5 ways to build on self-publishing success

Let’s assume that you’ve already self-published one book and now you’re trying to decide what to do next to build on your success. In some ways, this can be more difficult than publishing something for the first time. When you’re just starting out, you don’t have a base to work from so there’s nothing to live up to except your own expectations – but second time around, you’ll naturally want to improve what you’ve already achieved.

If you are currently looking to build on your self-publishing success, here are a few things you could try. As always, please do let me know what you think in the comments.

Get another book out. It might sound obvious, and it might be a big ask when you’ve just finished publishing your first book, but one of the best ways to capitalise on your self-publishing success is to do it all again. Building a back catalogue – and a track record – is crucial if you’re hoping to make progress.
Look for areas you could invest in. When they self-publish for the first time, many authors do most of it themselves. Doing it all again is a good time to start thinking about where outside support could help you – such as in editing or cover design to make your books more professional.
Research what’s new. There’s always something new in self-publishing, whether it’s a new platform through which to publish your work or new types of deals and offers that you can use to help with your promotions. Make sure you keep on top of what’s happening so you can use new developments to build on what you’ve already done.
Use your previous book. If you got lots of positive reviews for your first book, think how they could help you promote your next book. Is there a great quote that you could use for the cover, or something that people picked up on that they really liked?
Know what your ultimate goal is. It’s much easier to know how to build on your existing success if you know what it is that you really want to achieve. Building an action plan is always easier with an end result in mind, so give the issue some thought before deciding on what you’re going to do next.