If you have an idea worth sharing, self-publishing a book is one of the best ways to do it. A self-published book, in many ways, is a vessel that shows your expertise and enthusiasm toward a topic to others. If you’re a fiction author, you can use your book to share the fictional world you’ve created.
But the world of self-publishing has been changing a lot lately and many people who think they understand it are still behind the curve as to how far along the industry has come. As a USA Today bestselling author and owner of a self-publishing company, MindStir Media, I’d like to use my expertise to get everybody up to speed on what self-publishing looks like today.
What is self-publishing?
Self-publishing is paying money up front for the publication of your book. When you self-publish, you’re going to make higher royalties on sales, control the creative process behind your book, and have the option to pick and choose what particular areas your self-publishing company helps with.
To contrast, traditional publishing is the more “old-fashioned” way of publishing. In this method, a publishing house pays an advance for a book with significantly less royalties. They also control the creative process and dictate how much marketing budget goes into each of their books.
For years, self-publishing was thought of as inferior because, simply put, anybody can do it. But thanks to advances made by self-publishing companies and some homerun success stories of self-published books, it is a much more accepted – even encouraged – publication method.
Advantages of Self-Publishing a Book
Almost all the advantages of self-publishing boil down to the idea of involvement.
When an author self-publishes, they have much more say in the publication process because they’re a lot more involved. From the format to the cover design, a good self-publisher will help the author bring his or her dream to life without overstepping. Yes, a self-publisher might offer advice, but they will never say “here’s your cover – use this.”
Additionally, as mentioned, self-publishing pays significantly higher royalties. On average, traditionally published books pay 10% royalties while self-published works can pay as much as 75%.
Remember, if you’re self-publishing, you will be the one responsible for arranging a good deal of your own marketing efforts, but if you’re willing to get involved, there’s a lot better money to be made. If, by chance, you already have a sizable following for whatever reason – thought leadership, social media, a podcast or any other content creation – self-publishing provides you with an opportunity to monetize that existing, active following.
Another major advantage is that self-publishing is getting better every day. With more advanced self-publishers and more ways to get a book to an audience (eBooks, audiobooks, YouTube promotional interviews, etc.), self-publishing is growing at a much better rate than traditional publishing.
What to look for in a Good Self-Publisher
Finding a self-publisher is like a romance: you want a partner that you enjoy your time with and somebody you can work together with to benefit both parties.
However, it’s easier said than done. Yes, there are a lot of great self-publishers out there, but you want to find the one. If a self-publishing partnership is going to work, you have to find a partner who is all-in on your book and you need to come to that company with a vision and plan of attack.
So, what does the perfect self-publishing house look like?
Of course, it depends on you and the type of book you’ve written, but there are a few things that I’d consider a must. For one, the best self-publishing houses are beginning to catch up to traditional publishing houses in terms of marketing offerings. Some offer custom author websites, promotional packages, endorsement deals, or advanced digital marketing campaigns. Keep this in mind if you’re looking for the right self-publishing home.
Additionally, you want to work with a self-publisher with positive reviews. There are many good options, but also many not-so-good ones. Do your homework before engaging in conversation, and always chat with several before deciding. The best company for somebody else might not be best for you. It all comes down to fit.
The Self-Publishing Process
While the process differs from company to company, typically self-publishing looks something like this:
First, write a manuscript, get it exactly where you want it, then find a self-publisher (the only exception here is if you’re looking for ghostwriting services – then start by finding the publisher).
After you find a company with whom you decide to work, you’ll typically select which packages you want to add to the purchase. You might want the bare minimum: design, layout, formatting and edits. Or you might want more elaborate offerings: website creation, eBook offerings, audiobook creation, celebrity endorsements, or anything else! It comes down to what makes the most sense for you, your budget and your book – just be strategic as you make your selections.
The publication process will then take anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months, and once it’s finished, you’ll have a book to begin promoting. But don’t wait on the book to release to start hyping it up – you can begin building excitement much earlier! Here are a few things you can do…
Promoting a Self-Published Book
Depending on the publisher you work with and the packages you choose, some of the promotional work will be done with you. The best self-publishers have promotional packages in place that rival anything traditional publishers are offering.
No matter how much promotion you get from your company, here are a few things to do on your own:
- Contact local bookstores, libraries or places of interest to set up visits and signings.
- Reach out to podcasters or YouTubers that review books or talk about content related to your book and schedule interviews around your release.
- Contact creators/influencers and ask them about endorsing your book.
- Start blogging on your website.
- Build a newsletter list and release monthly updates to build excitement around the release.
- Get creative! Explore other options, as I’ve written about here.
Time to publish?
Now that you’re in the know, it’s time to consider self-publishing! We’ve reached a day and age when writers can self-publish with confidence, and that’s democratizing the world of books.
Are you ready to tell your story? Good luck on your self-publishing journey!