Reedsy is an all-in-one website that offers services tailored to self-publishing. With its on-demand marketplace model, Reedsy connects authors with a variety of experts in book editing, design, marketing, and more.
Reedsy is a service marketplace that provides tools to authors and publishers in the self-publishing industry. You can hire ghostwriters, editors, cover designers, and more with the platform. One of the key things that differentiates Reedsy from its competition is that they vet the freelancers’ work experience and track record on their platform. Reedsy also makes collaboration more manageable through writing tools, automated contracts, and secure payments.
This article explores the features, insights, and pros and cons of Reedsy, helping you determine if it’s the right platform for your publishing needs.
Overview of Reedsy
Founded in 2014 by Emmanuel Nataf, Ricardo Fayet, Vincent Durand, and Matt Cobb, Reedsy aims to support authors on their self-publishing journey by connecting them with industry professionals. Through its on-demand marketplace, Reedsy offers access to a range of vetted editors, designers, ghostwriters, marketers, and web designers.
Reedsy has a rating of 4.6 stars on Trustpilot, but it is important to note that Reedsy is not a typical publishing company, but rather an all-in-one website where authors can find and connect with verified professionals within the field of publishing.
| ✅ PROS | ⛔ CONS |
Easy Access to Professionals in the Publishing Industry Verified Professionals Variety of Publishing Services Complete Control Over Your Work | Not an All-In-One Publishing Solution Lack of Support High Costs Associated with Hiring Freelancers No Guarantees |
✅ Reedsy Pros
Access to Professional Editors, Designers, and Marketers: Reedsy connects authors with skilled professionals in the publishing industry, including editors, designers, and marketers, who can assist with various aspects of book production and promotion.
Verified Professionals: Reedsy ensures that the freelancers on its platform undergo a vetting process, aiming to offer authors a selection of qualified and experienced professionals.
Variety of Services: Reedsy offers a range of services beyond editing and design, including ghostwriting, marketing, and web design, providing authors with various tools to support different stages of the publishing process.
⛔ Reedsy Cons
Not an All-in-One Self-Publishing Solution: While Reedsy offers many services, it is not a comprehensive self-publishing platform. Authors still need to manage certain aspects of the publishing process independently or use additional platforms for tasks such as distribution and sales.
Costs Associated with Hiring Freelancers: Utilizing the services of Reedsy’s freelancers involves costs, which can accumulate quickly. For authors on a tight budget, these expenses might be a limiting factor, making it a less accessible option for some.
Lack of Support: Reedsy might not be the best option for first-time authors. While it does offer access to credited publishing services, there is a lack of support and authors may feel out of their depth.
No Guarantees: Reedsy does not guarantee the quality of work or the timeliness of delivery from its professionals. Despite vetting its freelancers, there is still a risk of receiving subpar work or experiencing delays. This lack of assurance can be challenging for authors who need reliable, high-quality services or want certainty about the services they will receive. Reedsy is more suitable for authors with more experience in self-publishing.
Overview of Services Offered
In addition to linking authors and publishers with skilled professionals, Reedsy provides an array of tools designed to assist authors at every stage of the publishing journey. Here are some of the services that Reedsy offers:
Reedsy Marketplace:
- Editing – Find book editors to polish up your manuscript.
- Designing – Find book cover designers and illustrators.
- Publicity – Find a publicist to help you grow your audience and find media opportunities.
- Marketing – Find a marketer to help create your book marketing plan.
- Ghostwriting – Find a ghostwriter to help you write.
- Web Design – Find a web designer to create your author website.
Reedsy Discovery:
Reedsy Discovery was launched officially in March 2019. The review community is growing, and there are some helpful guides to help you learn how to launch your book on Reedsy Discovery to increase your readership.
Reedsy BookEditor:
Reedsy offers a free online book editing and writing platform. Authors can sign up for free to start Offers basic editing and formatting services.
Additional Services Include:
- Educational Content: Reedsy also provides free educational courses to writers no matter what stage they are at in their journey. You’ll find series on topics like self-publishing, Facebook ads, book marketing, and even Amazon algorithms.
- Reedsy Plot Generator: This plot generator allows the writer to choose a genre, and it will generate ideas for the plot, plot twist, protagonist, and secondary character.
Reedsy Marketplace
The Reedsy Marketplace allows publishers and authors to explore and hire expert editors, cover designers, web designers, ghostwriters, and more, providing essential services to support their book publishing efforts.
1. Editing Services
- Developmental Editing: Focuses on the big picture of your manuscript, addressing plot, structure, and character development to enhance the overall story.
- Copy Editing & Line Editing: Ensures clarity, coherence, and consistency in the text by correcting grammar, punctuation, and style issues, while also refining sentence structure and flow.
- Editorial Assessment: Provides a high-level review of your manuscript, offering feedback on its strengths and areas for improvement.
- Proofreading: The final stage of editing, which involves checking for typographical errors and minor grammatical mistakes to ensure a polished and error-free manuscript.
2. Designing Services
- Cover Design: Professional designers create eye-catching book covers that capture the essence of your story and attract potential readers.
- Illustration: Custom illustrations for book covers, interiors, or marketing materials to enhance visual appeal and engage readers.
- Typography: Expertise in font selection and layout to ensure readability and aesthetic appeal.
- Book Interior Design: Professional layout services for the interior of your book, ensuring a visually appealing and reader-friendly format.
3. Marketing Services
- Marketing Strategy: Development of a comprehensive marketing plan tailored to your book and target audience.
- Email Marketing: Strategies and services to build and engage an email list, promoting your book directly to potential readers.
- Advertising: Assistance with creating and managing advertising campaigns to increase visibility and sales.
4. Ghostwriting
- Professional ghostwriters help bring your book ideas to life, writing content based on your vision and guidelines.
5. Web Design
- Creation of author websites or book landing pages to establish an online presence, engage readers, and promote your books effectively.
Reedsy Discovery
Reedsy Discovery is a paid platform designed for self-published and indie authors to gain exposure by connecting with book reviewers. Officially launched in March 2019, Reedsy Discovery promotes books to a growing community of reviewers who can preview and purchase them through provided links. The platform also offers helpful guides to assist authors in launching their books and increasing their readership.
Reedsy Book Editor
The Reedsy BookEditor is an online editing and writing platform that simplifies the typesetting process. Offering basic editing and formatting services, it is a focused and efficient tool for authors. This free resource helps reduce costs associated with typesetting and streamlines the book creation process, making it a practical choice for authors looking to save time and money.
How Does Pricing Work?
Reedsy offers a model where the cost depends on the specific services and professionals you choose to hire. While accessing the platform and its information is free, hiring freelancers for your book publishing needs involves paying their fees along with associated platform fees.
Cost Considerations for Hiring Freelancers on Reedsy
When you hire a professional on Reedsy’s marketplace, you will incur two types of fees:
- Project Fee: Reedsy charges a project fee, which can be up to 10%. However, this fee can be lower for collaborators who have a history of working together, fostering a mutually supportive environment.
- Payment Fee: In addition to the project fee, there is a 2.9% payment processing fee on all transactions.
The overall cost of using Reedsy’s services varies widely based on the type of service and the specific professionals you hire. This allows authors to choose professionals that fit within their budget, offering flexibility in managing publishing expenses.
In summary, while Reedsy can be more costly upfront compared to traditional publishing, it offers significant advantages in terms of flexibility, control, and access to top-tier professionals. Compared to other self-publishing platforms, Reedsy stands out for its comprehensive suite of professional services, albeit at a potentially higher cost.
Distribution
Reedsy does not offer direct distribution services for authors. However, it has partnered with Blurb to provide printing and distribution solutions. Through this partnership, authors can utilize Blurb’s print-on-demand services to produce physical copies of their books. Blurb also offers various distribution options, including sales through major online retailers and global distribution networks, helping authors reach a broader audience.
Customer Reviews and Experiences
Customer reviews for Reedsy are mixed, reflecting a variety of experiences. While some users appreciate the platform’s professional services, there are notable criticisms as well.
Customers often praise Reedsy for its access to high-quality, vetted professionals, such as editors, designers, and marketers. The ability to handpick collaborators and the platform’s user-friendly interface are seen as significant advantages. Many authors find the variety of services beneficial, allowing them to tailor their publishing process to their specific needs.
However, some users have expressed concerns about the costs associated with hiring freelancers on Reedsy. The platform fees, including the project fee and payment processing fee, can add up, making it an expensive option for some authors.
Additionally, despite the quality of services, there are criticisms regarding the lack of comprehensive support, particularly for first-time authors who might need more guidance through the self-publishing process. Considering these points, it’s worth evaluating whether other self-publishing platforms might offer more cost-effective or supportive solutions for certain authors.
Is Reedsy For You?
When considering if Reedsy is suitable for your needs, evaluate your budget, level of experience, and specific publishing requirements. Reedsy is beneficial if you seek high-quality, vetted professionals for editing, design, and marketing, and prefer to maintain control over the publishing process. It’s ideal for authors with a clear vision and those who can manage project costs.
However, Reedsy is probably not the best choice if you’re a first-time author needing extensive guidance or if budget constraints are a major concern. In such cases, more comprehensive self-publishing platforms that offer lower costs and greater support may be more suitable, as Reedsy is best for authors highly proficient in the self-publishing process.
Best Alternative to Reedsy
If you’re still on the search for the right publishing company for you, there are several great options to look at. One of the best publishing options today is the innovative publishing platform known as Spines. Combining both human expertise with technology and Artificial Intelligence, Spines is the most efficient option, with a publishing timeline of less than 30 days.
With Reedsy, you need to spend time searching for publishing professionals. In contrast, Spines provides everything you need on one transparent, easy-to-use platform. Spines simplifies the publishing process with an intuitive interface that includes everything from editing and cover design to distribution and book conversion. Their affordable packages start at $99 per month, and with authors receiving 100% of their royalties, Spines truly stands out.
If you’re seeking all-in-one comprehensive publishing services on an easy-to-use platform and more cost-effective pricing, sign up for free to explore what Spines has to offer.
FAQs About Publishing with Reedsy
1. What types of services does Reedsy offer for book publishing?
Reedsy connects authors with a marketplace of freelance professionals offering services such as editing, cover design, marketing, and ghostwriting. However, these services are individually priced and can add up quickly, making it potentially costly for authors on a budget.
2. How much control do authors have over the content and design of their books with Reedsy?
Authors have full control over selecting and working with freelancers on Reedsy. While this provides great flexibility, it also means that authors need to invest time in vetting and managing their chosen professionals.
3. What percentage of royalties can authors expect to receive with Reedsy?
Authors retain 100% of their royalties since Reedsy does not take a cut from book sales. However, the total cost of hiring multiple freelancers can be significant, which may affect overall profitability.
4. How user-friendly is the Reedsy platform for first-time authors?
The Reedsy platform is intuitive and offers a high level of customization. However, first-time authors may find it challenging to navigate the process of selecting and coordinating with multiple freelancers without a centralized support system.
5. What are the marketing and promotional options available through Reedsy?
Reedsy offers marketing services through its network of freelancers, but these are not included in the standard packages and must be purchased separately. Authors need to carefully assess the cost-effectiveness of these options compared to other more integrated publishing solutions.