I feel so humble now.

[kevinlomas]

I just found this >>>   http://www.lulu.com/publishers   although it is perhaps not new! But I wonder if this is why us DIYers appear to be left to fend for ourselves and to also help each other, because we use Lulu for free? Is it also the reason people post in the forum thinking we are staff so asking 'us' to do it all for them?

[John McGeough]

Thats an interesting and thought provoking post.   I'm going to look into that as it looks interesting.  What I am doing now is working my publicity through Linkedin which I just love, my facebook page, twitter and friends.  I am also doing a face to face meeting with every home school store in the greater houston metroplex and will be extending that to east Texas as I can pay for gas.... I just don't have the money right now to purchase a publicity package but the publishing program intrigues me.

[kevinlomas]

Chucking money at things does not always mean extra sales, and to get the money back you have to sell a LOT.

[dhsully]

At one time I thought, "If my sales catch fire, maybe I will be able to afford a publicity package."  Then it dawned on me that if I sold that much I wouldn't need a publicity package.

I wonder where Lulu makes their bigger profit, from the free users or the Gold/Platinum users.  I wouldn't be surprised if it's from those of us too strapped to afford to pay for the special services and promotions.

I don't think you should feel humbled, Kevin.  I would bet that volunteers like yourself are doing more for Lulu than many of the paid techs.

[kevinlomas]

Possibly from sale of constantly revising proofs, LOL. No, I think they do a lot of third-party stuff. A lot of what is on Lulu now has not been created on Lulu or by self-publishers.

Oh, I rarely really feel humble ... :-)

[dhsully]

LOL.  Reminds me of the song that was popular a few years back, "Lord but it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way."

Didn't realize Lulu had a lot of third party stuff.

[norrimac]

El Kev,

Look at it this way: you can use the platinum package to set yourself up as a 'proper' publishing house, but without the ongoing, fixed costs.

Try setting up a real business these days and running it for (say) 2 years for $5,000!

That comparison makes such a venture on Lulu a true bargain. (I think, anyway.)

And 'humble'? I hope not, Sir!

We love you for the arrogant, loud-mouthed, self-opinionated, argumentative, obnoxious sod you ARE!!!

Please don't ever change! Life on Lulu would be SO dull....

[Nohoarii]

Careful, Norman. Many of my best friends are arrogant, loud-mouthed, self-opinionated, argumentative, obnoxious sods.

[norrimac]

Sounds like another invitation-only club to me, Trevor...

[kevinlomas]

Snigger.