These FAQ refer to printed books and PDFs.
Please see another FAQ for iPhone apps & eBooks.

Why and what to publish on GuideGecko

• Why should I publish my guide on GuideGecko?
• What advantages does GuideGecko offer over traditional publishers?
• Can I upload and publish my guide?
• What kinds of guides can I publish?
• My guide is for a special target audience. Can I upload it?
• How many pages should my guide have?

How to format and publish a guide

• Do you have a guide template to download?
• How shall I design and format my guide?
• How can I upload and publish a guide?
• In which formats can I upload my guide?
• Do I have to create a PDF file of my guide?
• How can I create a guide in PDF format?
• What resolution shall I use for my PDF file? Shall I embed all fonts?
• What cover image should I use for my guide?
• Can I include pictures or maps in my guidebook?
• Will GuideGecko modify the guide I upload?
• Can I make my book available only in print and not for download?

Revenues, costs and payouts

• What is my revenue for my guide?
• How much does it cost to publish my guide?
• What are the printing costs?
• What price should I set for my guide? Should I enable free download?
• Which payout options does GuideGecko offer?
• How do I receive my money?
• How frequently does GuideGecko pay me?
• What is the minimum payout and how should I set it?

License and copyrights

• Who owns the copyrights on my guide?
• Which type of copyright license should I use for my guide?
• Can I upload guides written by others? Can I upload copyrighted guides?
• Can I offer my guide through other distribution channels in addition to GuideGecko?
• Will others be able to copy my guide?
• Can I use digital rights management (DRM) to protect my guide?
• Does GuideGecko add digital rights management (DRM) to protect my guide?

ISBNs and availability in bookstores

• Can I provide my own ISBN for my guide?
• How can I get an ISBN for my guide?
• Can you provide an ISBN for my guide?
• Will my guide be available in bookstores and online bookstores such as Amazon?

Updating and removing your guide

• Can I update or modify guides that I uploaded?
• Can I deactivate or delete my guide if I no longer want to offer it on GuideGecko?
• Can I terminate my account?

Other FAQ

Couldn't find what you are looking for? Please contact us or check our other FAQ:

• Publishing iPhone apps, eBooks and websites FAQ
• About GuideGecko FAQ
• Ordering, Downloading and Shipping FAQ
• Your Rights and Abuse FAQ

Publishing your guide on GuideGecko has many advantages. Here are some of them:

• Dynamic marketplace: Customers visit GuideGecko to find the guides they need, no matter if they are looking for mainstream or specialty guides. When you publish your guide on GuideGecko, you have instant access to this large customer base. Your guide will be listed in our online catalog and customers can find and buy your guide immediately.
  
  GuideGecko also offers traditional guidebooks at very low prices, and your guide will be listed together with these guides. Your benefit: When customers visit GuideGecko to buy a Lonely Planet or a Rough Guide, they might get interested in your guide and add it to their order. This means higher earnings for you.


• Payment collection: GuideGecko accepts a variety of payment options, including credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard and American Express. This makes it easy for customers to purchase your guides. GuideGecko also manages all credit card fraud issues for you and handles refunds and returns.


• Top quality printing: We use the latest technology to print each copy of your guide on customer demand, in top bookstore quality. On-demand printing means low printing costs and no stocks to worry about.


• Efficient delivery: We deliver your guide safely and efficiently to the customers, no matter which country they are located in. Our low shipping costs enable more customers to buy your guide, and that means higher earnings for you.

In a nutshell, all you need to do is write your guide, upload it on GuideGecko and earn money. GuideGecko will take care of the rest. Find out more advantages here.

You enjoy many benefits when you publish your guide on GuideGecko as compared with traditional publishers.

• Higher Revenue: Traditional publishers would usually pay you a one-time lump-sum and no royalties. You would have to cover all your traveling expenses from this amount, and it would take about a year of travelling and hard work to complete the guide. By contrast, GuideGecko pays you royalties on every sale, right from the first copy onwards. You can set the retail price yourself. The better your guide sells the more money you will earn. There are no setup fees and no hidden costs.
  
  See some sample guides and tips how to estimate your earnings.
  More info: Author Revenues and Printing Costs.


• You keep all copyrights: Traditional publishers mostly require you to transfer your copyright to them. No matter how hard you work, you have no control over what happens to your guide when it is completed. You do not earn any bonus when your guide sells well, and you might not even be involved in the next edition. This is different with GuideGecko. You own and keep the complete copyrights on your work. You can update or remove your guide any time you like, and you can even publish it on other distribution channels.


• No stress: Traditional publishers often require you to work under high pressure to complete your guide before a predefined deadline. In contrast, GuideGecko does not impose any restriction on the time you take to complete your guide. You are free to complete your book at a comfortable pace according to your convenience.


• Gradual updates: GuideGecko offers you the opportunity to start your guide with a few pages, put it up for sale or free download, and then extend it gradually over time. For example, you can initially focus on a specific topic, and add more content later on. This allows you to integrate feedback that you get from your readers into an extended edition while already earning from your first edition.


• Complete freedom: Traditional publishers decide the guide's topic and authors cannot deviate from certain guidelines. The writing style, formatting and price are also decided by the publisher. On the contrary, GuideGecko gives you absolute liberty to write a guide on your favorite topic, include any number of pages, format your guide the way you like and even decide the retail price. You can update your guide any time you like, and offer it as a PDF download or as a paperback. It's all about YOU.

More info: GuideGecko's all-inclusive services.

Yes, you can. GuideGecko invites all authors and publishers to upload and sell their own guides. You can publish on GuideGecko no matter if you are a publishing greenhorn or an expert writer.

GuideGecko does not impose any editorial restrictions. You can write on whatever topic and destination you like - from clubs in your hometown to sights in faraway places. Your guide can have any number of pages - right from 1 to 1000.

• Travelers: Have extra time on the road? Want to earn some income to extend your vacation?
• Nightlife Buffs: Know the hottest bars and clubs? Can you list all happy hours?
• Homie Heroes: Want to share your hometown's hot-spots and must-see places?
• Lifestyle Loungers: Tried all the spas and know where to relax and chill out?
• Food Lovers: Know the most authentic restaurants or street eateries?
• You: What is your topic?

Publishing on GuideGecko is easy - and absolutely free. Take a tour to learn more or publish your guide right away. You could be the next best-selling author on GuideGecko!

You can publish every kind of guide, as long as it falls into the broad categories of travel, lifestyle or entertainment. You may upload anything from mainstream to special interest, and from a 2-page essentials guide to books of 1000 pages. You can offer your guide as a PDF download and/or as a paperback book. You set the retail price and will earn royalties for each sale. It's all up to you.

Here are some ideas:

Imagine you have been to a few brunches and decide to write a guide on the best Champagne Brunches in town.

You call the top 5-star hotels, ask for prices and signature dishes. Then you spend a few Sundays brunch-hopping, inspecting the food, taking photos and interviewing other diners to get some quotes for your guide. Finally, you write it all down in a 4-page "Essential Guide to Singapore's Champagne Brunches".

You set a price of US$ 4.00 and offer your guide as a PDF download, which means your revenue is US$ 2.00 for every copy sold (more info). There are roughly 90,000 fresh expats coming to Singapore every year. Of course, only a small percentage of them will buy your guide. Please do your own estimation of how many guides you can sell per year.

Are you the party-animal that goes out almost every night? Monday at Barrio Latino, Wednesday at Batofar, Friday at "you-name-it"? Then write a guide to share your knowledge on the best bars & clubs with others!

You already know the nightlife hot-spots. Perhaps you visit a few more clubs and cafés over the weekend to experience the ambience, check out the drinks, click some snaps, interview some people and then compose your guide with the collected information.

If you set your 16-page guide's price to US$ 6.00 and make it available as a download, your revenue per download is US$3.00 (more info). The population of Paris in the age group of 18-35 is around 6 million. In addition to this, Paris welcomed around 27 million visitors in 2006 alone. Obviously, only a fraction of them would buy your guide. Nevertheless, you may use these figures as a basis to estimate your earnings.

Are you backpacking? Know the best guesthouses, eateries and hangouts? Why not write a guide for your fellow backpackers?

You would spend 2-3 weeks to top up your knowledge on the must-see sights and the best bargains for your tourist dollar, have a chat with the locals to find some hidden treasures, and write it all down as you go along.

You set your 76-page guide's price to US$ 14. With printing costs of US$ 5.95, your revenue per copy is US$ 4.54 (more info). There are about 1.2 million backpackers in Thailand every year. It is clear that only a small percentage of them will buy your guide, but please do your own estimation of your expected earnings.

Here are some more ideas:

Yes, you can. While uploading your guide, you can select from a list of categories to specify your exact target audience. There is a broad spectrum of categories for you to choose from, e.g. by interest, activity or budget.

There is no limit, right from 1 to 1000 pages. It is completely up to you to decide what you want to write about and how many pages your guide should have. You can upload a booklet of a few pages to a thick book of a couple of hundred. There are many short guides with only a few pages - in fact, the best guides will convey their content as succinctly as possible.

You can initially publish your guide with a few pages, and then gradually extend it over time. For example, you can first focus on a specific topic, and then add more content later on. If you feel your guide is too thin to sell, why not initially offer it as a free download? This allows you to integrate the feedback that you get from your readers into an extended edition.

Yes, we do. Please go to our guide template download page.

It's your guide and you can format it the way you wish. To make it easy for you, we have developed a guide template that you can use for your own guides. It includes formatting tips and guidelines together with building blocks and other elements that will substantially reduce the time required to write your guide. Alternatively, you can also take a look at a few printed guides and check how they are formatted. Remember: You are free to format your guide in any way you like; you do not need to follow the template.

Click here to download the guide template.

Guide Formatting Guidelines (taken from the guide template):

1. Page Sequence: For printed guides, the total number of pages must be divisible by four. If it is not, we will insert blank pages at the end when we print the guide. We won't add blank pages for PDF downloads. We recommend using the following sequence of pages:
   
   
   • No Front Cover: The front cover needs to be uploaded in a separate file and is not part of the document. The backside of the front cover (on the left hand side of the opened book) will be blank.
   
   
   1. Title Page: The title page is the first page of your document. It will be printed on the right hand side of the opened book, on the page that you see when you turn over the front cover. This page should list your guide's title, the author (you), and perhaps a photograph. You can also include the GuideGecko logo as on Page 1 of the template.
   
   
   

   Page 1

   
   
   
   2. Copyright Page: The copyright page will be printed on the left hand side of the opened book, on the backside of the title page. You can add a short biography of the author together with copyright and other information as in the example on Page 2 of the template. If you have an ISBN for your guide, you should add it here. It does not matter if you do not have an ISBN, you can publish your guide on GuideGecko without an ISBN. Feel free to add an image of Guido (our mascot) and the GuideGecko logo if you like.
      
      Acknowledgement: If you would like to write acknowledgements, you may insert them on the copyright page or include an additional page right after the copyright page. In this template, we have not added acknowledgments.
   
   
   3. Table of Contents: The next page of your guide is the table of contents. Most word processing programs can automatically generate a table of contents.
      Click here for details on how to do this in Microsoft Word 97-2003 or Microsoft Word 2007.
   
   
   

   Pages 2 and 3

   
   
   
   4. Main Body Text: The text of your guide should start on the next page. It is recommended to start each chapter on a new page. Most book formatting guidelines would advise you to start each chapter on a page with an odd page number (and to insert a blank page if needed), so that the first page of the chapter appears on the right hand side of the opened book. However, guidebooks usually do not follow such strict rules and chapters can start on any page. When writing a short guide, you might even consider continuing a new chapter on the same page.
   
   
   

   Pages 4 and 5

   
   
   
   • Index: You may want to add an index at the end of your guide if your guide covers a large number of topics.
     Click here for details on how to do this in Microsoft Word 97-2003 or Microsoft Word 2007.
   
   
   • No Back Cover: The back cover needs to be uploaded in a separate file and is not part of the document. The inside of the back cover (on the right hand side of the opened book) will be blank.


2. Section and Headings: There are many ways to organize your guide. Typically, guides are organized geographically and/or by budget level. Restaurants can also be categorized by the type of cuisine. For example, in the template, we use level-3 headings for the districts in the 'See and Do' chapter (e.g. 'Chinatown', 'Northern Singapore'), and level-4 headings for the sights in these districts. In the 'Sleep'-Chapter, we use level-3 headings for different budget levels ('Low Budget', 'Mid-Range', 'Top-End'). If your guide lists many places in a certain section, you may want to categorize the listings according to their geographical location and the budget level or the cuisine type at the same time. For example, in the 'Eat' chapter, we organize restaurants first by district, and then by the type of cuisine. However, you should make sure that you use your hierarchy consistently, e.g. always place the budget classification on a higher level than the geographical classification.


3. Fonts and Formats: We strongly recommend that you only use a few font-styles with a consistent font-size of 13-14 throughout your guide. If you would like to adjust the font-styles and sizes, please keep in mind that the guide will be printed in a format of 12.7 x 18.5 cm (5.0 x 7.3 inch). Therefore, if you write your guide with a page-size of A4 or Letter, the font-size of the printed guide will be smaller than in your original. This template uses the font 'Times New Roman' with a font-size of 14 for the main body text. Times New Roman is a serif typeface, which makes the text easy to read. The font 'Arial' is used for the title page (Page 1). 'Arial Narrow' is used for headings and listings, so that these elements can easily be distinguished from the surrounding text. The main text is formatted in two columns to make it more readable. Within a section, each paragraph has a small space on top. The easiest way to create a well-formatted guide is to copy the headings and texts of the template and to modify them according to your needs or to use the keyboard shortcuts listed throughout the template. We recommend refraining from other styling effects such as font colors or underlining (including hyperlinks), because these styles are very rarely used in professional books.


4. Page Margins: The template uses mirror margins to correctly set up pages that face each other. This means that the margins of the left page are a mirror image of those of the right page - the inside margins are the same width, and the outside margins are the same width. Guides typically have small page-margins to fit more content on a page and to keep the books lightweight. Page margins of 2.0 cm (0.75 inch) on the left and right and 2.5 cm (1 inch) on the top and bottom are sufficient.
   Please do not use a gutter margin (extra space for binding on the inside of the page); our printed books look better when you do not add a gutter margin.
   Click here for details on how to do this in Microsoft Word 97-2003 or Microsoft Word 2007.


5. Header and Footer: The template includes a header with the current chapter and section title as well as the page number. Please note that the header is always displayed on the outside of the page, i.e. on the left side for even pages numbers and on the right side for odd page numbers. Alternatively, you could also place the page numbers in the center of the header or footer.
   Click here for details on how to do this in Microsoft Word 97-2003 or Microsoft Word 2007.

The easiest way to write a well-formatted guide is to download our free guide template.

Publishing a guide is simple. Visit our Publish a Guide page and upload your guide:

• The top part of the page asks you for the guide details like the title, author's name and the destinations (e.g. countries or cities) covered in your guide. Please fill in the required fields as applicable to your guide. You have to select at least one category, and you can add additional categories if you like.


• Under 'Keywords', you can include additional information to describe your guide. Here you can add keywords that are not covered by the categories or the destinations.


• Select the formats in which you would like to offer your guide: You have a choice of PDF download and/or Paperback, and you can select either one or both of them.


• You can then upload the text of your guide in PDF format. You will see the first page of your guide appear on the website when the upload is complete.


• Next comes the cover for your guide. You can use our cover generator and modify the cover by clicking on 'Edit Cover'. You can also upload your own cover images. For PDF downloads, you only need to upload the front cover. For Paperback prints, you can upload a front cover and a back cover.


• A Paperback guide will be saddle-stitched if it contains 52 pages or less. If your guide has more than 52 pages, it will be perfect-bound. In the latter case, you are also able to adjust the spine of your cover.


• If you have selected to offer your guide as a PDF download, you can set the price for the download in the section 'PDF download'. Your revenue per copy sold is displayed in the right-hand column. You can also offer your guide for free. In that case, please enter 0 as the 'Retail Price'.


• If you have selected to offer your guide in the Paperback format, you can specify the pages to be printed in color. The other pages will be printed in black and white. The total printing costs are displayed in the right-hand column. Next, set the Retail Price for your guide. Your revenue per copy sold is displayed in the right-hand column.


• The last section is 'Optional Data'. All the fields in this section are optional and you can publish your guide without filling out any of these fields. Please fill in the fields that you deem fit and where you have the required information. For example, if you have an ISBN for your guide, you can enter it here. You can always update this (and all the other) information at a later time.

And that's all. Click on and your guide is set to take on the world!

The interior text has to be uploaded separately from the cover files. The interior text needs to be uploaded in PDF format. Creating a PDF file is easy. Simply write your guide in your favorite word processor, and convert it into PDF. Make sure that you embed all fonts in your PDF file and use a resolution of 300dpi. More info can be found here.

You can use our cover generator to create a cover for your guide. Alternatively, you can upload your own cover images. Cover images are accepted in a wide variety of formats, including JPG, GIF, TIFF, PNG and PDF. The front cover and the back cover are uploaded in separate files (PDF downloads only need a front cover). You do not need to upload a cover spine; it will be created automatically if needed.

Yes, you need to create a PDF file of your guide to upload it on GuideGecko. Creating a PDF file is simple. Many word-processing programs have a built-in functionality to create PDF files. More info can be found here.

Creating a PDF file is simple. Many word-processing programs have a built-in functionality to create PDF files. If you are using Microsoft Word 2007, you may need to install the 'Save as PDF' add-in from Microsoft, which you can download here for free.

You can install a free PDF writer if you are using Word 97-2003 or another program that does not have a built-in functionality to create PDF files. A large number of free PDF writers are available. After installation, these tools add a virtual printer to your system, and you can create PDF files through the regular print functionality of your program. Simply 'print' your document, select the virtual printer, and the PDF writer will convert your document into a PDF file and save it in a location of your choice.

We recommend using doPDF writer. It is free of charge, lightweight, and easy to use. A video-tutorial is available here. It's really that easy. Other recommended PDF writers are eDocPrintPro and the freeware version of CutePDF.

Make sure that you embed all fonts in your PDF and use a resolution of 300dpi. Lower resolutions should not be used to ensure a good print quality. Higher resolutions are usually not required, as they only increase the file-size without improving the print quality.

Make sure that you embed all fonts in your PDF and use a resolution of 300dpi. Lower resolutions should not be used to ensure a good print quality. Higher resolutions are usually not required, as they only increase the file-size without improving the print quality.

You can choose to use our cover generator or upload your own cover images. Cover images can be uploaded in a wide variety of formats, including JPG, GIF, TIFF, PNG and PDF.

For example, you can use a photo that highlights the contents of your guide. We do not require that you write anything on your cover, but it is a good idea to print the title of your guide as well as the author names. Make sure not to print any live elements (such as the title or the author names) close to the edges of the cover, because the edges may be cropped during print. Allow up to 5 millimeters (0.2 inch) on each side of your cover images for trimming.

The front cover and the back cover are uploaded in separate files (PDF downloads only need a front cover). You do not need to upload a cover spine; it will be created automatically if needed.

Yes, you can include any images or maps to make your guide more attractive. Please use high resolution images of 300 dpi.

No, you retain all rights on your uploaded guide. We might make only minor modifications for technical reasons. For example, we might make adjustments required to print your guide.

Yes. You decide in which formats you want to publish your guide. Your guide can be available for download, in print on demand, or both. Simply check the box in front of each format that you would like to offer. Of course, you need to select at least one format.

Your revenue is based on the retail price for customers. You can set the retail price yourself.

Print on demand books:

Your Revenue = 75% of Retail Price (set by you) - Printing Costs

The printing costs are calculated as follows:

Example:

Suppose you write a 150 page guide and set its retail price as US$22. Then your revenue is calculated as follows:

Retail price of your guide (set by you) = US$ 22.00

In this example, you will earn US$ 8.55 for every copy sold.

The copyright situation depends on your country of residence. In most countries, you automatically own all copyrights to your work without any registration.

You will keep all your rights on your guide when you upload it on GuideGecko.

GuideGecko takes no ownership of your guide. By uploading your guide, you only grant us the rights required to publish and market your guide. You can revoke these rights from us at any time by deleting the guide from our system. You can even publish and sell your guide on other platforms or on your own homepage: the rights that you grant to GuideGecko are not exclusive.

Your rights are covered in our Terms of Service, which you are asked to accept when you sign up as a user. The Terms of Service form a legally binding contract between you and GuideGecko and ensure that you keep all copyrights.

You should select the 'Standard Copyright License' to retain all copyrights on your guide. Select another license like a Share-Alike License or the GNU General Public License if it is more appropriate.

For more information on each specific license, select the license and click on the link 'Info for this license' under 'Optional Data' in the Publish Your Guide page.

We require that you own the copyright on the content that you upload or have all permissions to use the content from its owners. You bear the sole responsibility for your content and are responsible for any compensation payable to third parties for the usage of their content. For more information please refer to our Terms of Service.

Yes, you can offer your guides through other distribution channels in addition to GuideGecko. We only ask that the price you set on GuideGecko must not be higher than the lowest price you set for the same guide through other distribution channels.

If you offer your guide as a PDF download and a user orders such a download, he or she will be provided with a download link in his or her My Downloads section. We currently do not add any Digital Rights Management (DRM) functionalities to your guides, and we ask that you do not add such functionalities yourself. We believe it is in your best interest to abstain from DRM systems, because they often impose usage limitations that deter customers from buying such products.

Users are free to copy the guide to as many devices and to print it as many times as they like. However, users are only allowed to use your guide for their own, personal use and may not copy the guide for others or make it available so that others can copy it. In particular, they may not upload or make your guide available on the internet or any other network. However, please understand that GuideGecko cannot be made responsible for potential wrongdoings or copyright infringements by its users or third parties.

We currently do not add any Digital Rights Management (DRM) functionalities to your guides, and we ask that you do not add such functionalities yourself. We believe it is in your best interest to abstain from DRM systems, because they often impose usage limitations that deter customers from buying such products.

We currently do not add any Digital Rights Management (DRM) functionalities to your guides, and we ask that you do not add such functionalities yourself. We believe it is in your best interest to abstain from DRM systems, because they often impose usage limitations that deter customers from buying such products.

Yes, you can provide your own ISBN for your guide if you have one. Simply add it under 'Optional Data' when publishing or editing your guide.

If you received the ISBN from a publisher and it is registered to that publisher, you may not use it on GuideGecko. It is the publisher's property and only they have the right to use it.

The process of obtaining an ISBN differs from country to country. Please search the internet to check the situation in your home country. You may also use an ISBN provided by GuideGecko.

We are currently setting up a test program under which we can provide you with an ISBN for your guide. If you are interested to be considered for the test phase, please contact us and let us know why you would like to participate in the program. Please also send us the link to the description page of your guide.

At the moment, your guides will not be available in other bookstores.

We are currently setting up a test program under which we can make your guide available in brick-and-mortar bookstores as well as in online bookstores such as Amazon. If you are interested to be considered for the test phase, please contact us and let us know why you would like to participate in the program. Please also send us the link to the description page of your guide.

Yes, you can edit your guide at any time in your My GuideGecko section. You can update every single element of your guide. For example, you can upload a new text or a new cover image. You can also change the description of your guide. You can also delete or deactivate your guide at any time.

Yes, you can delete your guide anytime you wish and it will no longer be available for customer orders. However, orders that are pending at the time of deletion will be fulfilled and GuideGecko will pay you all applicable royalties on such orders.

Yes, you may terminate your account at any time. Upon termination, we will pay out any outstanding balance in your account (subject to the regular payout fee, if any). Orders that are pending on your published guides at the time of termination will be fulfilled and GuideGecko will pay you all applicable royalties on such orders.

When you terminate your account, you will no longer have access to your My GuideGecko section. Hence, if you have ordered any guides before you terminate your account, you are no longer able to download these guides.