YouPublish FAQs

The Big Three

General Questions

Files - The YouPublish Marketplace

Upload Now!

People

My YouPublish - Manage Your Account, Track Your Sales

The Big Three

What is YouPublish?

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YouPublish is a marketplace for publishing and consuming digital files — no paper here! With YouPublish, you can create single- or multi-file publications and charge for them or make them available at no cost. While all of the files we host are easily downloadable, we've gone the extra mile to provide file players for common file formats. That means your fans and customers can enjoy your publications right from their browser. So whether you're publishing your novel in PDF, a lesson plan including worksheets and video content — or some obscure file format — we've got you covered!

I've forgotten my password!

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If you can't remember your password, click the "I forgot my password" link in the log-in area. Fill out the form and click submit. An e-mail will be automatically sent to you with helpful instructions. It will automatically reset your password, you'll need to use the new password, and then go in and reset it to something more memorable. If you don't get the e-mail, check your junk mail folder or spam filter to see if it landed there. Sometimes, though, the link doesn't work (we're working on fixing the problem). If that's the case, e-mail support.

Also, we discovered that some of our users log out of the site every time they leave. Unless you're using someone else's computer, there's really no reason to ever log out. Click remember me the next time you log in and then don't log out. Simply close the browser window. Now you won't have to enter your password every time you visit the site!

Where can I go for more information?

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Want more information? We look forward to the day when we have full-fledged help documentation, but in the mean time, we have a couple of amazing people who answer your e-mails. Send us an email. When asking a question that may relate to a bug in the software, please include information about the browser you use (Firefox, Internet Explorer 6, Safari, etc) and your operating system (Windows XP, Windows Vista, Mac, etc).

General Questions

How do I sign up? Is it free?

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Signing up for YouPublish is absolutely free. You can publish your files as free or paid. When you sell files on YouPublish, you split the proceeds with YouPublish 70/30, (70% for you, 30% for Youpublish). To sign-up, click on the sign up link at the top of any page. You'll need your name and a valid e-mail address. Choose a password (want to see your password as you type? click reveal password). Voila! you've got an account. Now take a moment to spruce-up your profile page (my youpublish > my profile). You're good as gold!

Why would someone use YouPublish? What if I'm already published?

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Creative people — published and unpublished — of all stripes use YouPublish as a way of distributing their creations.

Creative people don't just write books or shoot videos, and they want the option of selling some of their works while giving away others. But before YouPublish, there wasn't a way for folks to do that easily. Now creative people have a place to share digital files of any format — for free or at a price.

They can also join groups with others who share similar interests, enabling pointed discussions about specific topics and the sharing of relevant publications only among group members.

Are there special programs or discounts for non-profits?

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We are in the process of finding ways that YouPublish can best help charitable organizations achieve their goals, but we don't currently offer any breaks. We will keep you informed as our charitable program develops.

Files - The YouPublish Marketplace

What can I do in the files section of YouPublish?

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The files section of YouPublish is our marketplace — where you can find, view, download, and buy files published by our growing collection of creatives — authors, professionals, leading thinkers, artists, and everyday folks who have something amazing to share with the world!

How do I find a specific publication?

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The easiest way to find a specific file is to use the search box at the top of any page — or the search box found in the files section. Type in the title of the publication, its author, or a few key words. The resulting list is easily sorted (title, publisher, etc). If you still can't find the publication you're looking for — but you know the name of the person or organization that posted the file on YouPublish, you can navigate to their profile via the people tab at the top of any page. We are currently working on making our search feature more powerful.

How do I search by category?

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Because YouPublish allows any type of digital file (from AVIs to ZURG files), categories-based browsing tools would have to be very complex. It's no small task, but we're currently working on just such a system. In the mean time, you can search for keywords and then view the results list using either the expanded version to view the details of each found file or the collapsed view to see more files at once.

How can I find free stuff?

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Every list of files can be sorted by price. Click on the drop down menu and sort by Price (Low to High).

What if I find inappropriate content?

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It's an unfortunate side effect of hosting such a diverse collection of publications from such a diverse and creative group of people — users are bound to find objectionable content. If you happen across a publication that you feel violates our terms of use, flag it for review. The flag link is located above the player. We'll take it from there.

What's in my library?

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YouPublish knows just how frustrating it can be to download a file only to accidentally erase it. And it can be just as frustrating to be on a public terminal or a friend's laptop and not have a way of taking the files with you. But with my library, there's no worry. Buy a file and it's added to your library — or add a free file directly — and it's yours. Download it immediately or at a better time; come back a thousand times to download it again. When the file is removed from the system by the author, your copy is safe and sound in my library.

Do you store my credit card information on your servers?

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When purchasing a publication on YouPublish, you are given the choice of using your credit card once or storing it on our secure servers for future use. If you choose to store your credit card on our servers, you're always free to remove it.

Can I view files in the browser or do I have to download first?

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While we may never have a player that will make every file viewable in the browser, our current player supports our most popular formats. So properly formatted video, audio, and text files are viewable right in the browser! You don't have to do anything special: just navigate to the details page of the publication you're after and any playable content will be presented to you! If we don't have a player for your file, you'll have the option to download it for use on your desktop.

Can I download files I've downloaded before?

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Absolutely! Any file you've previously downloaded is available for repeat downloads from the my library area in the my youpublish section.

Do you apply any DRM to the files on your site?

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We are taking a leadership approach by not applying any DRM to files uploaded to YouPublish. For those who don't know, Digital Rights Management (DRM) is a way of trying to prevent people from stealing or sharing digital files. There are all sorts of schemes out there, but each and every one of them has significant shortcomings.

The New York Times recently reported that book pubishers are beginning to phase out DRM-protected audio books. We think this trend will continue on the web.

You do have the option to make your files unavailable for download. This option should only be used if you're sure you don't want anyone to download files from your publications, and that these files are viewable in our player.

Upload Now!

What should I know before I start?

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YouPublish is a marketplace for publishing and consuming digital files — no paper here! With YouPublish, you can create single- or multi-file publications and charge for them or make them available at no cost. While all of the files we host are easily downloadable, we've gone the extra mile to provide file players for common file formats. That means your fans and customers can enjoy your publications right from their browser. So whether you're publishing your novel in PDF, a lesson plan including worksheets and video content — or some obscure file format — we've got you covered!

Scan the questions below for more detail on uploading files, multi-file publications, and formatting your files for in-browser playing.

What should I do before I start?

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A little preparation before you hit the upload now button will make the whole process go a little more smoothly — and will result in a better experience for your fans and customers.

Start with making sure your files are in the right format. Sure, YouPublish let's you publish any file format — but if you have a Word Perfect file, you may want to consider converting it to a PDF. PDF files are easily ready by anyone on the web — and they're one of the file formats supported by our in-browser player. So, if you have the option, convert your files to more accepted file formats. Next, make certain none of your files exceed our 100 MB limit. If they do, chances are they're video or audio files — which you can cut into pieces (chapters, songs, scenes). Now, take a moment to clean up their names. Remember: most of these files will land in a download folder on someone's hard drive, and "q3-09868.PDF" isn't very helpful. Try something descriptive: "blue_dog-chapter_01.PDF". Avoid strange characters, and keep the file name short.

Some other things to consider are cover art and a free sample. Cover art is instant marketing pizzazz: everyone will see your beautiful cover and will want to find out more about it. If you're charging for your publication, a free sample let's everyone know what the publication has to offer. More information makes for an easier purchase.

Now's a good time to look at pricing your publication. You can offer your publication for free or you can charge for it. If you've never considered giving away your work, consider how effective free samples can be in rewarding fans and in tempting new customers to take a second look. Just remember: the lowest price we allow for a publication is US$1.00 (it's a credit card company thing).

And you're ready to start!

Scan the questions below for more detail on uploading files, multi-file publications, and formatting your files for in-browser playing.

Does YouPublish take any of my publishing rights away?

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Absolutely not! You always retain your copy and publishing rights when your works are uploaded to YouPublish.

Can I upload a (.PDF, .DOC, .XLS, .ZURG, etc) to the site?

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YouPublish accepts any file format. The only restrictions are on content (no pornography, for example) and on size (individual files must be less than 100 MB). Other than that, the only limitation is your imagination.

Can I publish works that I've had published somewhere else?

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We welcome republished works so long as you have the digital publishing rights or have the approval of the digital rights holders. Check with your publisher or music label to see if you have digital publishing rights. They may want to you to use YouPublish for the digital version of your books or files as another source of revenue.

May I upload works by others?

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Assuming you have the owner's consent — or that the work is in the public domain — it's perfectly acceptable to upload works by others. But it's important to give proper credit.

Will files I upload on YouPublish be converted to another format?

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YouPublish doesn't convert files for download. Files will be downloaded by the purchaser and used in the same file format you upload. Those files that are uploaded in viewable file formats, are temporarily converted for viewing in our players, but the original file is left untouched.

How do I upload a file? Can I upload more than one at a time?

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Click on the add files button, and a window will pop open that will allow you to browse your hard drive. You can select multiple files at a time by clicking CTRL (COMMAND on a Mac) while clicking on the files you want to upload. The files you've chosen will appear below the add files button in the order you selected them. You can continue to add files one at a time or in groups until you publish your file or save it for later completion.

Remember: ALL the files you select will be grouped as a single publication! You can only create one publication at a time.

Why do multi-file uploads result in a single publication?

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A publication appears throughout the site as a single entry in all sorts of lists, and a publication has just one price and just one piece of "cover art". A publication can contain one file or dozens. It all depends on what you want to accomplish. If you're publishing a book of poetry, you'll likely have just one file. If you're publishing a lesson plan, it will likely have several files — worksheets, lesson materials, and maybe a video or two. That's the beauty of YouPublish: you're only limited by your imagination!

Why would I want to reorder the files?

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The files in your publication are initially listed in the order that you selected them, and the order they're in when you publish them is the order they're listed in the published product. Perhaps more importantly, if your product contains files that can be viewed in our file player, these files will be presented in the published order. So ordering your files could be really important! You don't want chapter one of your audio book playing after chapter ten!

And reordering your files is simple: grab the file name and drag it into place, or use the arrows to move the file up and down in the list.

What sorts of files will be viewable in the browser?

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YouPublish has a player that allows folks to view or listen to files right in the browser, and our player currently plays popular video, audio, and document file formats:

Video

  • .AVI, .MP4, & .M4V - Generic Video
  • .FLV - Flash Video
  • .MOV - Quicktime Video
  • .WMV - Windows Media Video

Image

  • .JPG & .JPEG - Compressed Image
  • .GIF - Graphics Interchange Format
  • .PNG - Lossless Compressed Image

Audio

  • .AAC - Advanced Audio Coding
  • .AIF & .AIFF - Audio Interchange
  • .FLAC - Free Lossless Audio Codec
  • .MP3 - Generic Audio Files
  • .OGA & .OGG - Ogg Vorbis Audio
  • .WMA - Windows Media Audio
  • .WAV - Wave File

Text

  • .DOC - Word Documents
  • .ODT & .SXW - OpenOffice Documents
  • .PDF - Adobe Acrobat
  • .PSW - Pocket Word Documents
  • .RTF - Rich Text Format
  • .SDW - StarWriter Documents
  • .UOT - Unified Office Format

What's a "publication type"?

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The best way to describe a publication type is with an example:

Let's say you're at a store looking for the latest from JK Rowling. There are Harry Potter books, Harry Potter games, Harry Potter audio books, Harry Potter clothes. You get the idea. You're in the mood to read, so you choose a book. Now let's imagine this is a digital store where you order digital goods - there are Harry Potter books, Harry Potter videos, Harry Potter PC games, and Harry Potter audio books. If there weren't a way to categorize these different Harry Potter offerings, you'd get pretty confused (and upset). You might buy a digital book but not have the software to open it, or an audio book but not be able to hear well. That's why publication types are so essential! They clue your customers into what they're going to buy before they click to purchase.

At YouPublish we have narrowed down the list of publication types to a handful of the most relevant. Each of these publication types has associated file formats (you wouldn't want a PDF to get called a video!). A partial list includes:

  • book (DOC, PDF)
  • spoken audio (MP3)
  • music (MP3)
  • video (AVI, MP4, MOV, WMV)
  • photo (GIF, JPG, TIF, PNG)
  • presentation (PDF, PPT)
  • study courses (Any of the above)
  • other (Anything at all)

You'll find a more complete list after selecting your file or files when creating a publication.

That last one is really important. Because we can't possibly think of everything that might be uploaded, and because a really long list is almost as useless as no list at all, we created the catch-all category, other. When selecting other you can provide a suggestion for us. If enough publishers want this type, we'll add it to the list.

I don't see a publication type that reflects my files.

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If you don't see a type that describes your publication, choose other. Your publication will be grouped with all the other others, and that's it. No worries. We review our publication types from time to time, and may add a type which explains your publication — so keep an eye on the development blog and be sure to subscribe to our e-mail newsletters for updates.

Why isn't YouPublish letting me call my book file a book?

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In order to ensure that users get a book when they download a book (or a movie when they download a movie), YouPublish requires that each publication type meet certain, basic requirements. When you upload a file, YouPublish servers check to see that these are met. If you're calling your publication a book, for example, it must contain at least one PDF or DOC file. It can contain other files of course — that's the magic of YouPublish! — but at least one file must "look" like a book. If you have a PDF or DOC in your publication but the uploader still isn't allowing you to designate your publication as a book, it may be that the title of your file has been corrupted. Please check that the file is properly labeled with a PDF or DOC extension. If your computer lets you hide your extensions, you may have to do a little fishing around to verify that your extension is what it needs to be.

Why don't you have categories?

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Because YouPublish allows any type of digital file (from AVIs to ZURG files), categories-based browsing tools would have to be very complex. It's no small task, but we're currently working on just such a system. In the mean time, you can search for keywords and then sort the results list by type (book, spoken audio, music, video, photo, presentation, study courses, and other).

How long can my title and sub-title be?

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Your title and sub-title may each be up to 255 characters long, but remember: short titles are easier to remember and easier to read in lists where longer titles may be shortened.

Why is your minimum price $1.00?

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It's a credit card company thing. Rest assured: we're looking for a way that will allow us to allow prices below a dollar.

How long can my description be?

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There isn't currently a limitation, but we may add one in the future. It's best, though, to keep your descriptions short (less than 200 words).

And a word of warning: cutting and pasting a description from Word (or another word processing program) can introduce all sorts of ugly characters that only show up after you hit publish. So please think twice before doing it!

What limitations are there for cover images?

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Cover art can be a .JPG (.JPEG) or .PNG file. File size isn't important — though larger files take longer to upload and slow the publishing process. Dimension-wise, images can't be any taller than twice their width. Once you select an image to use, a handful of thumbnails are created to showcase your publication in different places on the site. Make certain your image looks good in sizes as small as 60 pixels wide.

What if I don't have a cover image?

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If you don't have an image, a generic one will be inserted for you. But remember: compelling cover art will help you stand out in the crowd.

Can YouPublish create cover art for me?

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We're sorry, but YouPublish does not currently offer any creative services (editing, typesetting, design, etc).

What's a "target language"?

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The target language for your publication is the language of your audience but not necessarily the language of your files. The best way to illustrate this distinction is to use the example of a Japanese language course for English speakers. Your publication is intended to be used by English speakers to learn Japanese; you may have Japanese audio files in your publication, but your publication's target language is definitely "English".

How do I give proper credit for my publication?

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Use the "by…" and "with…" text fields in the more details area of the publishing page to give proper credit. Giving credit can be tricky so we left them as free text areas (up to 255 characters). Because you're the "publisher" of anything your upload to YouPublish, that field is not editable, but "by…" and "with…" can be filled-in, as needed. Here's an example: you've taken William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet and formatted it beautifully and had a world-reknowned artist illustrate it. You're the publisher, of course it's by "William Shakespeare", and with "Piet Mondrian (Illustrator)". Here's another: you've compiled a book of poetry from around the world and had it read by several famous actors. Again, you're the publisher: it's by "Christian Calford (Editor)", and with "Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner, and Patrick Stewart (Narrators)".

What are my options with copyright? Do you support Creative Commons?

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As you probably know, your work is copyrighted the moment your create it but labeling it with a license gives you a better legal standing in many instances, and it's a user-friendly way of letting folks know what they can and can't do with your work. There are two broad camps of licensing out there: the "all or nothing" camp (copyright and public domain, respectively), and the "some rights reserved" camp. This middle ground is really well covered by the pioneering legal work done by the folks at Creative Commons. All of these options are currently available for you to apply to your work, via a pull-down menu in the more details area of the publishing page.

How can I keep people from stealing my publications?

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You can't. No matter what you do — no matter what our brilliant programmers do — folks intent on using your files in ways that you don't intend will succeed in doing so. But you can make yourself and your files less vulnerable to such behavior. It starts with understanding that most folks are good and decent, and that they're happy to pay for something of value. Most people misappropriate digital files because they're not easily available for purchase or because they're eager to share a new discovery. Fighting this behavior is like fighting in a judo match — you need to move with the flow of energy to properly defend yourself and your files.

Here are a few tips for the digital judo master:

  • price your files fairly — and with the understanding that pennies can become dollars if you sell enough!
  • use free demos of your work that are easily shared (a sample book chapter, a video clip, you get the idea).
  • build value around your files — not just in your files. The Grateful Dead knew people would share their music, so they made certain their concerts were unforgettable experiences. Developers of free software often build million-dollar businesses offering training, support, and customization of their FREE product.

How do I share my sales proceeds with co-authors and others?

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YouPublish subtracts their percentage from your take of the 70/30 split you share with YouPublish. Combined, your take and the takes you share with others add up to 100%. Let's say you sell your publication for $1.00 and you have 100 sales. That's $100. You split this, 70/30 with YouPublish. That leaves you with $70. Now you calculate the splits with your co-creators based on 100% of $70: 10% is $7, 20% is $14, and so on.

Once your splits are entered, YouPublish e-mails a notice to the others using the e-mail addresses you've provided, and invites them to join YouPublish in order to be paid. Now you can sit back and let YouPublish handle all the details of payment while you focus on being creative.

What happens when I click publish now?

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Assuming you've completed the handful of required fields, clicking publish now will save the information to our database and your listed files will begin to be uploaded. The length of the upload process depends on the size of the files you're uploading — large files can take a long time — and your browser will need to remain open the entire time. Once all your files are uploaded, your publication will be viewable in the files section of the site, in the my uploads area of the my youpublish section, and in your profile. Because some files may need to be converted on our end, you may see a temporary "conversion" notice if you visit the publication immediately. The conversion process is pretty quick, so no need to worry.

Please read more on what to do if your upload is interrupted.

What happens if I click save for later?

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When you click save for later, the details of the publication are saved and any files you've listed are uploaded (this can take a few minutes!). The incomplete publication is accessible from the my uploads section in my youpublish, but is not viewable by the public and is not listed in your profile. To complete the publication, navigate to its listing in my youpublish > my uploads and click on the complete publication button. You can then finish entering publication details and upload your files.

What happens if my upload is interrupted?

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If you click publish this, but your upload is interrupted (power outage, computer problems, etc.), the publication is treated just as if you had clicked save for later. The incomplete publication is accessible from the my uploads section in my youpublish, but is not viewable by the public and is not listed in your profile. To complete the publication, navigate to its listing in my youpublish > my uploads and click on the complete publication button. Any files that were successfully uploaded will be listed — any other files will need to be re-added using the add files button.

Can I edit a product once it's been published?

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Once a product is published, YouPublish locks down some details and prevents creators from editing them. This is done to make certain that people have a positive experience browsing and buying files on YouPublish. Imagine looking for a song you've seen before only to have it disappear because the publisher renamed it. It would be awful.

So what do you do?

First and foremost: you do your very best to get it right the first time. It seems a little simplistic, but you'd be surprised how many people publish things thinking "I'll get to that tomorrow." If you need a little extra time to do it right, click save for later, and the product will be stored under my uploads in the my youpublish area. You can finish editing products here at your leisure.

Second: consider starting from scratch. It's not ideal, but it will give you a clean board from which to start.

Third: contact the folks in support and request that an exception be granted. Explain why the edit has to be made and why starting a new product isn't an option.

There are plans in the works that will make this process easier. In the mean time, however, this is the process.

Can I delete a product once it's been published?

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Yes. Navigate to the publication listing in my youpublish > my uploads and click on the remove link. Your publication will be removed from the files section of the site and will disappear from your publications list in your profile. It will not, however, be removed from the libraries of users who've purchased or otherwise acquired the publication.

People

What can I do in the people section of YouPublish?

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Every member of YouPublish has a profile — and they're all in the people section. Surf to a publisher's profile to see a list of their available works. Leave an encouraging word, a helpful critique, or interact with their fans in the comments area of their profile. Or send them a private message using the form under the profile picture.

If you wish to not be visible in the people section, go to my profile in the my youpublish section, edit your display name and uncheck the option show my profile in people search.

How do I find someone I know is here?

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The easiest way to find someone's profile is to use the search box found in the people section. Type in the person's name or a few keywords. The resulting list is easily sorted.

My YouPublish - Manage Your Account, Track Your Sales

What can I do in the my youpublish section of YouPublish?

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my youpublish is where you can manage all of your important information — profile details, published works, works in progress, a library of items your purchased or added, sales data, a history of referrals, and your private account details. The best way to familiarize yourself with my youpublish is to jump right in and surf around!

How can I change my profile picture?

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Click on the add photo button in the my profile area of the my youpublish section. You'll be asked to select an image from your hard drive (like cover art, the image must be a JPG file). You may also select use my camera to take a photo if your computer has a webcam installed. You'll have to allow Flash access to your webcam. Simply click take my photo, wait for the countdown, and smile!

How long can my description be?

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There isn't currently a limitation, but we may add one in the future. It's best, though, to keep your personal description short (less than 200 words).

And a word of warning: cutting and pasting a description from Word (or another word processing program) can introduce all sorts of ugly characters that only show up after you hit publish. So please think twice before doing it!

What's the difference between my uploads and my library?

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my uploads is where we list items you've created, including publications that are incomplete. my library is where we list items you've purchased or free items you've added deliberately — which is a handy thing if you ever need to download something again!

How can I track my sales?

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A wealth of sales information is available in the my sales area of the my youpublish section.

Does YouPublish have a referral or affiliate program?

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Yes we do! We're big believers that creative people know other creative people — so we want to encourage our users to invite their friends to use the site. To do that, we have offer an incentive: use the invitation generator found in the my invitations area of my youpublish to invite your friends to use the site. Folks who use your invitation to subsequently join YouPublish are considered your referrals, and you earn 7.5% of their sales for two whole years. That's some incentive.

When and how do I get paid for my sales?

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Once a month, we run a report of folks who've entered their payment data (my youpublish > my sales) and those who've amassed $100 or more of payables are cut and mailed a check in US dollars. This process is not as efficient as we'd like, so we are actively researching and developing a better solution. Stay tuned for details!

How do I cancel my account?

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We hate to see people go, but if you ever do need to close your account, we want to make it as painless as possible. E-mail support, and we'll handle the cancellation on our end. Please provide enough information to identify you and, if possible, e-mail us from the address listed in your account.

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