Planning To Succeed

Lulu For Self-Publishing

Lulu (www.lulu.com) is the digital marketplace to buy, sell or display your words, your art and your ideas. Launched in 2002, this Web site is the place to self-publish videos, music, artistic creations and photography. CEO Bob Young conceived of this site as the means for more people to gain access to the world’s consumer market. The content generator—-writer, artist, photgrapher—-keeps editorial and copyright control. With users in 80 countries, it is evident that Lulu, 2007 Web 2.0 awards winner in the books category, is turning artistic dreams into reality.
As with most Web sites, online registration is necesssary. There are forums, blogs and a newsletter. For those interested in publishing their work, the site has service providers to get you through editing, cover art, obtaining the ISBN, translation and promotion.

Daughter of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Iowan Tribal self-published a book of poetry entitled, Trials and Tribalations earlier this year. Lulu offered the kind of features an independent, out-of-the-box-thinker like Iowan had to capitalize on. She explained there was no financial overhead; she stood to get 90% of the revenue; and Lulu would arrange sales not only from this site but also Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Purchasers had the option of a digital download or hard copy version. Iowan Tribal says, “I’m using lulu.com so that the book can be ordered easily on the Internet no matter what state or country the request comes from.”

Labels: Bob Young, copyright control, e-commerce, self-publishing, Web 2.0

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