There are several options to self-publishing that can make things confusing and overwhelming without proper research.
After self-publishing 10 book publications featuring poetry, self-help and inspirational writing I thought I could share some things I have learned thus far about the process. Although many think it’s one of those “easier said than done” sort of thing, one of the most important tips I can give includes conducting as much research as possible and connect with those who have gone through the process to get first-hand feedback.
Self-publishing a book can be done with various publishing companies and this thought alone may leave many newcomers overwhelmed with which way to go and how to get started. The following tips include suggestions and ideas that you should be thinking about in planning your self-publishing venture.
Take time to get educated on what self-publishing has to offer and how you will benefit. This means that you are going into business for yourself and it should be treated as a business. Taking time to educate yourself may including attending seminars, reading books, internet research and talking with other writers who are familiar with the self publishing process. The information you find will help you craft a knowledgeable plan that may help you save money in the future.
Review published works by other writers. This is also known as studying your competition to see who you’re up against. Sometimes this may give you ideas on how to improve your work, plus you’ll gain insight on what is popular in the market. Certain genres may be overwhelmed with content and it will be your job to make your work stand out. Check out your local bookstore, browse book selections online and view ways to be innovative and different. Most people nowadays seek fresh content or known topics with a twist.
Understand what your market wants. If you writing about something you desire without having the interest of those who are in your market, you may not get off to a good start when it comes to selling. It helps to have unique content that your audience wants to read.
Know your market and understand how to sell to your market. Even before your book is written and edited, you need to know how to market your product to where you see progress and of course sales. Start making notes for ideas on where you will market, promote and advertise your book. Even if you are with a publisher who may offer these services, you still need to do some sort of marketing in order to learn who your market consists of, build your audience and maintain your audience.
Look into professional editing services. Some self-publishing companies offer editing services based on the criteria of your book. Look into these services they offer and you can look into other editing services outside the company as well. Having a polished manuscript is important before heading to the printer. And often, many authors overlook typos or grammar errors and it helps to have a fresh pair of eyes to review your completed script.
Make sure your title grabs attention! Often people are draw to a book by the title alone and if the title is not interesting enough to grab the reader’s attention, you’ll end up losing out. Short titles may help people remember the name of your book yet subtitles offer more depth and curiosity.
Make sure you learn the different components that make up your book besides your manuscript. These pertinent details include the ISBN, synopsis, and other categories that will make up the back cover details for your book.
Create a cover design that is appropriate and will help your book stand out. Some self-publishing companies may offer this service or even offer templates, yet this is an opportunity to hire someone who is experienced in crafting detailed and professional book cover designs. The cover will also help you sell your book and in this case you may sell yourself short if it’s not done right. When it comes to books, competition is fierce and for many, it’s the first time to make a good impression.
Make the inside of your book user-friendly and inviting. This may include adding an inside cover with additional details about the book. It helps to view other books in the store to get an idea on what you can do for your book. When someone skims the inside, you want to pull them in and make them feel comfortable with easy to read material.
If you are considering printing your own books, use a book manufacture that will print professional looking products. You may even get a discount on printing in bulk and for some writers it is cheaper than some self-publishing companies.
Promoting and publicizing your work is something you’ll always be doing so you’ll have to get used to it! Always promote your work when you have the opportunity and for some self-published writers they create their own opportunities instead of waiting for it to come to them. If you are truly passionate about your work and feel confident that it is something that needs to be shared, you will do whatever is possible to get the word out about it. There are books that have been in print for years and this is due to ongoing promotional activities.
Tanisha Herrin is a self-published author of numerous publications featuring creative writing, self-help and poetry. Tanisha is creator of Inspire Creations which features inspirational books, products, health information and creative writing projects.
