![Layer 2.png]](https://help.bookvault.app/hs-fs/hubfs/Layer%202.png?height=31&name=Layer%202.png){kind=small}
Once your book is ready, you can set it up for distribution directly through your Bookvault account.
This allows you to make your book available through Bookvault’s retail network, including The Great British Bookshop and other supported retailers.
Before starting, make sure your book’s ISBN and metadata have been registered correctly with the relevant ISBN agency. Your information should match what you enter into Bookvault to help prevent listing issues with retailers such as Amazon.
How do I set up my book for distribution?
From your Bookvault dashboard, use the navigation menu on the left-hand side and select Manage Distribution.
You’ll then see your titles separated into those that have already been set up for distribution and those that are still waiting to be configured.
Find the title you want to distribute and select Set Up Distribution.
What information do I need before I start?
Before setting up distribution, make sure your book is registered with the relevant ISBN agency and that its metadata is complete.
This can include:
- Author name
- Book title
- Book description
- ISBN
- BISAC and Thema subject codes
- Other publication details required by your ISBN registry
The information you enter into Bookvault should match the metadata registered against your ISBN. Differences between the two can cause problems with retailer listings or prevent a title from appearing correctly.
If you have purchased a Bookvault Publishing project, Bookvault will submit the relevant information to Nielsen on your behalf.
How do I enter my distribution details?
On the distribution setup page, complete the information required for retailers to list your book.
You may see a Load Nielsen Data option. This is currently disabled, so you should enter the required information manually.
Make sure the information matches the details held by Nielsen or your relevant ISBN registry.
Where can I choose to sell my book?
During distribution setup, you can choose whether you want your book to be available:
- through The Great British Bookshop
- through Bookvault’s wider retail distribution network
Bookvault does not currently offer retailer-by-retailer or country-by-country restrictions within the wider distribution network.
This means you cannot, for example, make a title available only in the UK and Ireland while excluding the United States.
If you do not want your title supplied through the wider retail network, you can keep it available through Bookvault’s own sales channels instead.
How do I set my retail price and retailer discount?
Enter the recommended retail price (RRP) for your book.
You can then adjust the retailer discount using the available slider. As you change the discount, Bookvault will display an estimate of how much you could earn from each sale.
Your estimated earnings are calculated using:
Retail Price – Retailer Discount – Production Cost = Estimated Publisher Compensation
You may notice that sales through The Great British Bookshop generate a higher return per copy. This is because it is Bookvault’s own sales channel and the full retailer discount is not taken.
Once you are happy with your pricing and distribution settings, select Save.
Can I change my book's retail price later?
Yes. If your title is already set up for distribution, you can change its retail price through Manage Distribution in your Bookvault account.
Find the title you want to update, edit its distribution details and enter the new retail price.
Changes to the price shown on The Great British Bookshop should normally appear within around 24 hours.
Do I need to update the price printed on my book cover?
No. Updating the price shown on your cover artwork is optional.
If you're making a temporary price change, you can change the online selling price without replacing your cover file.
If the new price is intended to be permanent and your cover displays a printed price, you may also want to update your cover artwork so that it matches.
What happens when I submit my book for distribution?
When you save your distribution setup, Bookvault checks the information you have entered against the metadata registered for your ISBN.
If any information does not match, Bookvault will highlight the affected fields so you can review and correct them.
These differences should be corrected before continuing, as incorrect metadata can cause problems with retailer listings or prevent your book from appearing correctly.
Once any issues have been resolved, select Save again to submit the title for distribution.
How do I know my book has been submitted successfully?
Once the distribution setup has been completed successfully, Bookvault will display a confirmation message.
Your title will then be sent to the relevant sales channels and retailers.
How long does it take for my book to appear for sale?
After your title has been submitted:
- The Great British Bookshop: your book should normally become available within 24 hours.
- Other retailers: Bookvault advises allowing up to two weeks for retailers to process the information and make the book available for sale.
Retailers control their own listing systems, so availability and processing times can vary.
If your book has not appeared after the expected timeframe, check that your ISBN metadata matches the information entered into Bookvault before contacting support.
