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Self Publishing Traps To Avoid
What an aussie self publisher in the making thinks of the self publishing and marketing world
WA --
Aug 13, 2008 --
Self Publishing Traps To Avoid
If your goal is to sell books and make money, you should read this!
What an Aussie Self-publisher in the making thinks of the self publishing and marketing world!
Top Self Publishing Houses use heavy advertising offering to promote your book available for sale to the World.
Of course you are going to want to print your books with them when they offer all this glory!
I did, but somehow it did not seem right, all the money, all the hype. There was so much I did not know. I felt lost and in the dark with no one actually willing to give me much advice or help especially on the DIY side of things as this the type of guy I really am.
The websites were more and more like hoops, jump through this one and pay this, then jump thorugh this one and pay for this. And, the prices were unrealistic to say the least. "I only want to publish my book!" I said. Not put a down payment on your company building.
After some research and being lucky enough to talk with someone who worked on the inside of one of these fancy establishments it all came to light.
The advertising, actual money spent on this part of the business was significantly higher than the money spent on any other part of the business. In order to make this money for the advertising the products were often of very high cost and the service was lacking.
All the responses from authors that purchased so called "Distribution Packages for varying prices from various Publishing Houses paid between $2,000 and $15,000 dollars saddened me to say the least. Out of the 160 people I spoke to the results were-145 people sold none- zero books and the highest sale so far was less than 10 books. As the ISBN is the publishing Companies name and not the authors the control of initiating fresh marketing was limited.
Use your head
The fact is that you will pay a lot more for your book publishing experience as you are paying for fancy high overheads, advertising and the luxury environment that the publishing house resides in.
You may or may not get to have a cup of coffee in side their building. Sure they can get your book listed on Amazon and other such popular sites.
The fact is anyone can sign up to list their title on Amazon.com or Google Books; you don't need to be a company, business or publisher or pay a fortune for the privilege. OK, now available and at what cost?
What will you end up with in your pocket from sales of your book once those hefty Amazon fees come out?
Another one for you
What about expensive marketing so called media kits offering to advertise your book to news papers and write you a fancy letter.
Well with a little advice, a few tricky tools and a little of your time you can save yourself a packet here on marketing too. I am going to do my own for a song. Yes a mere song.
I had a little support and push in the right direction of course, but hey, money is money.
I am doing this to make money for me.
I am marketing my own book.
What about this one-
We will promote your book to 500 bookstores Australia-wide (another example)
Yeah, well I know many Authors who got sucked in with that one and did not sell a single book.
Those book trailers look good too, hey!
I got my teenage son to help me put one together, nothing like a little quality family time, gives him a head spin too. It looks better than the ones the publishing companies offer and I saved money, again. You will get a look at it in my update to this article.
At my age our teenage son knows everything. If you have teenagers you will know where I am coming from. Move out, get a job and pay your own bills now son while you still know everything, is what I say.
Well, I am not a computer whiz by no means so it took me a few hours but I did have fun. What I am saying is utilize what you have available to you.
If you use mainstream distribution channels you will be paying a large fee for their service also.
I’m not trying to put you off mainstream distribution. If you are not a salesman it could be an option.
Just caught a glimpse of another- Web pages
For a cost some - around $300.00.
Well, you can create your own website if you want to go down that long road and have it hosted with no html experience with website wizard for only $9.95 a month. Lots of good tricks in there to help with your marketing and hey, you get to have fun making it how you want it to be. visit www.selfpublisher.net.au and click on the direct link.
The most important point to remember here is that you will have your own internet address and your own traffic. These pages that are offered to you at a cost are designed to produce traffic expose and aid the publishing companies.
I did a nice blog with the help of my consultant and it did not take long to work out with that little support. Yes it was free, again.
What about those free ISBN numbers publishing companies offer?
Well, I can tell you some stories about that. You really need your own ISBN, so if you are offered a free ISBN ask "Is it my very own?" This is important because any reference to sales need to come back to you.
With a self publishing company free ISBN the contacts for book enquiries goes to them first.
Do you know what they do with those enquiries?
Did you know that the ones that say "Your book available for sale Worldwide" is really good advertising?
Because the fact is that once you get an ISBN for your new book- it is available for sale to the world.
How about that? Your book gets listed on the Database. You can then register and login to update your details.
http://www.bowkerlink.com.
So, what do think happens if you let a company put the ISBN in their name? - GOOD-BYE CONTROL! And you will pay more for the price of the books.
Some people say they need a small fortune to publish their book.
Well, well, being a self-publisher you don’t need a lot of money. Just a little support from the right people and of course a true desire to make your dream of becoming a published author a reality!
Nothing like the feeling of finally seeing that hot little book in your hot little hands.
Go to www.selfpublisher.net.au for easy book promotion answers.
Although our local office is based in Brisbane, we can provide all book publishing, book printing and self publishing assistance in all states within Australia. Major areas covered include: Adelaide, Albany, Alice Springs, Armidale, Balladonia, Brisbane, Carnarvon, Broome, Bundaberg, Byron Bay, Cairns, Canberra, Carnarvon, Coffs Harbour, Cooktown, Darwin, Derby, Geraldton, Georgetown, Gladstone, Gold Coast, Broken Hill, Hobart, Kalgoorlie, Karumba, Katherine, Larrimah, Launceston, Lismore, Mackay, Melbourne, Minilya, Moree, Newcastle, Noosa, Northam, Perth, Portland, Port Lincoln, Port Macquarie, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast, Southern Cross, Sydney, Townsville, Wollongong, Tweed Heads - Bendigo, Ballarat, Geelong, Horsham, Moe, Bairnsdale, Orbost, Traralgon, Healsville, Swan Hill, Warrnambool, Mount Gambier, Echuca, Morwell, Shepparton, Wodonga, Mildura, Wagga Wagga, Bega, Narooma, Moruya, Nowra, Junee, Cootamundra, Batlow, Dubbo, Byron Bay, Tamworth, Moree, Glen Innes, Grafton, Toowoomba, Logan, Hervey Bay, Mount Isa, Julia Creek, Longreach, Cape York, Hamilton Island, Alice Springs, Renmark, Port Augusta, Woomera, Coober Pedy, Ceduna, Murray Bridge, Kangaroo Island, Devonport, Flinders Island, Stradbroke, Maroochydore, Gympie, Broken Hill, Simpson Desert, Tennant Creek, Groote Eylandt, Mt Isa, Ayers Rock, Kakadu, Rabbit Flat, Gove Peninsula, Mount Barker, Bunbury, Rockingham, Margaret River, Mandura, Pilbara, Frankston, Parramatta, Kings Cross, Karratha, Port Hedland, Surfers Paradise, Magnetic Island, Derby, Newman, Meekathrra, Leonora, Esperance, Wilcannia, Bourke, Walgett, Tamworth, Central Coast, Gosford, Roma, Caboolture, Ipswich, Casino, Charleville, Charters Towers, Mission Beach, Cardwell, Atherton, Victor Harbor North South East and West. Come and visit us at our Brisbane office or work with us via internet and phone to assist you to self publish your book!
For a no obligation FREE personal assessment to determine which services you will need to self publish your book, contact Love of Books Self Publishing Success on 1300 556 529 (from anywhere in Australia for the price of a local call). Or contact: 07 3803 3424 and 07 3803 4559 Brisbane office or email us at info@loveofbooks.com.au. Brisbane and Australia wide!
Love of books self publishing success! Self publishing and book printing services- Australia wide!
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