The Self Publishing Process Explained

[Eddie]

Self-publishing is about taking control over your book and how it is published, priced and distributed. As a self-published author, you are an entrepreneur who is taking responsibility of your work. It is also a better option if you are looking to have your book published by a specific date because traditional publishing could take a lot longer. If you are self-publishing then you will need to determine what platform you would like to publish on (Kindle Direct Publishing, Ingram, etc) You could even have the book available for purchase on your own website. You would also need a plan of how the book will be marketed to a larger audience. But in order for the book to be marketed successfully, you will need to make sure that it is properly, edited, proofread, designed, laid out and formatted.

EDITING & PROOFREADING
You will need to have your book professionally edited and proofread. This would ensure that your writing is up to standard for success. There are different types of editing: developmental, copyediting and line editing. All 3 are recommended but it also depends on the kind of book you are writing. You would also need proofreading to ensure that there are no grammar or punctuation errors that would make your book look bad. The editor and proofreader would make helpful recommendations on how you can improve your book before the next phase of design and formatting.

DESIGN, LAYOUT & FORMATTING
After the book is edited and proofread you would need to get the book cover and interior layout designed and formatted. This is to ensure that the design would allow the book to stand out and attract readers. It would also ensure a great reading experience. The format could be for paperback or ebook. There are different types of ebooks and it all depends on your kind of book as well as the target readers.

REGISTRATION
You would need to purchase your own ISBN from Bowker in order to be officially listed as the self-published author and receive and ISBN and Barcode. You might also need to submit your book to the library of congress to receive an LCCN number. You may also consider copyright registration to prevent people from stealing your work.

It may be difficult to go through the self-publishing process alone. Especially if you are a first time author. That is why I provide my expertise to guide authors through the whole self publishing process. Follow the link below to my article where I give an overview on the different self-publishing platforms for you to choose from.
https://designsbyegesi.com/build-your...

[J.J.]

did you create your own publishing company when you had it published through amazon.com? Did you create a company name when you started publishing where ever that may be?

[Eddie]

J.J. wrote: "did you create your own publishing company when you had it published through amazon.com? Did you create a company name when you started publishing where ever that may be?"

My self-publishing company helps upcoming authors publish on amazon or other platforms. I guide them through a simplified process from the initial planning to the final launch date. I also provide ongoing marketing to help them reach a broader audience.

[Cheryl]

Very informative and thank you. Yes, it's a tough process to navigate for a first-time author, but people do and are successful. Personally, I think the most difficult part of publishing a book for the first time is marketing. It's challenging to develop an audience, readers, buyers, etc. when one is starting from scratch.

[Eddie]

Yes, as a self-published author, I would highly recommend growing an audience first, before launching your first book. Because growing an audience takes time and can be difficult. You can grow an audience through social media or through an email list or blogging. You can also collaborate with others. How you would approach marketing varies depending on your genre and target readers. But you need people to first know who you are and be interested in your content. This way you can build momentum before the final release.

[Wmba]

Eddie wrote: "Self-publishing is about taking control over your book and how it is published, priced and distributed. As a self-published author, you are an entrepreneur who is taking responsibility of your work..."

There is SO much more to SP than what you noted.

[Wmba]

Eddie wrote: "Yes, as a self-published author, I would highly recommend growing an audience first, before launching your first book. Because growing an audience takes time and can be difficult. You can grow an a..."

chicken and egg problem ?

[Wmba]

Cheryl wrote: "Very informative and thank you. Yes, it's a tough process to navigate for a first-time author, but people do and are successful. Personally, I think the most difficult part of publishing a book for..."

marketing is FAR harder than writing which is far harder than getting it published these days.

[Tilly]

Eddie wrote: "Yes, as a self-published author, I would highly recommend growing an audience first, before launching your first book…”

That’s one way, but not entirely necessary. I never bothered with a platform or social media (still don’t). I wrote & published that first book and ran a few low budget ads ($1/day) and that got sales rolling and things looked after themselves after that. I’d much rather write the next book than expend time/energy on social media or worrying about marketing.

[Eddie]

Tilly wrote: "Eddie wrote: "Yes, as a self-published author, I would highly recommend growing an audience first, before launching your first book…”

That’s one way, but not entirely necessary. I never bothered w..."

What kind of ads are you referring to? Paid ads may not be appropriate for everyone. For facebook and google ads you need to really know what you are doing and to hire someone else can be costly. It all depends on the author and what method is most convenient for him or her. Ads are also better for people who have more than one book because If customers enjoy one then they would more likely read the rest which would lead to a higher return on ad spend.

But generally speaking, I know that anyone would have a higher chance of success if they grow an active audience organically first before and after the launch date. Then they can still spend money on ads if convenient. It also depends on your genre. So for non-fiction and self help authors who I mostly work with, it would be much better to have a brand with credibility before the book is launched.

[Eddie]

Wmba wrote: "Eddie wrote: "Yes, as a self-published author, I would highly recommend growing an audience first, before launching your first book. Because growing an audience takes time and can be difficult. You..."

It isn't a chicken or egg problem. The author has a better chance of growing his or her audience first and building momentum before the actual book release. You can grow an audience before the actual book is ready. There is a lot more to self-publishing but I summarized some of the main essential parts.

[Tilly]

Eddie wrote: "What kind of ads are you referring to?"

Facebook ads. There are loads of free courses out there that run authors through how to set up ads and test (which is what I did). At $1/day it takes less than $20 to test ad copy/images and find an ad that converts.

I haven't had to run those ads for nearly 2 years now, as I find a permafree is more effective, cheaper, and increased my income substantially.