7 Essential Tips on How to Publish a Book that Will Lead You to Success

After finalizing your draft, you feel like a dynamite that’s about to explode. You feel so excited. You’re ready to embark on your first step in the publishing world, but your information on how to publish a book is so limited that when you set foot out, publishing becomes a minefield. Yes, the road of publishing is comes with unseen, unexpected hazards and risks. These tips on how to publish a book will help you get through the minefield, embrace a careful journey ahead, one of the ways you can earn money as an author.

It’s one thing to know how to publish a book and another thing to actually publish it. But don’t worry, you’re here to deal with it the best way. So if you’re done writing your story—and that’s why you’ve decided to check this post—never assume that you can accomplish the process overnight.

Traditional and Self-Publishing

Here’s a quick read on the two types of publishing for you to know the difference between traditional book publishing and self-publishing.

Traditional

The author needs to send a book proposal to his/her chosen publishing house. Once the book is accepted, the publishing house will buy the rights from the writer. There are no upfront financial costs involved. The house will take care of the book’s design, content, print copies, and package. They will also market and distribute the finished manuscript to the public.

Self-Publishing

The author has to look for a self-publishing house that will help his/her book’s needs. In self-publishing, you have to invest time and money to produce a professional result. The author has a complete control over his/her work—the content, design, others. The author has to establish social platforms online to promote the book.

For traditional publishing, you have to look for agents and publishers by submitting a book proposal. There will be weeks or months of waiting until the publisher accepts your query. If you decide to take the self-publishing route, you’ll have to build up your skills and establish your brand name.

Here are the crucial things and the process you have to do in book publishing.

Know the basics—research, observe, and collect data.

Visit the warzone, the marketplace of your book’s genre. Browse elated books in your local bookstore. Check the cover design, the package, and content of these books to help you develop a knowledge of your own book’s genre. Build a strong foundation by knowing what to do and what not to do in self-publishing a book.

Own an ISBN (International Standard Book Number) for your book.

Make sure your book’s ISBN is registered. In the US, you can purchase an ISBN—in your name—through Bowker. Or you can avail services from other top book publishing companies.

Hire a professional editor.

It’s a no-brainer to include this part as one of the tips on how to publish a book—hiring professionals is worth every penny. Paying an expert to proofread and refine your draft can payoff even if you’re confident that your draft is error-free. Hiring an editor will improve the readability of your book. Don’t do everything on your own; ask for someone’s expertise. Look for honest feedback and learn from it.

Ask an expert to layout the content of your book and design your cover.

Like editing, you don’t need to do it your own. For text formatting, you can check self-publishing companies who can professionally layout your book. The same with book cover design. You have to make a great impression for your reader by creating a professionally designed book cover.

Start small for your self-published book.

How many copies do you need? Do you have to print more so you can sell more? Well, it’s okay to assume you can get more sales if you’re already a renowned author. But if you’re just starting, you have to strategize on the quantity of your books and the month or time you have to release the print. Know your publishing budget first to avoid wasting extra copies.

Establish an author brand.

If you’re not familiar with author branding, you’ll have a hard time marketing your book. Your brand is the blueprint of your success. Like a business, you should build a reputation, an identity or writing style that sets you apart from other authors.

Market and promote your book online and offline.

As first-time authors, knowing one of the topmost tips on how to publish a book includes knowing your target market. Once you know your audience, you have to choose the most effective media to promote your book. To set a high sales volume, people have to see or hear about your book. Create an author website and link it to your social media accounts or start a book launch online, attend writing groups, and book fairs.