What is a publishing imprint?

A publishing imprint is essentially a brand name or trade name used by publishers to market a specific line of books. This allows them to differentiate various categories of books or reach distinct market segments. For example, if someone is self-publishing books, they might consider establishing an imprint to publish additional authors under a unified brand, as discussed by Srini Rao and Cal Newport. An imprint can provide cohesion and branding, although it requires careful consideration of compensation and resource limitations to attract authors 1.