Blurb

Blurb's business model

Blurb is an online, full-service resource for self-publishing authors to design, publish, market, and sell professional-quality books using the company's free, award-winning BookSmart software. Authors can see the bookmaking process through to the print order completely on their own, or they can hire publishing professionals-illustrators, editors, translators, and more-through BlurbNation, a roster of publishing professionals for hire. The company's bookstore and online marketing tools enable customers to market and sell their books and keep their profits, and Blurb's online social and community features allow customers to create and share Blurb books among friends and colleagues. In 2009, Blurb shipped more than 1.2 million books to more than 60 countries.