How authors use social media to market books

Google is setting up a reporting and payment system for eBook sales. In an email last night, the company asked eBook publishers to provide bank account details, and promised to send deposits once per month for the previous month’s sales. (According to this publisher’s report, sales are already better than Apple’s iBookstore, but lag far behind Amazon’s Kindle edition sales):

Requirements

In order to receive payments, you must have a U.S. bank account. We will make payments in U.S. dollars to the bank account that you specify. At this time, we don’t offer any other payment methods.

To provide the details of your bank account for Google eBooks payments, follow these steps:

1. Sign in to your Partner Program account at https://books.google.com/partner.
2. Go to the My Account tab, then Payment Information.
3. In the Google Editions Payment Details section, click on add bank account.

Note that we currently use separate payment mechanisms for ads revenue and Google eBooks sales. Although you’re welcome to use the same bank account for both, the setup and payments for each will be separate. We’re working to integrate this process so it’s easier in the future.

Bank account verification

We’ll ask you to verify ownership of this account. The process works as follows:

1. Google will make the deposit within two business days after you add your bank account details. (Your bank may take up to three additional business days to register the transaction.)
2. Review your online bank statement or contact your bank to locate the deposit, which will be labeled GOOGLE DEPOSIT.
3. Sign in to your Partner Program account at https://books.google.com/partner/.
4. Click the My Account tab, then click Payment Information.
5. Click verify bank account.
6. Enter the deposit amount exactly as it appears in your bank account.
7. Click Verify deposit.

If you successfully locate the deposit in your bank account but experience difficulty confirming the amount in your Partner Program account, please contact us.

Should you sell any Google eBooks before your bank account is verified, your account will accrue the amount owed to you and be paid out once you’re eligible for payments.

Payment limits

Payments are limited to US$500 until you complete the credit verification process, which is separate from verifying your bank account. Your balance will reflect any amount we did not pay out to you due to this limit, and will be added to your next payment.

For credit verification, we ask you to provide either your Federal Tax Identification Number (also known as an Employer Identification Number, or EIN), or both your Social Security Number and a credit card number. To enter this information, follow these steps:

1. Sign in to your Program Partner account at https://books.google.com/partner.
2. Go to the My account tab, then Payment Information.
3. Under the Credit Verification section, click on verify credit.

Bank account updates

To update your bank account information for Google eBooks payments, please contact us. Note you’ll have to go through the deposit verification process again.

Payment schedule

Google’s obligations in paying your share of sales revenue can be found in the Google eBooks addendum that you signed. In many cases, Google will initiate a payment once each month, within two business days after the end of the previous calendar month, if we owe you at least US$1 and your bank account has been verified. This payment will be based on any financial transactions, such as sales, refunds, or chargebacks, which occurred during the previous calendar month.

Note that we don’t make payments on weekends or on bank holidays, and that it may take your bank up to three additional business days to register the payment in your account. To learn more about your bank’s turnaround time for electronically deposited funds, please contact your bank representative.

Payments lower than expected and negative balances

Payments are limited to US$500 until you complete the credit verification process, which is separate from verifying your bank account. Your balance will reflect any amount we did not pay out to you due to this limit, and will be added to your next payment.

Refunds and chargebacks may reduce the amount accrued by sales, and can cause a negative balance in your account if you don’t earn an equivalent or greater amount during that calendar month. Google will reconcile this balance by initiating a debit to your bank account.

Additionally, payments will only be made if your balance is at least US$1.00.

Reports

We will provide monthly reports of transactions with your Google eBooks in your Partner Program account. The report for the current month is updated every 24 hours with data on sales and revenue earned.