Palmetto Publishing offers several services designed to support authors throughout the publishing process. Their services include book cover design, interior formatting, distribution, and short term marketing, allowing authors to maintain full rights over their work while receiving professional support. The company was founded by a team of experienced publishing professionals and creative experts who saw the need for a more personalized and flexible approach to self-publishing.
This review analyzes Palmetto Publishing’s services, evaluating their effectiveness, advantages, and pitfalls to help both new and experienced authors understand if they meet your needs. By exploring customer reviews and service details, we aim to provide the information necessary for making an informed decision about choosing Palmetto Publishing.
Pros and Cons of Palmetto Publishing
| ✅ PROS | ⛔ CONS |
| Custom Publishing Solutions High-Quality Services 100% Royalties Comprehensive Support | High Costs No Long-Term Marketing Solutions Lack of Transparency Production Timeline |
✅ Pros of Palmetto
1. Custom Publishing Solutions: One of Palmetto’s features is its commitment to providing tailored publishing solutions. Each book receives personalized care, ensuring that it reflects the vision of the author.
2. High-Quality Services: Palmetto offers professional editing, design, and marketing services that rival traditional publishing standards.
3. Author Rights and Royalties: Authors retain 100% of their rights and net profits, allowing them to maximize their earnings.
4. Comprehensive Support: Palmetto’s strategy sessions, consultation calls, and ongoing support ensure that authors are guided through every step of the publishing process. This hands-on approach is particularly beneficial for first-time authors.
⛔ Cons of Palmetto
1. High Costs: According to their website the average author will typically pay around $ 3800 for the production, However, when examining the detailed pricing breakdown, the costs can significantly exceed this amount. This may be a barrier for authors on a tight budget.
2. No Long-Term Marketing Solutions: Palmetto excels at initial book promotion but does not position itself as a long-term marketing or PR firm. Authors may need to seek additional marketing support after the initial launch.
3. Lack of Transparency: One of the key issues with publishing houses like Palmetto is the lack of transparency during the publishing process, which often leaves writers uncertain about the status and progression of their book’s production and release stages.
4. Production Timeline: Palmetto’s average timeline is 8-12 weeks minimum. Yet, in most cases, the publishing process takes a lot longer. However, this is still a significantly shorter timeline than that of a traditional publisher.
Pricing
Here is a brief overview Palmetto’s prices:
- Editing Services: Copy editing starts at $300 for up to 10,000 words, line editing at $380, and developmental editing at $900
- Book Cover Design: Starting at $599
- Interior Formatting: Starting at $599 for basic formatting, with more complex options available up to $1699
- eBook Conversion: Starting at $399
- Illustrations: Ranging from $199 for spot illustrations to $449 for two-page spreads
- Printing Services: Custom quotes based on specific needs such as trim size, paper type, and binding options
- Marketing Services: Packages start at $249 for marketing copy, with comprehensive promotional packages available up to $2,299
Services Offered by Palmetto Publishing
Editing Services
The prices for these services depend on the amount and type of editing required, as well as the number of words. Prices start at $300-$900 for up to 10,000 words– depending on the type of editing. Palmetto offers various types of editing services:
Copy Editing focuses on sentence-level corrections to improve clarity, grammar, punctuation, and spelling. It ensures that the text is free of errors and reads smoothly.
Line Editing addresses stylistic and structural elements. Editors review the manuscript for tone, consistency, and overall flow, offering suggestions to enhance the organization and readability of the text.
Developmental Editing is the most in-depth form of editing, focusing on the big-picture elements of the manuscript, is ideal for authors seeking comprehensive guidance on how to strengthen their story. Developmental editors assess the plot, structure, and character development, providing detailed feedback on themes, pacing, and overall narrative coherence.
Book Cover Design Services
Different Packages and Pricing
Palmetto Publishing offers several book cover design packages, each tailored to different genres and author requirements. The standard package, starting at $599, includes one cover concept with front, spine, and back design. This package features a fully licensed premium stock image or an author-provided image and includes one round of changes. This option is popular for genres such as poetry, business, and religious books.
For more complex or specialized needs, Palmetto provides additional customization options at an extra cost. Authors requiring multiple rounds of revisions or additional design elements can opt for these enhanced services to ensure their cover meets their exact vision.
Customization Options and Examples
At Palmetto, each book cover is custom-designed to reflect the unique essence of the book. Authors can provide their own images or choose from Palmetto’s library of premium stock images. Additionally, Palmetto’s designers work closely with authors to incorporate specific elements and styles that align with the book’s theme and target audience.
Interior Formatting Services
Palmetto offers a range of formatting packages to suit different needs. The Basic Interior Formatting Package starts at $599 and includes layout and design, one image, and one round of up to 25 text changes. For more extensive requirements, the Complex Plus Formatting Package starts at $1699 and includes a design consultation, up to 200 images, and three rounds of changes.
eBook Conversion Services
Conversion Process and Pricing: Palmetto Publishing’s eBook conversion service starts at $399 and includes creating an EPUB file compatible with most e-book devices and platforms. The service supports both flowable and fixed-layout formats, making the book adaptable to devices like Kindle, Nook, and iBook, ensuring a seamless reading experience across different platforms.
Illustration Services
Palmetto offers various illustration services for authors, each customizable to fit the book’s theme and vision: Spot Illustrations start at $199, these small illustrations are ideal for chapter headings and vignettes, taking up a third of a page or less. Half Page Illustrations from $249, fill about half a page, complementing the text with ample space around the artwork. Full Page Illustrations begin at $349 and can cover an entire page as a single scene or a series of smaller images, with optional text integration. Two-Page Spreads from $449, span both pages for a dramatic, immersive experience.
Printing Services
Palmetto Publishing offers customizable printing services with requirements for print-ready files, including formatted text, high-resolution covers, correct trim sizes, and embedded fonts. They assist with formatting and design if needed. Customization options include hardcover and paperback covers with matte or gloss finishes, various binding techniques, and a choice of paper stocks to enhance the book’s feel and readability. Palmetto also provides full-color printing for vivid images, ideal for children’s books, cookbooks, and visually-rich publications, ensuring a professional and high-quality final product.
Marketing Services
Palmetto Publishing provides a comprehensive suite of services to help authors maximize the reach and visibility of their books.
Their $249 marketing package includes compelling, SEO-optimized book descriptions, searchable keywords, BISAC categorizations, author biographies, and promotional taglines. They also offer custom author websites for $1,599, featuring a biography, sales page, contact page, editable blog, and additional promotional pages.
For broader visibility, their marketing packages priced at $1,999 and $2,299 include press releases, marketing copy, printed promotional materials, and, in the higher package, a newswire article. These services ensure authors can effectively reach their audience and achieve competitive market success.
Distribution Services
For a one-time fee of $399, authors can list their books on about 15,000 online retailers, ensuring global availability without any recurring charges and guaranteeing indefinite market presence.
To generate media buzz, Palmetto offers press release distribution to 100, 500, or 1,000 outlets, with prices ranging from $729 to $1,029. Additionally, their newswire article service, priced at $1,299, guarantees coverage on major platforms like Yahoo News, Fox, NBC, and ABC. This service includes detailed reports on placements, views, and clicks.
Customer Support and Author Involvement
Strategy Sessions and Consultation Calls
Palmetto offers 30-minute strategy sessions and consultation calls, giving authors direct access to experienced publishing consultants. During these sessions, authors can ask questions, and receive advice on how to best approach their publishing journey. This guidance strategy helps authors navigate the publishing process, from manuscript preparation to marketing strategies. These sessions are useful for first-time authors and seasoned writers alike, ensuring that each project receives the attention it deserves.
Ongoing Support and Author Involvement in the Process
No two books or authors are the same, which is why they emphasize ongoing support and active author involvement. From the initial consultation to the final stages of publication, authors are encouraged to participate in every step. This approach allows authors to make informed decisions about their book’s design, formatting, and marketing.
Authors have access to a team that is available to answer questions, provide updates, and address any concerns that may arise. This support ensures a smooth publishing experience. Additionally, Palmetto’s online platform offers tools for tracking progress, reviewing design drafts, and submitting revisions, allowing authors to stay involved and informed.
Royalties
One of the features of Palmetto Publishing is its author-friendly royalty system. Authors retain 100% of their net profits. This means that after deducting the costs charged by distribution platforms, all remaining earnings go directly to the author.
Royalties are paid out quarterly, meaning that authors receive regular income from their book sales. Palmetto provides metrics reports with each payment, allowing authors to track their book’s performance and sales trends. Payments are processed through a secure payment portal where authors can easily input their direct deposit information.
Customer Reviews and Ratings
Palmetto publishing has a 4.8 star review on Trustpilot, highlighting good customer experince. However, publishing with Palmetto can be a costly endeavour and most authors so mention that it is tailored for authors who have a higher budget.
Is Palmetto For You?
Palmetto Publishing offers a comprehensive range of services from professional editing and cover design to printing services, allowing authors to retain 100% of their net profits. For a one-time fee, authors can list their books on approximately 15,000 online retailers, ensuring global availability. Their marketing services include SEO-optimized book descriptions, author website creation, press release distribution, and newswire articles, providing an initial boost in visibility.
While their services are highly rated, especially in terms of production quality, they come at a higher price point and can take time to complete. This makes Palmetto a great publishing choice if you have a high budget. However, their marketing offerings may be less efficient for long-term results, which are crucial for sustained book sales. Considering these pros and cons helps authors make an informed decision about who to publish with.
Best Alternative To Palmetto
Spines Publishing Platform excels in the publishing industry by offering speed, affordability, and comprehensive support. Their efficient process enables manuscripts to be published in under 30 days. Affordable plans, driven by AI cost efficiency, are significantly lower than industry standards. Authors receive dedicated support from a personal production manager throughout the journey.
Spines supports all formats, including Print-on-Demand, eBooks, and Audiobooks, with distribution across 100+ global channels like Amazon and Barnes & Noble. They offer a 7-day money-back guarantee and a user-friendly dashboard covering proofreading, editing, formatting, and cover design, catering to both novice and established writers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Palmetto so expensive?
A: Ultimately Palmetto’s high prices come down to their manual processes. Human labor takes significantly more time and as a result more money, as opposed to combining technologies at each stage of the publishing process to enhance speed and efficiency.
Do authors retain rights to their books?
A: Yes, authors retain 100% of their rights and net profits. Palmetto does not take any royalties, allowing authors to maximize their earnings.
Does Palmetto have long-term marketing strategies?
A: Palmetto offers a variety of marketing strategies such as SEO-optimized book descriptions, distribution services to 15,000 online retailers, newswire article service, and more. However, their marketing seems to be aimed more at boosting the book at its initial release without much in terms of long-term solutions. A long-term marketing strategy is crucial as this is where the majority of sales occur.