As most of you know, I spend a lot of time hanging out on Facebook. I’m involved in some groups filled with amazing people who are taking the business world by storm. (Side note: Want to know what your target audience is talking about? Join some Facebook groups and start lurking!) So it was no surprise to me when on one of the groups someone posted that she has a book about 3/4 done and is unclear what to do next. She wants the “less expensive” method to self-publish for now, but upon reading her later comments she wants some pretty big results from a cheaply-published book. So here’s the ultimate question… Is it possible to DIY-publish a book cheaply and get professional results?
The honest truth… No. Unless you publish books for a living and have a professional team built-in to work on your own books, then yes. But that’s still a professional book, and it still requires time and energy to produce.
Now back to our friend on Facebook… The results she’s looking to get from her book are:
- Get on TV
- Be interviewed on radio
- Speak at workshops
- Speak at conferences
A well-produced book can (and does!) lead to these things. However, keep in mind the level of competition trying to get on TV, radio, be speakers and keynotes. Most of them are either traditionally published or have taken the time, energy and money to produce a book that competes in the traditional market. In a world of authors that are a dime-a-dozen due to the “easy buttons” available to get a book created fast and cheap, you have to compete and stand out in the crowd of junk.
Yet so many people expect huge professional results in a competitive market with little to no investment on their part. And let me be frank here – you can’t go to a hot dog stand and expect Filet Mignon. Not. Gonna. Happen.
OK so maybe you have a friend at the TV station that will get you on TV. But do you think they’re going to feature you once they see your cover looks like something your plumber’s uncle’s best friend’s cousin who’s 12 years old and knows Photoshop slapped together? We’ve all seen those books, and that is the reason why self-published books typically only sell an average of 75 copies. (How many family and close friends do you have?)
So your choices for self-publishing are to go with an “easy button” template self-publishing services company that will either create a book from templates (and don’t even ask about editing!) or you can hire a professional team that knows the publishing industry inside and out and can help make your book stand out like Filet Mignon in a hot dog world, leading to the results listed above.
Or there’s a third option. You could get that Filet Mignon at a discount and learn how to professionally produce your own book (and how to save your money for those pros you definitely willThe Book Ninja Academy need to get the results you want). Simply head over to and enroll today.
The choice is up to you. Personally, I’d take Filet Mignon over a hot dog any day. And so will your potential customers.
I think it everything you said is important, but for all authors, if you have been building a following while writing your book, you’re chances are so much better. Do you have an email subscriber list? Strong social media presence? Have you been creating and disseminating your content throughout the web? It’s so tempting to lock yourself away when you’re writing your book, but from what I can tell, most successful authors are building their business before their book is ever finished or published. (I am). I have a robust email subscriber list, coaching clients, strong web presence so that when my book comes out in whatever way I decide to publish it, I have an audience that I already have a relationship with. Also I have relationships with other marketers in my niche who I know will help me promote it because I have promoted their work to my list. Remember a lot of people launch their products and coaching programs without ever having written a book so be working on your business and your book. Get your systems ready so you can grow your business before AND after it comes out. Get clear on your goals and priorities so you know what to be working on and focusing on today. Love, Jill
@[664177035:2048:Jill] – yes, that’s right on. However, in order to extend past your immediate reach, no matter how big your list is or contact’s lists are, you must produce something of quality. Traditional publishers invest tens of thousands of dollars in each book they publish, and none of that is on marketing. Yes, it’s up to the author to build their business before the book comes out, and that’s super important! It’s also important that the author doesn’t put crap out there that only the people who love them will purchase – if, and only IF, they want those sales to spiral past a few hundred people during a book launch. I have a client who’s done very little marketing and doesn’t have a broad reach and she sold almost 450 books in March alone (her first book released in October). Most of the people purchasing have never heard of her. Why do they buy? Because the book is of top quality. 🙂
@[587195906:2048:Kristen Eckstein] I agree 100% quality of your book must be outstanding
Yes, and you are correct, if they build a “platform” to go along with the book, radio and TV interviews are not far off. OK, thanks, Edward Smith.
What rings through my head with any marketing I do for any of my businesses is: you have only one chance to do something well – screw it up, and that’s your reputation.
Know what you’re doing and what’s involved before making your publishing decision.
This is important advice for newbies who erroneously believe that a professional book can cost $500 or so. Like anything else in life, you get what you pay for. While I can understand first-timers wanting to save as much money as possible, to me the amount of time and effort involved in writing a book is inconsequential compared to doing a book right.
Great stuff, Kristen.