After all the sleepless nights you’ve spent writing your manuscript, it’s finally time to publish it. If you want to maintain creative control over the whole publishing process, then taking the self-publishing route is your best bet. Not only does it offer better financial opportunities in terms of better royalties, but it will also allow you to retain all rights should your book get adapted into a film, TV show, etc. It also provides more exposure and a wider range of networking opportunities.
Although self-publishing is very advantageous, it comes with its own set of limitations. This may vary from minimal editorial and marketing support to a risk of making fewer sales. If you want to make the best out of self-publication, here are some of the most effective tips that can help ensure your success.
Get Valuable Feedback
If you want to make sure that you will be able to publish a book that people will actually read, learning from other people’s feedback is very important. You can gain feedback by reaching out to fellow writers or editors in the industry. Since self-publishing does not always give you access to professional support, you have to do it by yourself by seeking insights from your social circle.
It would also be immensely helpful if you can reach out to your fan base and set up a beta readership program so you can gain relevant insights that will help improve your book’s quality and boost its marketability. Remember, feedback is critical when it comes to editing and producing your material, so use this to your advantage to perfect your craft.
Hire an Editor for Your Book
As mentioned earlier, self-publishing does not come with the perks of traditional publishing. Editing the book is an essential part of the publication process. Without professional editorial support, this can be a very challenging situation. To address this issue, you need to start looking for a highly qualified editor who can do the work for you. You can ask people you already know and trust for help or you can seek freelancers online. As a rule of thumb, make sure to double-check the editor’s portfolio so that you can rest assured that you will be getting quality work on your book. After all, you would not want to pay for mediocre service.
Work on Your Marketing Plan
Another important step in ensuring success is by building a solid marketing plan. Not only should your marketing plan ensure that you will be able to sell your book, but it also has to help you connect with your readers. For this to work efficiently, you have to work smart and manage your time well when executing your plan. As a way to save time but yield good results, you should start looking for ghostwriting services to help you out in your online campaigns. Ghostwriters are professional writers who are knowledgeable in SEO and can help you build your brand quickly. They can provide you quality content intended for social media, websites, and other platforms, which can positively boost all your marketing efforts
Build and Connect with Your Fanbase
One of the most powerful moves you can do to drive sales and gain exposure is by building and connecting with your fanbase. It would be wise to respond to your fan mails and messages on your social media platforms. By establishing and maintaining a strong relationship with your fans, you will easily have your own ambassadors who can effectively market your book in their own network.
You can also set up a mailing list to keep them updated about your latest projects. This will entice them to patronize your book and become more engaged with your brand in general.
Prioritize Book Reviews
You have to get people talking about your book if you want to make it. Create a buzz by finding ways to get book reviews either from your fans or critics. You might also try to consider getting paid book reviews by reaching out to influencers or popular critics. That way, you will not only receive feedback that will help improve the quality of your work, but you will also gain exposure, which will greatly benefit you.
Self-publishing offers several advantages that traditional publishing cannot provide. However, success is not guaranteed unless you strategically work for it. If you want to make it big, you have to do all you can to ensure the quality of your work and market your book effectively, and the above tips will hopefully help you do that.