Mistakes to Avoid When Self-Publishing Books

When self-publishing books there are certain things to consider, as well as mistakes to avoid.

For those who have never written a book or who have in fact never written anything substantial, it's hard to imagine just how much pleasure can be had from seeing your work in print. When you actually take a step back and think about it, it's a phenomenal achievement and the sense of joy and accomplishment it brings is almost unimaginable.

Regrettably, there are so many extremely talented writers who go through all the hard work of writing a book and then end up shooting themselves in the foot. Their book never receives all the recognition it rightly deserves and one window of opportunity comes to a close. So, without further wait, let's take a look at some extremely important factors writers need to take into consideration if they intend to self-publish a book.

1. Determine Exactly Who Your Target Audience Are

Once you've completed your book, and it's ready to hit the market, you need to think carefully about who your target will be. This is the stage where you need to decide on a price, and yes, the nature of your target audience plays a huge role. For example, senior citizens are quite often reluctant to spend money. Mostly living on pensions, they need to watch what they spend, and if they even get the slightest notion that your book is overpriced, you can kiss sales goodbye. Teenagers fall on the opposite end of the spectrum. They couldn't care less how much they have to pay for something if it's something they really want. After all, it's more than likely mom and dad who will foot the bill anyway.

2. Determine What Your Distribution Tactic Is Going To Be

Distributing your book via the large chain stores is not always the easiest way to go about getting your book before the eyes of the public, and it's also not necessarily the wisest choice either. For example, many of the large bookstore chains will want as much as a 50% cut of the sale price. You need to decide if you're willing to accepts that. If you think outside of the box you can uncover several creative ways to get your work out there.

For example, if your book is aimed at college teens, or perhaps university student, then contact several of those institutions and try and cut a deal with them. Local trade fair and seminar sales are also great opportunities because they afford you an opportunity to interact directly with the public. You may even be able to get sales simply because people tend to be fascinated when they come across someone selling a book they themselves have written!

Of course, as with virtually any type of product, books also need to be advertised effectively. And you need a budget. In reality, your first book is the most challenging, not only to write, but also to sell and promote. After all, being a great writer doesn't mean you'll naturally be a great marketer. The good news is, as with so many things in life, you can learn all the tricks of the trade. You just need knowledge and a willingness to learn. It’s that simple.