Two Mistakes Self-Publishing Authors Can’t Afford to Make
Blondie L. Clayton

 

If your opening conversation is: “How much money am I going to make? Can you get me in book stores, and in online shops, on T.V., Radio and talk shows, make me a million dollar bestselling author,” self-publishing may not be the way for you to go. Your thinking reveals either that you have no track record as a writer, or you think that writing a book is a quick way to get rich and it doesn’t matter whether your work has market appeal.

I admit I too had the money and bestseller thoughts, but I approached it from a business rather than the possible end result after hard work. I spent time doing my homework: studying the market, reading all I could, planning my launch into the market. I didn’t jump right into publishing a book. I treated it like a business, a career; otherwise, why waste my time? I wanted to know I could make money writing and publishing books. Experience has taught me much about the business of publishing, which has sustained me when others have given up.

There are two mistakes I would suggest you deal with upfront: do not publish for any of the above reasons because if you have what the customers want, it will accomplish this and more. Going into publishing with this mindset will meet with immediate disappointment because your books won’t sell like you expect them to.

I have witnessed hundreds of authors publish with the same dreams, purchase 50, 100, 500, or 3000 books and end up giving them away. Why? Because they thought it was a free ride to the bank, with little or no effort on their part, just an internet presence, and they would get rich. Within six months many lost their enthusiasm, were disappointed when the money didn’t come, and finally their one hit wonder faded.

Second: whatever book you are planning, identify your competitors. Are you saying the same thing, or something different? What do you bring to the table that is different? Can you use your book subtitles for publicity? Think beyond just the printing of the book, but how you can expound upon your topic. A great example of working the potential out of a book product is the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. It started with a book idea that has spiraled into hundreds of topics, plus spin off products. Writing and publishing a book is just one aspect of a book’s potential for profit. The self-publisher who thinks outside the box going in has a greater shot at staying the course and creating profit.

Self-publishing is like any other business idea, your book is your product, and it is up to you to get involved in selling your product. Give yourself every advantage. You wouldn’t start a business and expect it to run without your input, would you? The technology is here for anyone to self-publish. Your success will depend upon your efforts, your attitude, and working your plan of action.

How to increase your profits from your published book (click here)