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Dependent vs. Independent Publishing: Who’s in Control?

The publishing industry has evolved significantly, and with the rise of self-publishing, many authors find themselves at a crossroads: Should they remain dependent publishers, relying on third-party platforms, or take full control as independent publishers? The answer boils down to one crucial word—control.

The Difference Between Dependent and Independent Publishing

Dependent publishers use external platforms such as Amazon, Draft2Digital, or Facebook to distribute their work. They rely on these companies for sales, visibility, and revenue. However, they have little to no say in platform policies, pricing structures, or distribution rights. Essentially, they are at the mercy of these companies’ business decisions.

Independent publishers, on the other hand, take control of their publishing process. They own their websites, manage their sales, and create distribution channels that allow them to operate without third-party interference. This autonomy gives them more security and long-term sustainability.

The Illusion of Control

Many authors assume they have control simply because they own their content. However, true control means owning the platform where their content is published. If you’re using Amazon, Facebook, or any other external service, you’re building on rented land. And what happens when the landlord changes the rules?

Take, for example, the case of Draft2Digital, an eBook distribution company. After a company sale, many authors (including myself) found themselves locked out of their accounts without notice. Royalties that had been accumulating disappeared. There was no accountability, no recourse—just a swift and silent exit. This is the danger of being a dependent publisher.

The Hidden Costs of Dependency

When you publish through third-party platforms, you sacrifice control for convenience. Here are some risks:

  • Account Suspensions: Companies can disable or delete accounts without warning, erasing years of work and revenue streams.
  • Policy Changes: Platforms change their rules all the time. What works today may not be allowed tomorrow.
  • Revenue Uncertainty: Platforms can withhold payments, delay royalties, or change payout terms without explanation.
  • Lack of Ownership: Your audience and customers belong to the platform, not you. If the platform disappears, so does your business.

A stark example of this is Facebook. Many entrepreneurs have built businesses solely on the platform, only to have their accounts disabled, their reach throttled, or their pages taken down. The truth is, if you don’t own the platform, you don’t own the business.

Independent Publishing: The Smart Alternative

The alternative is to take full control of your publishing business. This means owning your website, selling directly to your customers, and creating an infrastructure that isn’t dependent on external corporations.

Steps to Becoming an Independent Publisher

  1. Own Your Digital Real Estate – Purchase a domain name and set up your own website. Use it as the primary hub for your books and business.
  2. Build an Email List – Unlike social media followers, an email list is something you control. It allows you to directly reach your readers.
  3. Sell Directly to Customers – Use eCommerce platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce to sell books directly instead of relying solely on Amazon.
  4. Control Your Distribution – Work with print-on-demand services that give you more flexibility over pricing, royalties, and distribution.
  5. Invest in Your Knowledge – Learn how to market, distribute, and scale your publishing business effectively.

The Seven Controls of Publishing

In Own Your Book Press, I discuss seven key controls every independent publisher should have. When you have all seven controls, you can enjoy all of the following:

  1. Content Control – Owning the rights to your book and deciding how it’s distributed.
  2. Pricing Control – Setting your own price without interference from a third-party platform.
  3. Production Control – Managing how and where your books are printed.
  4. Sales Control – Deciding how your books are sold and marketed.
  5. Customer Data Control – Having direct access to your customers and sales data.
  6. Revenue Control – Keeping 100% of your profits instead of splitting them with a platform.
  7. Brand Control – Building a recognizable brand independent of any external service.

When you own all these controls and more, you are truly independent and not just a participant in someone else’s system.

The Future Belongs to Independent Publishers

The world of publishing is changing. While dependent publishing offers a quick and easy way to get books in front of readers, it also comes with risks that many authors don’t consider until it’s too late. Independent publishing, on the other hand, allows authors to build a sustainable business that they own and control.

If you’re serious about long-term success in self-publishing, now is the time to transition from dependency to independence. Invest in your own platform, take ownership of your business, and ensure that no external entity can dictate your future.

Final Thoughts

The question isn’t whether self-publishing is the right path; it’s whether you want to be in control of your success. The choice between dependent and independent publishing is the choice between hope and certainty. Which will you choose?