusive, particularly with Amazon and KDP Select, is an attractive option for many indie authors due to the platform’s sheer dominance in the eBook market and the benefits of Kindle Unlimited. Here’s how to make the most of exclusivity:

1. Master the Kindle Unlimited Ecosystem

Since exclusivity makes your book eligible for Kindle Unlimited, you’ll need to understand how the program works. KU readers pay a subscription fee to access an unlimited number of books, and authors are paid based on the number of pages read. Success on KU often means writing longer books or series that encourage binge-reading.

2. Optimize Amazon Ads

Amazon’s advertising platform is one of the strongest tools for authors in KDP Select. Running targeted ads can help you increase visibility, drive sales, and boost your book’s rankings. By continually testing and refining your ad strategies, you can maximize your book’s performance on the platform.

3. Leverage Amazon’s Algorithms

When you’re exclusive, your success largely depends on Amazon’s algorithms. High sales, frequent downloads, and steady page reads can help your book rank higher in search results and appear in “Also Bought” recommendations. To succeed in this system, it’s important to focus on categories, keywords, and pricing strategies that appeal to Amazon’s audience.

4. Write to Market

If you’re staying exclusive, writing to market can be a key strategy. This means identifying trends and popular genres on Amazon and tailoring your books to meet reader demand. For example, certain genres (like romance, urban fantasy, and thrillers) tend to perform exceptionally well in KU, so understanding what KU readers want can help position your books for success. (Personally for me, this isn't something I can do because my brain doesn't work that way. But I have heard many authors find success with this tactic.)

What’s Better for Success: Going Wide or Staying Exclusive?

The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Both strategies have their strengths and weaknesses, and the “better” choice depends on your goals as an author. Like most things this boils down to personal preference...

When Going Wide Might Be Better:

• You want to diversify your income and reduce dependence on a single platform.

• You’re looking to grow a global audience or distribute to libraries and independent bookstores.

• You value having control over where and how your books are sold.

• You’re building a long-term career and want to future-proof your business by not relying solely on Amazon.

When Staying Exclusive Might Be Better:

• You’re writing in genres that thrive on Kindle Unlimited, such as romance, fantasy, or mystery.

• You want to maximize visibility on Amazon, the world’s largest eBook retailer.

• You’re a new indie author and want to focus on one platform before expanding to others.

• You’re looking for quick results and steady income from page reads in KU.

Key Considerations Before Choosing

1. Genre: Certain genres perform better in Kindle Unlimited (e.g., romance, urban fantasy), while others might benefit more from a wide audience.

2. Audience Goals: Do you want to build a global readership or focus on Amazon’s massive audience?

3. Effort and Focus: Going wide requires more marketing effort across multiple platforms, while staying exclusive lets you focus primarily on Amazon.

4. Income Stability: Kindle Unlimited can provide steady income through page reads, but going wide offers more diversified revenue streams.

5. Long-Term Strategy: Consider your long-term plans. Do you want to expand beyond Amazon eventually, or are you comfortable relying on one platform?

The decision to go wide or stay exclusive is one of the most important choices you’ll make as an indie author. Both approaches have the potential for success, but the right choice depends on your genre, goals, and willingness to market your books accordingly.

Staying exclusive with Amazon can be a great way to build visibility and earn steady income, especially if you’re just starting out. On the other hand, going wide allows you to reach a broader audience, diversify your income streams, and reduce dependence on a single platform.

But it's also important to note that if you choose to start exclusive and enroll your books in KU, you can cancel later on and decide to try wide. Amazon makes it fairly simply to start and stop using KU, however it is harder to go from being wide to exclusive as other platforms like Ingramsparks has a considerable progress when it comes to removing your books from their catalog.

Ultimately, whichever path you choose, success comes down to understanding your audience, mastering your marketing, and crafting books that resonate with readers. Whether you stay exclusive or go wide, the key is to remain flexible, adapt to changes in the market, and focus on building a sustainable, long-term career as an indie author.

And if you’ve reached this stage in your book, where you’re now trying to decide what fits best with a finished manuscript staring back at you... congratulations! You’re part of the 10% of people who actually finish the book they started writing. That’s awesome and definitely worth celebrating! Cheers to you!

Disclaimer: I do not claim to be an expert on the topics discussed in this blog. I am constantly learning and evolving, and the information provided is based on my personal experiences, conversations with friends, and research. If you come across any inaccuracies or incorrect information, I encourage you to kindly bring it to my attention so that I can make the necessary corrections. While I strive to be as accurate as possible, I am not an expert in topic of conversation, I'm not sure I believe anyone can be an expert in anything when we are always learning and new information is always being discovered. Your feedback is valuable to me, as I am always eager to learn and improve. (The key word is KINDLY bring any errors to my attention, rudeness will be ignored.)