The internet has bestowed a world of unlimited opportunities upon us. It has allowed us to get groceries without going to the store, meet new people without face-to-face communication – and publish books without the need for an agent, publisher, or editorial team.
The latter has allowed many people self-employed individuals to boost themselves (or their businesses) into prosperity and notoriety. The self-publishing strategy has proven so successful for independent authors, they are now responsible for 40% of e-book sales.
There are two routes you can take with the kind of e-book you write:
- Creative: This is the most obvious, with aspiring fiction authors finally being able to make a name for themselves without having to go through an onerous publishing process.
- Informative: This is recommended for entrepreneurs, freelancers, or small business owners. These e-books can act as resource guides that supplement your primary service and act as marketing material.
So, how exactly can you take advantage of self-publishing to boost your career pursuits?
Ideas & Uses
Many experts have taken advantage of self-publishing as a way to publicize their business or freelance work. Self-publishing allows individuals to assert themselves as experts in their field by giving them the opportunity to release books on their topic of interest and later use that book as publicity and marketing material.
Creatives and freelance writers also use self-publishing to release their fictional works and short stories to the public in efforts to build up a resume. However, it’s important to delve deeper into the various ways self-publishing can be, and has been, used.
- For Fiction Writers: One of the biggest obstacles writers face is making a name for themselves. Many traditional book publishers won’t even give an author a second glance if the author has not previously been published. This is reminiscent of the struggle first-time job seekers face when all employers require extensive work experience. Self-publishing allows writers to build up a reputation, following, and resume of published works before approaching large publishing houses for consideration.
- For Personal Coaches: Motivational speakers, career coaches, and communication specialists use self-publishing to create supplemental guides for their work. Much like a professor who writes their own textbook, personal coaches can rely on their self-published material to guide their workshops.
- For Business Consultants: Freelance business consultants, accountants, and financial advisors can use self-published material to recruit and preserve their client base. By publishing their own material on best practices within their field of expertise, they can utilize this material as handouts for their existing clients, and a way to pitch their services to potential ones.
Using self-publishing this way can make you thousands of dollars in additional profit. Personal coach Emily Rose makes $10,000 per month in revenue following the release of her book, “Break Your Bad Love Habits”, working only six hours per week now to maintain her income. Sounds like the dream, right?
Conveniences of Self-Publishing
Most professionals are turning to self-publishing for the fact that it costs less than most other advertising mediums. A high-impression Facebook or Twitter ad can cost you hundreds of dollars, and the low value won’t lead to any promising leads.
An e-book costs almost nothing except your time, and the fact that it delivers value will surely garner more attention. Self-publishing through Barnes & Noble only costs approximately $100 upfront for an ISBN number. After that, most self-publishing platforms only take a portion of the profits. However, you still collect more royalties than you would if you went the traditional publishing route.
Aside from the fact that you get to keep more royalties than you would with a traditional publisher, you also get to release the book on your time, manage how it is marketed, and don’t have to undergo a tedious editorial process. By the time most authors have paid out their agent and publishing house, their royalties are meager compared to the independent route. This doesn’t go for bestselling authors, but for those starting out, it can be counterintuitive.
Final Considerations
Despite all of these arguments for self-publishing, there are caveats. For starters, you are your own editorial team. This means you are responsible for proofreading and revising your book to perfection. However, you can likely also hire a freelance editor to proofread your material for a flat fee.
Additionally, your book’s success is in your own hands. So make sure to take advantage of social media in promoting your book to the right target audiences. Ask existing clients, friends, and peers to share it and perhaps even offer giveaways.
Self-publishing is an extremely effective strategy for entrepreneurs looking to attain credibility in their related field. However, it’s important to remember that the success of this strategy still relies on your ingenuity and the quality of your product. Before you decide you have something to say, make sure it’s something unique, groundbreaking, and of high value to your audience.
