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Managing Channels

Track your distribution channels — where your publications are available for sale, from Amazon KDP to direct sales.

What Channels Are​

A channel is a platform or retailer where you sell or distribute your publications: Amazon KDP, Apple Books, Kobo, IngramSpark, Draft2Digital, or your own direct sales. Tracking channels lets you link publication formats to specific retailers and (in the future) import and review sales data by channel.

Feature Availability

Channels are part of the Distribution Channels feature. If you don't see Channels in your sidebar, your workspace administrator may need to enable it. Channels are enabled by default for both author and publisher workspaces.

Viewing Your Channels​

Click Channels in the sidebar under the Manage section. You'll see a table showing:

  • Channel name
  • Website
  • Payment schedule
  • Notes
  • Created

Searching Channels​

Type in the search field above the table to filter channels by name.

Creating a Channel​

  1. Click Add Channel at the top of the page
  2. Fill in the details:
    • Name (required): The retailer or platform name (e.g., "Amazon KDP")
    • Website: The channel's URL
    • Payment Schedule: When the channel pays (e.g., "60 days after month end")
    • Notes: Any additional information about this channel
  3. Click Create Channel

Adding Common Channels​

If you're setting up your workspace for the first time, use the preset list to quickly add well-known channels:

  1. Click Add Common Channels (appears when no channels exist)
  2. Select the channels you want from the preset list:
ChannelPayment Schedule
Amazon KDP60 days after month end
Apple BooksMonthly
Kobo45 days after month end
Barnes & Noble PressMonthly
Google Play BooksMonthly
Draft2DigitalMonthly
IngramSpark90 days
SmashwordsQuarterly
BookFunnelN/A (delivery only)
Direct SalesImmediate
  1. Click Add N Channel(s) — channels already in your workspace are skipped automatically

Editing a Channel​

  1. Click the pencil icon on the channel row
  2. Update the name, website, payment schedule, or notes
  3. Click Update Channel

Deleting a Channel​

  1. Click the trash icon on the channel row
  2. Confirm the deletion

Channels that are linked to publication formats, sales records, or import data cannot be deleted. Remove those links first.

You can also select multiple channels and use Delete Selected for bulk removal.

Channels and Publication Formats​

When managing publication formats (e.g., an ebook or paperback edition), you can link each format to the channels where it's available. This lets you store channel-specific details:

  • External ID: The retailer's identifier (e.g., an ASIN for Amazon)
  • Product URL: Direct link to the product page on that channel
  • Launch date: When the format went live on that channel
  • Active status: Whether the format is currently available

These links are managed from the publication's format details.

Tips​

  • Start with the presets: The common channels list covers most indie publishing distribution — add them all at once and remove any you don't use
  • Record payment schedules: Knowing when each channel pays helps you forecast income
  • Use notes for channel-specific details: Record things like your publisher account ID, preferred categories, or contact information
  • Keep channel names consistent: Use the same name across all publications to make filtering and reporting accurate