Tolino Media Launches Self-Publishing Platform with Limited-Time Introductory Offer
In January, we reported on how the Tolino eBook supplier Pubbles evolved into the new brand Tolino Media. Originally launched as a digital newspaper kiosk, Pubbles became an important part of the Tolino alliance: all providers in the alliance draw from its selection.
The name change was meant to highlight this fact and make the offerings, particularly abroad, identifiable as part of the Tolino family. This seemed plausible back in January, especially since the book retail alliance had increasingly expanded into Europe over the past 12 months.
Tolino Media Becomes a Self-Publishing Platform
The reasoning is only half the truth, as it was not just about making the Tolino offerings more understandable to (potential) foreign partners, but also to customers. In the future, Tolino Media will not only serve as the basis for the eBook supply but will also offer self-publishing authors the chance to integrate their works directly into the Tolino system.
The eBooks will then be available from all Tolino partners and can be purchased quickly and easily at Thalia, Weltbild, eBook.de, and Hugendubel. The goal is clear: the Tolino alliance wants to break Amazon’s dominance in the digital indie market. Currently, there is no offering that enjoys as much popularity as Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). Thus, Amazon remains the first and foremost stop for independent authors.
Targeting KDP
This is likely due to the fact that Amazon’s competitor shops aren’t as firmly established as the shipping giant yet. In Germany, though, the Tolino alliance has been able to quickly gain recognition through aggressive marketing, competitive prices, and not least because of the local advantage of physical bookstores. It now ranks second in eBook reader market shares, right behind Amazon. According to their own statements, they’ve even surpassed Amazon in eBook sales (when all partners are counted together). So, it makes sense to open up their offerings to indie authors as well.
To start, Tolino Media is initially taking cues from KDP, as a marketing video explains (see the end of the article). This means there are no listing fees, no fixed costs, and no licensing fees. Plus, authors receive a free ISBN. The eBook’s sale price can be set freely, and royalties are 70 percent (apparently regardless of the price).
Successful indie authors will also be offered the opportunity by Tolino Media to have their eBooks printed and sold as regular paperbacks in bookstores like Thalia & Co. However, the conditions for this have yet to be revealed.
Time-Limited Introductory Conditions
A small note at the end of the video catches the eye. It says: “Introductory conditions valid only until 31.01.2016 – hurry up, it’s worth it”. It will be interesting to see which of the mentioned benefits will change in the future. A possible adjustment to the royalties could occur, as Amazon requires eBooks to be within a certain price range to receive 70 percent profit sharing. This could also become the case here in the future. It’s equally possible that the free assignment of an ISBN number will be discontinued.
(Probably) at the end of April, Tolino Media is expected to officially launch. By then, it should be clear which terms have an expiration date.
