Self Publishing A Book: Advantages & Disadvantages

Research, research and more research. Finding specific markets for the genre you are putting out. This can only happen by researching these markets. Research what is selling, your publishing options, publication time and costs, print and ebook options.

Next step is to devise a marketing plan, then you will be well on your way of letting your researched market know what you have and getting that book on the shelf.

Your marketing plan will include how and where to sell your book. You make a list of local book sellers, online stores, independent book sellers and electronic media (e-books).

Letting your local television, radio and newspaper know you have just released your book is called a press release. This should be included in your marketing plan and should be the first way of letting people know that your book is out. Your release should include a synopsis of your book, information on how and when to contact you for interviews and orders.These press releases usually get a lot of viewership/listener-ship and is very effective. It won't hurt either to place an ad in your local newspaper.

In addition to your press release you should try to get on television programs such as talk shows, entertainment shows, morning programs etc.

Also included in your plan are ways of setting up up book signings, giveaways and readings. You also advertise on your social networks such as Facebook, MySpace and what ever else might be available.

Getting your Self Published book on the international market is good, and this should also be included in that marketing plan. Getting an oversees agent or someone who will help you to get into that market is advisable. Take into consideration their tax laws and liscences before you venture there.

It is good to get a book tour going where you can get to meet some people and sign a few books, giving a few away of course or setting up reading sessions in libraries, cafes and clubs.

You may also donate a few copies to a library or School, this will also give you some publicity. Good books for this genre are usually non-fiction and children's stories but any well written book from almost any genre will do. Best to find out what the library or school is looking for and send a copy to be analyzed and approved first.

After you become established as a writer it will be easier to get your book on the shelves of book stores. Publishing a memorable book will sell your other books in the future as people will remember you as an author and want to buy your other work.

Before you publish your book it is also good to research what genre is selling at a particular time. This is pretty easy to do by calling a few traditional publishers to ask what genre they are looking for and a few book sellers to ask what is flying off the shelves.

Marketing your Self Published book is hard work and you should be prepared to do it or employ someone to or your labor will all be in vain.

1. So long as you can pay, you don't have to worry about being rejected. The Self Publishing Company will send you a price list of different packages that they offer. Most likely these packages will include cover design, illustration, quantity of copies to be printed, hard or soft cover.

2. You have total control over the design, editing and printing of your book. Because you are the client (paying client) the decision what to edit or not to edit is totally up to you. The cover design is your final decision along with the amount printed at any given time.

3. Print on demand publishing. One of the greatest advantages of self publishing is the idea of print on demand publishing, that is printing what is needed at a particular time. Only what is ordered is printed, so there are no excessive books that need to be sold at half price when the market drops. The printing is basically going with the flow so the company will not have to wait a long time before recovering it's costs.

4. Marketing your self published book. Most likely you will either pay the company extra to market your book or you hire someone to do it. Either way you target specific markets for your book. You marketing rep will research which stores or areas are ripe for the genre that you have out so your books won't stay on the shelf collecting dust. You have to have a marketing plan or this could work against you.

1. Editing and Quality. Because you are your own editor, you don't get the objective eye of the editor of the traditional publisher. Authors often make the mistake of thinking they are the best to judge their own work. Some even go as far as designing their own covers to their detriment. The traditional publishing house employs an editor and cover designer who has researched the market to give you the best design and presentation for your book. The traditional publisher has everything to lose so quality is their middle name. They put all the effort and money up front so the quality has to be the highest to recover their costs. On the other hand POD publisher have already gotten paid so have no real cost to recover, and so will print whatever you want even if it's not the best quality.

1. Cost. It might be easier and quicker to have your book in print or on a device but if you ar not careful you could be paying an unreasonably high price for your book which may not be easily recoverable. When seeking a POD publisher remember to weigh your options carefully. Decide on a price before committing. Any additional costs will have to be explained carefully by the company before you submit a payment. Research these publishing companies carefully, read reviews, ask questions before paying a dime. Some of these companies will take your cash and give you shoddy work. Your book may not turn out with the quality you expected.

2. Marketing your book might be totally up to you. Years ago when Vanity Publishing became popular it was up to the author to market their book. Authors had to pay a company or individual to get their book noticed and bought. Some authors even did their own marketing which would result in very few sales and costs would not be recovered. People began to shy away from these publishing houses until a few years ago when some started to offer marketing as a part of the deal/package. Currently some POD publishers require from you a marketing plan before making a commitment. So again it is up to you to research your publisher properly, depending on what you want, before making a commitment.

3. Deadlines. As a fellow Hubber pointed out to me, POD publishers do not work with deadlines. You finish your book when you want to, pay the publishing fee and voila, your book is printed no matter how long it takes you to finish. Ten, twenty, fifty years. The traditional publisher requires a synopsis or a few chapters of your book. When the manuscript is approved they give you a submission deadline. This, for most writers is the motivation they have been waiting for to complete the last few chapters, as many writers get stuck on the finishing of the book. Print on Demand Publishers don't give the writer that motivation so many writers prefer the option of traditional publishers instead. If you are a procrastinator, or someone who finds it hard to finish any thing, then I would suggest the use of the traditional publisher instead, as working with a deadline might be more suitable for you.