6 Things You Should Know Before Self-

Publishing a Book of Your Very Own!

The self- publishing process can be a very harsh one. This is because self-publishing a book can take a lot out of any writer. You are not only expected to invest months of your life on the writing process, you are also expected to devote even more of your time to the book marketing process. What’s more, you have to finance the entire self-publishing yourself. So if you are going to publish a book of your own, you should know what you are getting yourself into. Here are 6 things you should know before publishing a book of your very own.

1. Know your target market

Before you even think of writing your book, you should first identify your target market. Or in layman’s terms, you should know who you are writing for. Knowing your target market will help you throughout the book writing and book marketing process. Knowing your target market will help you to make your writing more focused and you can pattern your writing style according to the preferences of your target market. Overall, knowing your target market is a must before you set out and self-publish a book of your very own.

2. Don’t hesitate to ask for help

It is a well-known fact that the self-publishing process can be a tough prospect. Even veteran authors still struggle to succeed. So if you are a beginner at self-publishing, you will need all the help you can get. So don’t hesitate to ask for help. If you have writer friends, you should reach out to them. Ask for their advice and have them review your manuscript. You can also ask for their help during the book marketing process. They can do so by advertising your book through their social media accounts, or if they have author blogs, they can even post your work there.

3. Look for ways to minimize publishing costs

As it was stated earlier you will have to pay for the entire publishing process yourself. And seeing as the entire self-publishing process can take a small fortune to fund, you will need to find alternative ways to publish your book. By doing so, you will be able to minimize spending and have enough funds left to publish your book. Here are some great tips on how to minimize publishing costs.

• Do the proof reading and book editing yourself.
• Use a print on demand service.
• Design your book cover yourself.
• Do the interior layout, eBook conversion and formatting yourself.

4. Look for alternative book marketing methods

Aside from minimizing publishing costs, you should also look for alternative book marketing strategies. This is because aside from book publishing, the book marketing process can be just as costly. So before you set out and publish your book, you should already have a book marketing plan in place. You should also start the book marketing process long before you release your book.  That way, once you do release your book you will have a fan base already waiting.  Here are some alternative book marketing tricks to help you get started.

• Set up an author blog of your very own.
• Reach out to fellow book bloggers.
• Create great content and post them through your author blog and other social media accounts.
• Have your book reviewed by online retailers.
• Use social media extensively.

5. It will be an uphill battle

Although it was stated earlier that the self-publishing process can be difficult, it is important that you hear it again. This is because some writers go into the self-publishing process thinking that it will be all fun and games. Not knowing what a struggle it will be. So if you are serious about self-publishing your book, you should know that it will be an uphill battle. You should know that you will be facing sleepless nights, long hours and the ever present uncertainty whether or not your book will sell. It may sound terrible, but this is a reality that almost every author must face. So if you are going through with your self-publishing plans then you should be ready.  Be ready to overcome the potential adversities that may spring up. Only by doing so will you have any chance of succeeding.

6. Look for alternative places to sell your book

One of the main challenges of self-publishing a book is the fact that traditional bookstores are wary about selling self-published books. They consider it as a risk, and they won’t have them on their shelves. So it is important that you look for alternative places to sell your book. You could sell your book through your own platform, or you could sell your book through online retailers. Selling your self-published book could be a bit tricky at first, but once you create a following for your work, it will get a lot easier.

Conclusion

Self-publishing a book could be quite a challenge, especially if you are just starting out. So if you are going to self-publish a book, you should know what you are doing. With these tips, you’ll know what to expect and be ready for the entire self-publishing process.

Being a self-published author can be quite a challenge. But with Writers Republic, you can now take the big step and publish your work.