Self Publishing A Book Is Inexpensive and Simple

Self publishing a book has to be one of the most satisfying things you can do in your life. You will increase your value to society by offering information to people who seek it. You will have opportunities be offered to you without even looking - we are talking amazing and interesting opportunities you never considered possible before you wrote a book. You will make money while you sleep - internet bookstores do not close, they are open 24 hours. The question, however is how are you going to make it happen? Many people are thwarted by the idea that self publishing is only for the rich with an abundance of time on their hands. That idea could not be further from the truth.

Okay, well the truth is that ten years ago self publishing was for the rich who had an abundance of time on their hands. Sort of, it was called vanity publishing and it was mainly for folks who wanted to see their name in print. That was the perception anyway. Some very famous authors have self published including Edgar Allen Poe, Mark Twain, Upton Sinclair, ee Cummings, Virginia Wolf, Henry David Thoreau and even John Grisham. Some pretty famous writers got their beginnings in self publishing.

Okay so now you know that some very famous people have self published and that self publishing used to have a negative connotation. Today, with the invention and proliferation of internet usage, self publishing is now available to anyone who has something to say. In fact, it is so simple and inexpensive that there are almost 90,000 small publishers.

What makes it so easy?

Competition is a huge factor. Because the internet has made it so easy to publish, there are tons of fulfillment options, distributors, printers and even book writing tools. In fact, there are a number of tools you can use online to help you write and publish your book that are completely free. For example open office offers a word processing program. Weebly offers free website hosting and design and open source marketing tools.

In addition to free options and low cost printing there are an abundance of distribution and fulfillment centers.

Additionally, the internet makes it tremendously easy to research for your book, including research for the target market, your competition, and research for the book itself. The internet also makes it easy to market your book. A website and a few tools to drive traffic to your website and your book can take on a life of its own.

Lastly, the internet makes it easy to become a publisher. All of the information you need from naming and establishing your publishing company to applying for an ISBN number can be found and implemented online.

www.made-from-india.com maintains a database for Publishing Products and Services, magazine publishing, outsource book publishing, desktop publishing in India, self publishing in India, poetry publishing, publishing graphic, business to business desktop publishing, laser printing machine, printing machine, printing ink sellers, internet design services, and web design services.

The internet has made self publishing tremendously inexpensive and simple. All you need to publish a book is a little time and determination.

What's Wrong With Printing?

Publishing is often mistaken for printing. Though printing is an integral part of publishing, nevertheless it is a different business with its own set of challenges. This argument will not convince many who have dealt with printers who in their eagerness to secure the client's business readily undertake the publisher's job to the detriment of the final product. Unfortunately wily printers are adept at convincing clients that what they deliver is the best there is until a wary client puts paid to this by demanding a reprint or reduction in price for not delivering as requested. Some printers in all honesty do not themselves understand the role of a publisher. To compound the issue, there exist errant 'publishers' with no sense of the propriety, discipline and rigour of publishing, portraying their work as a published work.

Publishing starts with a concept. This image is usually in the head of an initiator. This person may be a junior person but in all major undertakings a senior executive sets the direction. When asked to get designs for the company's logo, I remember some years ago, its administrative manager calling up the printer. The importance of the logo, like the company's mission statement, cannot be emphasized enough in building a company image. The printer called will seek the help of a typesetter who will throw up some nice looking designs and after some presentations and discussions, in its haste to get things moving, the better looking of the designs submitted will be chosen. The company is then stuck with that design and image for years.

Though it's not uncommon for businesses to operate in the early years with a weak logo or even without one, there usually comes a time when they seek to differentiate themselves from their competitors.

Shouldn't the logo's relevance be studied in greater depth and the management be guided by professionals who relate passionately to designs as a livelihood? Design houses, advertising agencies and publishing houses are peopled by such creative bodies who look beyond the niceties to how the management wants the company to appear in the consumers' mind. MacDonald's and Singapore Airlines have logos that are strikingly symbolic of what the companies stand for.

A clear concept laid down by top management, interpreted professionally by a responsible designer, can well be the flag employees feel proud to fly. Design does matter and with publications, each has a character of its own and this has to be transparent. Think of all great books you have read and each will have a distinct character even if one is an adult fiction with an abridged content, and the other is a children's edition. Take Harry Porter books, the adult and children edition have different covers and presentations which give each a different character.

Design involves knowledge of the target audience, the format of the book, the type and size of fonts to use, the illustrations and pictures, colours to employ, type of paper to print on, etc. Each area, be it format, fonts etc has its own peculiarities that the experts use to produce as near perfect as possible.

Presuming the text is written (writing is another subject we won't discuss here), it would have to be set in an appropriate typeface, proofread and edited so that there is a good flow. Spelling and grammatical mistakes will not be permitted. A professionally managed publication will hardly have any such mistake.

Once the design is complete and the text is laid out, it is handed to the printer either as an artwork or in a CD format. The printer will then have to colour separate the pictures (if in colour) and ensure the reproduction is no worse than the original. Colour proofs are provided the client to verify and approve. The rest of the text is laid out according to a scientific layout so that they run page-wise consecutively and do not clash with overall positioning. The binding method, aside from reflecting the expectation of the market (for example, lawyers prefer hardbound books), also determines the pricing of the book. Books are generally bound as paperback, saddle-stitched or thread-sewn. Once the printing is complete and the printed sheets are folded and bound with the cover into a book, the printer has only to deliver the book.

If the book is meant for a restricted audience, the books are delivered to specified locations and the trail ends there.

However if it is to be made commercially available, publishing becomes more complex and requires the services of others who are experts in their field. Obviously a marketing plan must be in place and this would have helped to determine the retail price, print run, profits and so on. A good publicity programme will help to promote the book and raise public awareness of its availability. The author must also have considered the saleability of the book in foreign markets in which case he would have to engage foreign representatives (distributors). Dealings with distributors and retailers can be involved and for the uninitiated an exacting experience.

The marketing and distribution of books is a challenge worldwide and publishers employ various platforms to sell their books. This aspect of the business has to be fully understood before even engaging in writing and designing the book. I have had many authors approach me with a finished book asking me to sell to specific markets. However the pricing strategy employed would be wrong most of the time and the packaging may not be appropriate (for example, a hardcover novel is a poor proposition for certain markets).

I have attempted to dispel the misunderstanding that prevails between printing and publishing. Printing is a fascinating field and was my first love until publishing came along and swept me off my feet. I suppose knowing that I don't have to disown printing to engage in publishing makes it an easy transition. In fact, knowledge of the printing process has made publishing a more exciting proposition.

How to Be a Self-Publishing Millionaire

Self-publishing simply means writing, publishing and marketing your own work, maybe a novel or autobiography, poetry or family history, a newsletter or 'How To' book, or any of numerous other writing forms.

Self-publishing allows you to write what you want and market it any way you choose. The right titles and topics could earn you a fortune.

REASONS FOR SELF PUBLISHING

- To see your name in print.

- As a keepsake or heirloom. Family histories are useful examples, as are autobiographies, diaries and poetry.

- To enhance one's image and standing. Doctors, dentists, lawyers and other professionals frequently self-publish to enhance their professional image and standing with colleagues.

- As a form of advertising. Some self-published products are little more than advertising vehicles for other of the writers' goods and services. Mail order newsletters are a notable example.

- For money.

This blueprint is written with the latter objective in mind.

WHY DIY?

Why bother with self-publishing? Why not instead offer your book for someone else to publish and market?

Generally speaking, traditional publishers are only interested in high volume sales, to wide markets and for items with a long-shelf life. Getting a mainstream publisher to handle your work can be a very long and painful process. There's no saying you will be successful and even big names face their share of rejection. Frederick Forsyth's 'The Day of the Jackal' apparently had 19 rejections and one of Jeffrey Archer's most popular works got 18, showing publishers don't always get it right.

VANITY PUBLISHING V SELF-PUBLISHING

The two are frequently confused, although few similarities actually exist. Vanity publishing generally means having someone else print, publish and market your book for you. Costs can be high and benefits not always proportionate. For products intended as gifts for family and friends, vanity publishing can be a worthwhile option; no always so for commercial products.

That said, however, there are numerous firms - not vanity or subsidy publishers - who can print and publish for you, leaving you to concentrate on marketing and distribution. Such firms can be found advertising in most writers' newsletters.

FAMOUS SELF-PUBLISHERS

America boasts a wealth of super-successful self-publishers, including heads of multi-million dollar publishing companies. Names like Joe Karbo, Dr. Jeffrey Lant and Melvin Powers spring readily to mind.

WHAT CAN BE SELF-PUBLISHED?

Virtually anything can be self-published profitably to a greater or lesser extent. Novels, poetry, short stories, local and family histories, newsletters, autobiographies and 'How To' books are all worthy examples.

MOST PROFITABLE AREAS OF SELF-PUBLISHING

The most successful products are those that fulfill universal needs or desires, especially where they contain information not available elsewhere. Examples include:

- Directories (e.g. Designer Clothes Discount Guides, Factory Shop Guides).

- Newsletters (e.g. Business Opportunities Digest).

- 'How to' books (e.g. '£100,000 in My First Year Just by Working Weekends', 'Last Chance Guide to Financial Success').

' Self-Help Books (e.g. 'How to Flatten Your Tush', 'How to Talk to Your Cat').

The above are examples of topics and do not indicate self-published titles.

WHAT INVESTMENT IS NEEDED?

This depends on a number of things including the length of the finished product, whether it is to be typeset and who is responsible for typesetting, what printing and binding methods are used, size of the initial print run and what marketing and distribution methods are involved.

Generally speaking, most first-time self-publishers opt for a low print run with the majority of capital reserved for aggressive marketing. Profits are subsequently ploughed back into longer print runs.

BENEFITS OF BEING YOUR OWN PUBLISHER

* Cuts out the middle man and generates higher profits for you.

* No working to someone else's deadlines.

* Total control over your work, from conceiving the idea to researching and writing, to printing and publishing, advertising and distributing.

* Very cost-effective if handled properly.

* Allows virtually anyone to compete with big names writers and publishers.

* Self-publishing is a business like any other, offering freedom, the chance to work your own chosen hours, work where you like, etc.

* Massive potential market for some titles.

DRAWBACKS TO BEING YOUR OWN PUBLISHER

Some outside help might be necessary for various aspects of your project and costs can be high. This might involve help with writing and editing, proofreading, desktop publishing, printing, marketing. Do as much as you can yourself, as long as quality is good.

WHAT YOU CAN EARN

Ask most people about profits in publishing and they'll turn to the bestseller lists, mainly compiled for sales through book shops. A more accurate guide would include other methods of marketing and distribution, primarily mail order. In 'How to Publish a Book and Sell a Million Copies', Ted Nicholas explains that another of his books 'How to Form Your Own Corporation Without a Lawyer for Under $75' has been among the top 10 nonfiction bestsellers in the United States for over 20 years, but has never appeared on a bestseller list. The main reason he sells it himself, by mail order.

PRACTICAL TIPS

- Be realistic about your initial print run. Don't be too ambitious and be saddled with lots of unsalable stock. But don't underestimate popularity either. Extra print runs frequently mean higher costs than a larger initial print run.

- Have readers finance your printing costs by obtaining orders before you print your book, even before you research and write it. Legally, you are not allowed to offer anything for sale unless adequate supplies are available. So be careful how you word your advertisement or direct mail copy. A 'pre-publication' offer is usually acceptable. Offering your book this way has other benefits, including allowing you to test the market for your book and to test the optimum price where the product is offered at different prices and response rates and profits compared. If results aren't satisfactory, you can issue refunds.

- Some writers simply do not have a head for business. If this sounds like you, have someone else concentrate on publishing and marketing your products while you devote time to writing.

- Be careful about pricing. What you charge will affect your advertising strategy and viceversa.

www.made-from-india.com maintains a database for Publishing Products and Services, magazine publishing, outsource book publishing, desktop publishing in India, self publishing in India, poetry publishing, publishing graphic, business to business desktop publishing, laser printing machine, printing machine, printing ink sellers, internet design services, and web design services.

- Consider various printing and publishing options. Desktop publishing produces a quality look and can be introduced to most computers. For binding your products, consider the many options from saddle-stitching (basically stapling), to comb binding and heat binding (both need special equipment).