10 Self-publishing Tips for Newbie Authors

If you want to self-publish a book of your own, you can definitely do so. With the rise of print-on-demand services, you will no longer have to spend a fortune just to publish your book. However, self-publishing a book for the very first time could be tricky.

This is because self-publishing requires you to do all the work yourself. You don’t have a publishing house to rely on. You will also be expected to pay for the printing and publishing processes. Don’t worry, though. You can still self-publish your work effectively. All you need is a great strategy. Here are 10 self-publishing tips for newbie authors.

• Identify Your Target Market

Before you start on your self-publishing journey, it is important that you identify your target market first. You may have already finished your manuscript, and you want to have it published as soon as possible. However, aside from having your manuscript published, you should also make sure to identify your target market. By identifying your target market, you will know the demographic you should market to and cultivate your book marketing according to their needs.

• Know the Pros and Cons of Self-publishing

As you set out to have your manuscript published, you should know all you can about the pros and cons of the self-publishing option. While the self-publishing option is a great choice, it is not perfect. It still has its fair share of pros and cons. For pros, you are given a chance to self-publish your manuscript according to your terms. You will not have to answer to a publishing house or share credit or royalties with them.

You’ll also be able to start right away. The disadvantage of self-publishing is that you will have to do the majority of the work and pay for everything as well. The self-publishing route could also be daunting for a newbie. By knowing the pros and cons of self-publishing, you’ll be able to set out on your self-publishing journey with full confidence and also know the risks involved.

•  Take your Budget into Consideration

If there is one thing you should remember about self-publishing, it is that you will need to invest money in the endeavor. You will need to pay for most of the project yourself. This includes the printing, marketing, and distribution of your work. While publishing a book yourself is no longer as expensive as it was before the rise of print on demand services, you will still need to shell out some cash.

• Market your Work as Early as Possible

Before you even self-publish your book, it is important that you start your marketing early. Remember that marketing a book is a multifaceted and time-consuming endeavor. You will need to get a head start; that way, once you do release your book, you will have a fan base waiting for your work.

• Invest in Publishing Professionals

While you may be a skilled writer and know a few things about the publishing process, you should not expect to do every aspect of the self-publishing process by yourself. Remember that publishing a book is a very multifaceted process. You will need to edit, print, design a book cover, and market your book. Marketing a book is no easy task either because you will have to compete with other books as well.

• Set up an Online Platform

If you want to market your self-published book as effectively as possible, it is important that you set up an online platform. Think of the platform as a way to expand your influence as a writer. By having an online platform, you will have somewhere to post your content and get in contact with your fan base.

• Choose whether to Publish a Physical, eBook or Audiobook

When you self-publish your book, it is very important to choose a publishing format. While the most widely used format is a physical book, you also have the option to publish your book in eBook or audiobook form. You even have the option to self-publish in all three formats. By doing so, you will be able to increase your marketing reach. Please take into account that this option could be pricey as well.

• Reach out to Writing Communities

If you want to increase your chances of self-publishing success, you should reach out to writing communities such as writing groups or book clubs. These groups will not only give you much-needed support and advice, but you will also technically have a potential source of buyers should you release your book. However, you should remember to cultivate your relationship with these writing communities. They must actually be your friends if you want them to support you as a self-published writer.

• Utilize Social Media

Aside from having a platform, you should also make sure to utilize social media in all your book marketing. Remember that social media is by far the most potent media form being used today. If you don’t use social media in your book marketing, you are doing yourself a grave disservice. Some key examples of social media platforms that you should use in your book marketing are Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Facebook is very effective as a social media platform because it is by far the most popular. By setting up a Facebook account, you will be able to post ads for your book and other works. You will also have a powerful platform from which to stay in contact with potential fans. Through Twitter, you can post your thoughts and excerpts from your book and other works. TikTok is also a great platform because you’ll be able to build a strong following for your book. There have been many authors who posted short videos of their books and lives as writers through TikTok and gained a great following in the process.

• Take Your Time

If you want to truly succeed as a self-published author, you should never rush the overall process. Remember that there are already a lot of self-published authors out there, and they also want to achieve success.

Don’t be discouraged easily. You should always have faith in yourself as a writer. However, you should not be impatient. Instead, put in the time and effort to establish yourself as a writer. Create great content and post it through your social media platforms. Share your work with writing groups and establish a following. Put in the time, and you will eventually gain success.

Conclusion

Having your book self-published for the very first time could be quite a challenge. This is because self-publishing is a very multifaceted process, and you will need to pay for and do most of the work yourself. With these tips, you’ll know how to effectively self-publish your book despite being a newbie author.