Established in 2016 by Jerry Reid, eBook or Print has since grown rapidly to deliver over 20,000 orders and be accepted to write for Entrepreneur mag within just 5 years. The company offers a mix of author services to help authors self publish, including book cover design and book marketing. Today, we interview their CEO Jerry Reid who says that his proudest metric is that over 99% of their surveyed customers “approve of their business and would recommend [them] to a friend”.
On starting the business
Having spent 4 years in investment banking, Reid finally decided to leave it all behind after deciding enough was enough.
“The training and compensation in investment banking are out of this world. It really trains you to have a solid work ethic while paying you well. However, compensation alone wasn’t something I was particularly interested in. I wanted to have more control over what I was doing in terms of the ability to shape what I was working on.”
The choice of starting a business in the publishing industry stems from Reid’s extreme reading habits. In his day job, he was combing through research reports, industry reports, annual reports and more. During his free time, he found joy in reading books as he was always learning.
Longer-term vision for eBook or Print
Since its founding till now, the author services company has a singular focus on helping authors get their books out there. However, Reid’s vision goes beyond the traditional view of who makes an “author” and also hopes to expand outside of books in the near future.
“The common view is that fiction books are written by artsy/creative-type people and that non-fiction books are written by field experts. However, improvements in technology have allowed for a much faster cycle of creation and consumption. Specifically, content can be put out at a much faster rate and there is a demand shift for slightly shorter-form content. My ultimate goal is to provide the tools and services for anyone to be able to package their thoughts and learnings – and then monetize it.”
Reid quickly adds on a disclaimer that he’s not saying that everyone can be a bestseller or that anyone can be an expert. He further clarifies, “Humans tend to like those who are similar to themselves. As an example, an introverted gamer who can only golf decently well may be able to teach golf to another introverted gamer much better than a golf expert can. This is not due to skill, as the golf expert is a better golfer without a doubt. Instead, it is the relatability and ability to connect through similar stories and situations that make learning much more enjoyable for the introverted gamer. This relatability is valuable and can be monetized.”
Upcoming goals
In the near term, the company intends to continue adding more services that authors can benefit from. While many services are being discussed, negotiated, and priced, the company has confirmed that it will be broadening its marketing capabilities by offering a new Instagram influencer package in 2022.
The company will also set up a US$250,000 grant for aspiring authors. “We did initially want to create a US$1 million grant but would like to start off slightly smaller to ensure that the firm does not run into any cashflow problems. The more we earn, the more we can give back so increasing the grant in future is not an issue. Right now, we are looking for qualified organizations to administer the grant”, says Reid.
Quickfire questions
Proudest moment?
“We are most proud of our 99+% satisfaction rate. This is our 6th year in this industry, but I think we are on par with the big players.”
Biggest regret?
“Our biggest regret is that we haven’t achieved a 100% satisfaction rate. This could be easily achieved if we adopt a ‘the customer is always right’ approach. However, I strongly believe in reason and merit, so if a customer is wrong then the customer is wrong. My staff work extremely hard to produce results and I will protect them from abuse if necessary. It is hard to imagine how some customers can continue to be insistent, even when presented with facts to show the contrary.”
Biggest inspiration?
“I can’t think of a person immediately, but I’d say to read The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss if you want inspiration. While some parts of the book do simplify certain things, the overall lessons and inspiration the book provide far outweigh the negatives.”
Closing thoughts?
“If you want to do something, don’t wait too long. Save 6-12 months of expenses, then go for it. Whether it’s starting a business, getting married, or traveling the world, it’s important to act. With the pandemic and geopolitical tensions we’ve seen between 2020 and 2022, we can see how fragile life really is.”
To learn more about the company, click here for eBook or Print reviews or view all their offered services at https://ebookorprint.com.
