| Whether you book publish your own book, try book | | | | their site doesn't sell your book, you could have |
| publishing on demand, or try traditional publishing, you | | | | taken that money to be listed there to make your |
| should look into the details of the deal before you | | | | own one-page book web site you can get designed |
| leap. | | | | by a pro for around $500. Then, you can get |
| What's the Best Path to Publish Your Book? | | | | targeted free traffic to your web site with advanced |
| Your print or ebook is soon to be finished. You | | | | article marketing and use social media like facebook |
| wonder if you should try to get an agent to | | | | and twitter to partner with. |
| represent you to the publisher. Maybe you've already | | | | The biggest down of these printers/publishers is you |
| sent out your query letter to some agents. You | | | | don't have any control over your book. Here, you |
| dream "how great it would be to be taken under a | | | | must buy back each book from the printer/publisher |
| publisher's wings." | | | | at a wholesale price--almost half of what you will sell |
| What's wrong with this picture? Even if an agent has | | | | it for. So, your profits are limited. |
| given you the go and asks for a book proposal that | | | | I'm reticent to even send you to POD Publishers, |
| has specific marketing information in (it takes | | | | because when your investigate, you find that the |
| three-seven months to write), you still have to face | | | | author loses and the publisher wins. Ask around of |
| reality. | | | | other authors who have gone this route. What kind |
| FACT: Like Oprah, publishers and agents choose only | | | | of money are they making on their book? Has it |
| 1-2% of proposals submitted. | | | | branded their business to make them known as the |
| Let's say for now, you are chosen. The point is, are | | | | savvy expert? |
| you fortunate to be chosen? | | | | Here's a few. Check the deals to see if you win. |
| Are you willing to wait on the traditional publishing | | | | 1. |
| process 2 years? Are you willing to accept around | | | | 2. |
| 2-5% of the profits? Do you realize that after a few | | | | Buyer Beware |
| months of one initial book tour (of which you must | | | | Before you buy any marketing packages from these |
| pay all costs from your book sales), you are on your | | | | POD businesses, know that they won't promote your |
| own? And, if you don't put a lot of time into | | | | book at all. |
| promotion, your book will fade away within 2 months | | | | Consult a book and book marketing coach and learn |
| from the brick and mortar book store shelves. All | | | | how you can put together a simple plan and action |
| unsold and coffee-stained books left will be returned, | | | | steps that are mostly free. They brought your coach |
| and the cost is deducted from the author's royalties. | | | | over $3000 book sales a month for her first year's |
| Unless you are a favored celebrity or famous author, | | | | efforts. After that, in the next many years, much |
| publishers put little time or money into your book's | | | | more. |
| promotion. Without that benefit, why go this way? | | | | For instance, if you sell online, you'll have hundreds of |
| Get the Right Help the Right Way | | | | thousands of eager book buyers ready to buy when |
| Who says you can't publish your own book? It will | | | | you apply the number one, free way to promote |
| certainly cost you less than you imagine, under $1000 | | | | your book--submitting articles to high-traffic article |
| for a print version and close to nothing for your | | | | directories and blogs like |
| eBook. Self-publishing will bring you all the profits. It | | | | Book Publishing Information - On eBooks |
| will put you in charge to make suitable and favorable | | | | If you sell your book as an eBook on your web site |
| writing, publishing, and promotion decisions. | | | | or link it to other publishing web sites, you will make |
| With a little help from professionals! These | | | | 100% of the profit. |
| entrepreneurial experts such as book coaches, book | | | | FACT: In traditional publishing for print books, you |
| designers, and eBook specialists can guide you | | | | must get a distributor, and a wholesaler to get brick |
| through publishing success. These people may give | | | | and mortar bookstores to carry your book. The |
| teleseminars, small group coaching experiences, and | | | | bookstore gets a percentage too. Maybe these |
| other inexpensive ways to learn the ropes. These | | | | costs will add up to 85%! What's left for the author, |
| pros will shorten your learning curve too, so you get | | | | the one who wants to make a difference in people's |
| the right help right away to write the right book right | | | | lives? The one who put his/her blood, sweat, and |
| away. | | | | tears into the book? |
| When you think you still have to promote your | | | | I recommend writing an eBook to test your audience |
| books, even with a publisher, why not keep most of | | | | an get the kinks out before a print version. |
| the profits and do some of the work yourself? Learn | | | | Is there a drawback to self-publishing? |
| from your bookcoach's experiences, "Do What You | | | | If you print it, you must pay for the printing yourself, |
| Do Best -and Hire the Rest!" (That doesn't mean you | | | | but remember that could be as low as $300 for 50 |
| can't barter for services). Check out the methods | | | | plus books. Print on Demand short runs from one to |
| below and see which one suits you best, is more | | | | 500. Depending on how many that could run from |
| rewarding, and far more profitable. | | | | $4-$7or a book you can sell for $20 up. |
| Why Self-Publishing? | | | | When you write a book your audience already |
| You can self-publish your print or eBook. | | | | wants, you can charge a lot more. You'll only have to |
| In self-publishing, you are the boss. You get to | | | | make a small investment, you won't have a huge |
| choose the cover, the style, the layout, the | | | | inventory, and you can apply your extra cash to |
| message, even the format (eBook or Print Book). | | | | book promotion, the most important part of the |
| Since you are the one enthused about it, you will be | | | | book's journey. |
| able to capitalize and can promote far better than | | | | If you write an eBook, here are some of the |
| many publishers. | | | | benefits... |
| In self-publishing, who do you think can sell your book | | | | You make all the money, can make ongoing, passive |
| the best? You, the passionate author in love with his | | | | profits for life, spend much less time writing and |
| or her book, or the rookie publisher's employee in | | | | promoting, retain total control, share your unique, |
| charge of publicizing your book? | | | | important message with 1000's daily, brand your |
| On Demand Book Printing (POD) | | | | business and build your client base and credibility, |
| 1. Hire the Publisher/Printer yourself to just print your | | | | reach your target audience easily and distribute |
| book from your word file. POD companies like do | | | | yourself, spend less money and have more cash |
| short runs from 1 - 2500 books. They will put your | | | | flow, finish your book within 30 days, make ongoing, |
| files into Portable Document Format (PDF) to sell on | | | | passive profits for life, can update your book when it |
| your web site or another site you choose to sell your | | | | needs it, become the savvy expert in your field, gain |
| books. A complete explanation of these opportunities | | | | trust, credibility and friends. Did I mention profits? |
| are included in the How to Write your eBook or | | | | You'll make more than you dreamed of. |
| Other Short Book--Fast! | | | | Note: Create good will by updating your eBooks each |
| Referred to as POD, many companies who say they | | | | 2 years and give them to customers free. |
| are POD Publishers are really printers. With a | | | | More benefits: you don't have printing or inventory |
| company like Deharts, you keep all of your book's | | | | costs, can use word in 8 ½ by 11 format and |
| rights. This method helps you make much more profit | | | | PDF, don't have to travel, don't have to tell or sell, |
| from your effort and you will get your book out to | | | | don't have to package and mail books. When you |
| the buyers so much faster, making faster profits. | | | | distribute and sell online from email or a Web site |
| The turnaround is around 6-8 weeks ( instead of the | | | | you'll have no packaging and no mailing. For the |
| traditional publisher's two years) so it pays to plan | | | | reluctant marketer, you won't have to dress for |
| ahead. A $15 book may cost $4-$5 to print for a | | | | success, give book talks, and give them to audiences |
| small run of around $100 . Your book coach | | | | who are not pre-sold that your book is just right for |
| recommends you print only what you can sell in | | | | them. |
| three-four months. These you can sell at the back of | | | | What this means is that online promotion is |
| the room or on your own web site and make $11 | | | | reasonable, fast, and easy. |
| each book. When you order 500 books, the price | | | | Promotion is always at least as important, if not |
| drastically drops and your profit rises. | | | | more important, than your book. Without marketing, |
| 2. Hire Full-Service Print on Demand Publisher/Printers | | | | your book will not sell. You won't be known as the |
| who each charge you an up front fee to set up. | | | | "go to" person in your niche. Drawbacks are starting |
| They too take your word files and put into Portable | | | | to look like profits and a low cost investment for |
| Document Format. | | | | you. With certain POD printers, you can keep control |
| The upside of this choice? Some will list you with | | | | and distribute the books as you print them. Now, you |
| Ingraham, one of the largest book distributors in the | | | | won't have hundreds or thousands of unsold books in |
| U.S., linked to most bookstores. For a fee from | | | | your garage gathering dust. And eBooks? Even |
| $750-$1000, these companies will give you an ISBN | | | | simpler. |
| number if you plan to sell your book on someone | | | | Many people feel it's a drawback to have to market |
| else's web site. They will offer your book at their site | | | | and promote their books. Yet, you can learn skills |
| among the other 25,000 titles. They may list you in | | | | such as the sixty second "tell and sell," the |
| BooksinPrint.com, and some will format your book. | | | | promotional article or power press release, and the |
| The downside? Check to see if you need these | | | | sales letter for your Web site from an already |
| services. You don't need an ISBN # if you sell from | | | | successful author-coach. Some publicists charge a lot |
| your own web site. You probably won't sell your | | | | of money and tend to overdo the media kit, (media |
| book in a brick and mortar book store. (because it's | | | | editors and reporters usually throw everything away |
| not where your audience goes for you book's | | | | except the news release). |
| topic-They go online to buy) Think about your book | | | | You need to learn how to talk about your book in a |
| and where your best market is. Opinions from Dan | | | | few sentences, a few paragraphs, and a longer sales |
| Poynter, John Kremer, and myself say, "Bookstores | | | | letter. You need someone who has authored and sold |
| are a lousy place to sell books." Walk ins are not | | | | many books, one with long-term copy writing |
| looking for an unknown author's book. | | | | experience. But even if you spend $700 for coaching, |
| Be aware these sites list books, but don't promote | | | | editing and printing, you'll still be able to realize a larger |
| or market them. They give you a 100 words | | | | profit than the traditional route. |
| description. That's usually not enough to show you | | | | You the author need to decide what publishing path |
| the reasons to buy this book. Your coach | | | | is best for you. Be sure to make it the most |
| recommends you write a sales letter for your site, | | | | profitable! |
| and a shorter one for email promotion. If copy on | | | | |