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10
Rules For Self-Publishing Success
Becoming a successful self-publisher doesn’t happen by accident. To make
money in this business, you have to treat it exactly like that – a business.
Following these ten rules will help you achieve your goal of success in the
self-publishing business.
1.
Do your homework. Read everything you can on the publishing business, with an
emphasis on self-publishing. Any good bookstore should have a decent selection
of books on self-publishing, and you can find even more online. Two excellent
resources are The Complete Guide to
Self-Publishing, by Tom and Marilyn Ross, and Dan Poynter’s
The Self-Publishing Manual. There is a lot of very good information on
self-publishing on the internet. Invest some time in doing online research. but
be aware there are a lot of get rich quick schemes ands scams out there, so you
have to sort the wheat from the chaff.
2.
Before you type your first line, ask yourself “Who will want to buy this?”
Identify your market and know what that market is looking for. Then supply it to
them. You may think a study of gerbil genetics is absolutely fascinating, but
how many other people will? However, there may be enough pet lovers who will
appreciate (and buy) a booklet or book on how to keep their furry friend healthy
and happy. You can write the best book in the world, but if you don’t have any
idea who will want to purchase it, and a solid marketing plan to reach those
people, all you will do is waste time and money.
3.
Know your competition. Who else has written about the same subject? Study what
they have done and figure out how you can do a better job. Will a new slant on
the same topic sell? Can you expand on what’s already out there by offering
more resources to help readers learn and understand more? What can you do that
the competition hasn’t done?
4.
Once you have written your book, have it professionally proof read and edited.
Nothing turns a reader off more than trying to fight their way through typos,
bad spelling, and terrible grammar.
5.
Come up with a good descriptive title. Forget artsy fartsy. If you wrote a book
on how to make money raising earthworms, title your book something simple like Raising
Earthworms At Home For Profit. A good title will help sell your book, while
a bad one can kill it. A subtitle really helps describe and sell nonfiction
books.
6.
Lay out your book in a professional manner, or have someone with graphics
experience lay it out for you. Again, don’t go overboard. Remember the KISS
principle – Keep It Simple Stupid! Colored pages, oddball typefaces, and other
“tricks” will not make up for poor content, but they will distract from a
good read.
7.
Your cover can sell a lot of books for you if you are relying on bookstore
sales. It does not have to be a multi-colored work of art that brings tears to
the eyes of strong men, but an attractive cover will pay off.
8.
Understand the components any good book needs, including an ISBN number,
copyright notice, and other front matter. Include an index, glossary, and
bibliography at the back of the book.
9.
Your local neighborhood print shop may be great at turning out letterheads,
business cards and flyers, but for books you need a specialized book printer. I
suspect that more aggravation, time, and money have been lost working with
printers who are not capable of turning out a professional job than in any other
area of the self-publishing industry. There are many good book manufacturers out
there, and several have ads at the top and bottom of these web pages.
10.
He who has a thing to sell and goes and whispers in a well does not get as many
dollars as he who climbs a tree and hollers! If nobody knows about your book,
they can’t purchase it. Get the word out. Send e-mails and press releases to
anybody and everybody you can think of. Add a signature line to all of your
e-mails with a link back to your book. Send out review copies to appropriate
media. Arrange book signings at local libraries and book stores. Publicize that
book! Promote it every day! And don’t stop after that first sales surge.
Remember my Publishing4Profit method of self-publishing success? Find at least
four ways to market your book and recycle the information in it for continued
sales over the long haul.
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