Starting my own company and self-publishing my own book are things that have always been on my list of career goals. I was able to cross off two items on this list when I started my own link building company because it led me to publish my own book as well.
I used the experiences, skills, and knowledge I have gained from becoming a full-time SEO analyst to write and self-publish my e-book entitled OFF-SITE SEO GUIDE: A Hands-On SEO Tutorial for Beginners & Dummies, essentially an SEO for dummies kind of guide.
Having that firsthand experience, I have come to slowly understand why more and more authors are embracing independence and choosing this non-traditional publishing route. The idea of being in control of my book’s publication from start to finish is an enticing setup that most authors will also find hard to resist.
Recent technological advances have also made self-publishing much more convenient. The ease provided by online tools, where creating a book in digital format is possible in a matter of minutes, presents an opportunity for independent authors to fully explore.
As with any important decision, however, this path is not free from hurdles. Here are some challenges that I faced in my journey towards becoming a self-published author:
The Challenges of Self-Publishing:
Dealing with stigma
Perhaps one of the first things that came to my mind when I considered self-publishing my book was the perception of writers who self-publish. Unlike before, when there was only one path to being a published author, writers nowadays are given an alternative direction in the form of self-publishing.
Yet, it does not come easy. You will still have to deal with other people’s views that self-publishing may not be as prestigious as the traditional publishing path.
Instead of seeing it this way, however, I looked at the brighter side. I wrote my book so I can reach my readers and teach them about off-site SEO. With the quick pace that self-publishing provides, I was able to put my book out there for my readers’ fast and convenient consumption.
Looking at the concern from a different perspective, I realized that self-publishing is an enabling tool, not a last resort for writers. It opens opportunities for independent authors to walk alongside their mainstream and traditionally-published counterparts.
Claiming accountability
With traditional publishing, several key players and stages are involved. As your draft passes back and forth among you, an agent, and your editor, there are countless content revisions that will take place before your book reaches publishers.
Self-publishing instantly and directly bridges that gap between you and the publishing platform. But it comes with a price. Although there are fewer people involved, more responsibility fell on my shoulders.
I needed to be organized and to have a clear strategy if I were to stand by my decision to self-publish. I had to step up and choose whether I wanted to do everything by myself or enlist other people’s help.
I know that with self-publishing, lower costs are assumed. Don’t think though that you would not have to spend a dime if you were to self-publish.
Additional costs still have to be incurred if you want your book to sell. Proofreading and copy-editing, among other things, may have to be outsourced and delegated to the professionals. At the end of the day, the standard and scrutiny that other people with the necessary skills can provide will be worth every penny.
Also, if you are not that computer savvy and know that you would be needing help in terms of formatting your book, then you would have to accept the fact that not everything will be under the do-it-yourself category. Among the tasks you might want to outsource if visual art is not your strength, is the graphic design of your book’s cover.
Choosing the platform
After making up my mind and devising a plan, I moved on to my next step: choosing where to publish my first book. Among the various companies that are known to offer self-publishing services, Amazon and Apple’s iBooks Author make the top ranks. Make sure to take time to carefully consider each of their features.
When you self-publish your book on Amazon, for example, you may also opt for their print-on-demand services through CreateSpace.
This way, if someone opts to buy a paperback version of your digital book, they can order one from the platform and you get a commission for it. With Apple’s introduction of iBooks author, on the other hand, your ideas can easily be transformed into a media-rich self-published book.
The two platforms offer different payment or earning schemes. With Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing, you can choose from either a 35% or a 70% royalty rate, depending on the covered territories.
Apple’s iBooks Author, on the other hand, has a 70% royalty on listing price. With these two platforms’ pay-out schemes, check that you can potentially earn a higher profit compared to if you chose to go the route of traditional publishing.
Aside from the abovementioned features, these two platforms also differ in terms of the digital format that they require. The former is in .mobi and the latter is in epub. If you are aspiring to self-publish, you may easily convert your manuscript into the required format by turning to free online tools or by hiring companies that offer formatting services for a fee.
The choice between these two platforms depends on your own set of preferences and considerations. Do thorough research that will lead you to an informed choice. Learn every detail that you can, scan every clause of the terms and conditions, and explore the platform itself.
Captivating the target market
As self-publishing is now a booming trend among a lot of indie authors, expect a surplus of digital books to compete with. When I self-published my book, I listed down various marketing strategies that I know can help me execute my goal. I knew that publishing platforms can only take my book as far as their covered territories or countries and that the rest of the marketing tactics will still rely on my own efforts.
Unlike with a publishing company where some degree of marketing relies on them, you will have to turn to and execute your own marketing strategy to make sure that your book reaches its intended audience.
I suggest starting off with a decent website that houses a blog and contains posts related to the topic of your book. Build a responsive home base from where you can house your marketing efforts. Make it attractive and user-friendly to keep readers coming back for more.
The usual SEO tactics, such as employing guest blogging services, may also help in promoting your book’s website and gaining additional publicity to attract readers’ attention.
Social media is also a powerful tool that can do wonders for your book’s PR strategies. Make the most of Facebook by starting a Facebook Page with engaging posts that can catch your target readers’ attention. Go live and answer questions from your readers about yourself, your book, and anything else under the sun.
Interact with comments and questions about your book or topics related to it. Create or join groups that can connect you with more readers. If you haven’t started yet, build up your tweets and stay relevant on Twitter.
The wider your network and connections, the better your chances of putting the spotlight on your self-published book. Basically, you will have to put your best marketing foot forward to make sure that your self-publishing decision will translate to your goal of selling your book.
At the end of the day, I came to the important realization that writing my first book was just the tip of the iceberg. The real challenge begins with the decision to self-publish it. Fortunately, despite some roadblocks in my path to self-publishing, I managed to pull through with my very own book, earning a few lessons on the way. I learned how to see things from a different perspective and to value the alternative route as much as the mainstream ways.
Self-publishing is an excellent path to becoming a published author. I hope my experience and the knowledge I have gained from it help you in dealing with the same challenges I encountered.
