Self-publishing has been around since Gutenberg decided to take things into his own hands. Luckily, we don't have to invent movable type to get our stories out there.

With the internet and the popularization of eReaders, it’s the easiest it’s ever been to get your work out there.

BUT it's not as easy as just uploading a file and waiting for the money and accolades to roll in. There are many things you need to know before you publish your eBook. 

We’ve already written about writing eBooks for lead generation, so this guide is more geared toward book-length projects (50,000 words+).

This article will explore the do's and don'ts of self-publishing an eBook, from formatting to marketing, so that you can publish with confidence! 

Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing

Self-publishing is the act of publishing a book without the help of a traditional publisher. This is usually done by an author who pays to have their work published or by an author who uses services like Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing.

Traditional publishing is the act of getting your book published by a publishing house. This can be one of the “Big Five”—Random House, Harper Collins, Hachette Book Group, Simon and Schuster, and Macmillan—or one of the dozens of offshoots of these five or smaller publishing houses.

Traditional publishing is still the most popular option for authors because it offers a lot of help from editors and marketing teams. Once they decide to publish you, they will edit your manuscript for free, provide an ISBN, and connect you with their network of readers.

However, traditional publishing certainly isn't for everyone. There are some pretty significant disadvantages, such as not having complete creative control over your work and the risk of not making as much money from book sales.

These disadvantages, along with increased ease of self-publishing in recent years, have tipped the scales.

Pros and cons of self-publishing

Self-publishing a book has become a more viable option for authors who want to share their work with the world. As a result, the number of self-published books is on the rise.

Fifty Shades of Grey was originally self-published as an eBook and has topped the New York Times bestseller list and been made into a successful film series. So while people can lift their noses at the phenomenon, E.L. James is laughing all the way to the bank.

So safe to say the stigma around self-publishing is lifting (and traditional publishers are having to scramble to stay relevant.)

The benefits of self-publishing include:

• Freedom: Self-published authors have complete creative control over their work and how it is marketed. They also don't need to worry about pleasing anyone other than themselves and their readers.

• Profit: Authors can make as much profit as they want from their work by setting the price themselves. Publishers and agents take a cut of the profit when it is sold, which can be a large proportion of the total revenue. Self-published authors, therefore, typically make much more money in the long run.

• Timeline: Books can spend years in publication limbo. On the other hand, as a self-published author, you’re the one with your finger on the launch button. You can take as much time as you need, and when you’re ready, no one can stop you!

It's not 100% perfect, though. With all that power comes a lot of responsibility. There's no team of professionals backing you, and you have to be prepared to do more legwork to make a top-tier product.

Indie publishing

I wanted to mention that these two aren’t the only options for those looking to get their book published.

The definition of 'indie publishing' is a little murky since it's also used as an umbrella term that self-publishing sometimes falls under. But basically, it's a happy medium between traditional and self-publishing.

Indie publishers aren't part of large conglomerates or giant corporations. The submission process is similar to a traditional publisher. But once they decide they want to publish, you retain more creative control and work more closely with the publisher. They will help with some aspects of the book's production and distribution (e.g. editing, marketing).

The main difference between indie publishing and self-publishing is that authors do not have to pay for any services or cover any costs in indie publishing. On the other hand, self-publishing requires authors to pay all costs themselves.

However, if you're ready to do the work (and reap all the rewards), then read on!

How To Be Successful at Self-Publishing

It's essential to do some research into the process of self-publishing an eBook before choosing that avenue. You'll need to know about topics like formatting, pricing, marketing, and distribution to be successful.

Know your audience

Since it is a bit of an investment to self-publish, you’re going to want to have an established audience in mind, especially if you’re new to publishing. You’re not going to have a team behind you, so try to fit into an established arena.

Look at the most popular books on the Amazon store and see what they do. Know your genre and what the readers will expect. Romance is a very profitable niche, but may God have mercy on your soul if the characters don’t get together at the end.

Editing

I really cannot stress enough the importance of this step. Self-publishing gets a bad rep for this very reason. People churn out low-quality products, give them a once-over, and put it out there for unsuspecting readers.

If you expect people to pay for your product, give them a product that’s worth it.

If you're trying to save money, this can mean reading your work over a hundred times, having friends read it, and then using a grammar checker.

But the best way to go is hiring a professional editor. You can determine the amount you want help with. If you're satisfied with your content but have never put a comma in the right place in your life, you'll want to find a copy editor. If you're looking for someone who can overhaul your product, then someone who does structural or content editing.

If you’re more an ideas and big picture person, it doesn’t hurt to check out ghostwriting services as well!

How Much Does It Cost To Publish an Ebook?

There's no one answer to this since so many variables are in play. But by publishing an eBook instead of a physical copy, you're cutting out a substantial upfront cost.

It comes down to how much work you're willing to put in yourself and how much you want to hire others to fill in the gaps.

Cost for an editor

As we said above, editing is an expense, but the cost for editing will vary depending on what kind of edit you want.

There are developmental edits, structural edits, copy edits, content edits, and these all require varying levels of work. Generally, these range from $250 for a basic grammar and punctuation edit to $5000 for an overhaul.

Books with shorter word counts, such as children's books and poetry, tend to be cheaper than longer books like novels and nonfiction titles.

Cover

The price for cover art will vary greatly depending on the artist's experience and popularity.

You want an eye-catching cover since that's the equivalent of the curb appeal of your book. So it's not something you want to skimp on since people use cover quality to judge overall quality.

If you don't have a background in art, check out the artists who've done covers you like or do commissions. Then, reach out to various artists for estimates and go from there!

Formatting

This is one that I'd advise people to try themselves if they're at all tech-savvy. Programs like Scrivener offer integrated eBook functions, and YouTube is a fantastic resource for that kind of information.

But don't be afraid to throw in the towel. If you can't make a product that looks good on a variety of eReaders, don't call it good! People aren't going to appreciate all the work you've put in if they can't read it. Find someone who can professionally format your book for you. It’s worth the upfront cost.

What Are the Best Resources To Use When Self-Publishing Your Book?

Many free resources can help you self-publish your book. Many of these resources offer templates for formatting, cover design, and distribution channels.

We have a list of some of our favorite writing programs that can help you along the way.

YouTube is always an excellent resource for furthering your abilities. There are a lot of programs like PressBooks and InDesign that can help you create professional products.

The most popular avenue for self-publishing is Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). This service is free and has a lot of publishing options. The downside is that you have to give up a cut of your profits to Amazon.

One way to avoid giving up all your profits is by publishing on Smashwords, which offers free self-publishing services for eBooks.

Why It's Worth It

We're not going to sugarcoat it. Self-publishing is quite an undertaking. Luckily, with the advent of eBooks, it's firmly within the grasp of anyone who wants to take on a challenge.

And when you're watching the reviews from happy readers pour in, you get to know you did that. And that's going to feel really good.

If you’re looking for a team that can help you every step of the way, look no further. Our team at People First Content provides comprehensive and personalized help from development to proofreading. If you’re looking for a specific service or the whole package, we’ve got you covered. Contact us today to book a free consultation!

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