If you are a novice author, self-publishing may seem like a scary path. After all, most authors want to go for traditional book publishing, which seems like the ideal path to a successful career as an author in your genre. However, you may be surprised to know how self-publishing can be a game-changer for you.
Self-publishing allows the author to retain the right for all creative decisions, royalty profits, costs, and much more. This method of publishing has been around for a long time and has been preferred by the best of the authors.
If you are also considering a career path as a self-published author, here are some essential things you must add to your checklist.
Complete Your Manuscript
When you think about self-publishing a book, the first thing that comes to your mind is a ready-to-go and complete manuscript. Of course, publishing your book is something you think about after you have completed your manuscript.
You must ensure revisions and check your work for grammatical errors or issues with consistency. The ideal way to bring out the best in your work is to hire a professional editor. These professionals can help you make your manuscript ready for self-publishing without any self-doubt.
Hire a Cover Designer
A good book is incomplete without an eye-catching book cover. The cover is your tool to lure the reader in and give them a hint about what to expect from your book. The importance of this part of your book must never be undermined.
You must focus on creating a visually appealing cover that conveys the essence of your book. If you do not have any experience with graphic design, hiring a graphic designer who specializes in book covers can be an ideal approach.
Professional book cover designers do not just work based on your instructions. They also bring their creativity to the table and help you explore more ideas to create the best book cover.
Format According to the Guidelines
Formatting is an important tool for ensuring the success of your work as a self-publisher. You must adhere to the guidelines of the publishing platform you have chosen. They may share specific guidelines regarding font styles, margins, chapter headings, and page layout for both print and digital versions.
At this stage, you may consider if you can be your book’s distributor. While it is entirely possible, remember that handling your own self-distribution can be a challenge, especially when it comes to reaching a wider audience.
Obtain Your ISBN
If you are self-publishing for the first time, you may not even know what an ISBN is. An ISBN (International Standard Book Number is a 13-digit numeric code that serves as a unique identifier for your book that identifies its language, edition, versions, and publishers.
This unique arrangement lets customers identify, order, and track the book they want to purchase. Although an ISBN is not necessary, authors are recommended to take this step.
If you are self-publishing, you can choose to use the ISBN assigned to you by your publishing service company or consider getting your own ISBN as a unique identifier for books.
Register for Copyright
One of the best things about self-publishing your book is the freedom that comes with it. You do not have to worry about the satisfaction and approval of several others on your way to ensure the success of your book. Only your satisfaction and confidence matters.
With all this freedom, you also have the responsibility of securing the copyrights of your books. You must register your book for copyright protection. This can help you safeguard your intellectual property rights and avoid unauthorized use.
Set a Price
As a self-publisher, you may love the freedom in the beginning. However, it does not take long for one to be overwhelmed by facing important decisions such as creating a pricing strategy for your book. This step can be especially overwhelming for novice authors.
You do not want to undersell or overprize your work. Instead, you want to remain as close as possible to finding the right competitive price for your book.
Considering important factors such as production costs, market demand, and pricing trends in your genre can help you come up with the best cost for your self-published book.
Develop a Book Marketing Plan
Once you choose a book publishing platform that aligns with your distribution goals and budget, the next important step is to develop a comprehensive marketing plan for your self-published book. Ask yourself how you plan on reaching a wider audience and convincing them to buy your book.
An effective marketing strategy may include social media promotion, book signings, author interviews, book reviews, and collaboration with influencers or book bloggers. You can personalize your book marketing plan according to the expectations and preferences of your target audience.
Create Your Author Website
In this technology-driven world, an author website is equally important for authors who self-publish or choose the traditional path. It is an ideal platform to tell your audience and potential readers about who you are and what you have to offer.
It can become key to staying connected with your audience and keeping them updated about your upcoming work. Self-publishing a book can also help you in book promotion by becoming an ideal platform for upcoming events, contact details, and links to purchase your upcoming book.
Explore Distribution Channels
It can be difficult to find recognition as a novice author. However, things can become much easier once you find the right distribution channels for your book. It is always a good idea to explore various distribution channels to reach a broader audience.
Another great idea is to consider selling your book through online retailers and direct sales channels. In the end, you know your target audience the best and understand the sales potential better than anyone else.
As the price controller and the biggest beneficiary of your book sales, you are free to choose the distribution channels you think are best.