You are an author and you wrote, Plenty of Catfish: Volume I (The Fishnet Series).

In order to get your book the proper exposure it needs, you have decided to use the CreateSpace (Amazon.com) platform. How can you decide as to whether a Standard or Expanded Distribution platform is ideal for your book? As you begin to navigate through the sections, you saw that there were two distribution channels - Standard and Expanded - within the Project Homepage profile.  

Within the Createspace Project Homepage profile you will see the following sections that need to be completed in order to get exposure for your book:

Create

Setup

Review

Distribute

Sales and Marketing

Under the Distribute section you will see:

Channels

Pricing

Cover Finish

Description

Publish on Kindle

The Standard Distribution is a channel that allows your book to obtain exposure virtually throughout the world which includes the following markets:

Amazon.com

Amazon.ca (includes Canada)

Amazon Europe (includes France, German, United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain)

CreateSpace eStore (allows you the ability to create your own eStore to directly sell your products)

Expanded Distribution is a channel that allows your book to obtain exposure in a more traditional fashion which includes the following markets:

Bookstore and Online Retailers (includes Barnes and Noble (brick and mortar), as well as, bn.com (online))

CreateSpace Direct (includes your community or Mom & Pop bookstores)

Now for the sake of explanation of the Standard and Expanded Distribution Channels here’s how it works:

Plenty of Catfish: Volume I (The Fishnet Series) - Color Cover with 362 pages

Book List Price: $29.95 (Pricing)

Your Royalty - Standard Distribution (excluding CreateSpace eStore): $12.78

Your Royalty - CreateSpace eStore: $18.77

Your Royalty – Expanded Distribution: $6.79

Let’s explore how these costs breakdown:

Standard Distribution

Book List Price: $29.95

40% Sales Channel Off List Price (excluding CreateSpace eStore which is 20%): - $11.98

*Fixed Charge (ranging from $0.85-$3.65) $0.85+

*Per Page Charge (ranging from $0.07-0.12) - $0.12 x 362 - $4.34

Royalties Due to You: $12.78

*In some cases, both Fixed and Per Page Charges may apply as well when computing CreateSpace (Amazon.com) discount and fees which are based upon whether the cover is
full-color or black/white and the number of book pages

Expanded Distribution

Book List Price: $29.95

60% Sales Channel Off List Price: - $17.97

*Fixed Charge (ranging from $0.85-$3.65) $0.85+

*Per Page Charge (ranging from $0.07-0.12) - $0.12 x 362 - $4.34

Royalties Due to You: $6.79

*In some cases, both Fixed and Per Page Charges may apply as well when computing CreateSpace (Amazon.com) discount and fees which are based upon whether the cover is
full-color or black/white and the number of book pages

If you decide to create your own CreateSpace eStore, use the computations as they were explained in the Standard Distribution section to arrive at the royalties that are due to you. As you can see the royalties that you will receive is almost a half or a fourth of the book list price depending upon which distribution channel that you use within the CreateSpace (Amazon.com) platform. The goal here is to make an educated decision as to whether your focus is on convenience, exposure or generating the most revenue.