For self-publishers, the many moving parts of the book publishing process can be challenging. How much should you spend? Should you hire a self-publishing company, outsource freelancers, or do some of the work yourself?
There’s a lot to consider, and what’s best for you and your book might not be the best choice for someone else.
In this article, we’ll take a close look at the differences between investing in book publishing packages vs DIY and how to know which one is best for your book.
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Self-publishing is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Like an apple pie (or your favorite dessert), there are many ways to get the pie in your hands, but it depends on your preferences.
For example, you can buy a ready-made, 25-lb apple pie from Dollywood (true) for $230 or one out of the gas station vending machine for $1.50. Or, you can make one yourself with the cheapest ingredients you can find or the most expensive ones. No matter which method you choose, in the end, you still get an apple pie, but the quality will vary significantly.
This is what you run into with self-publishing. There are lots of ways to get your book published, but the prices vary drastically, and the end results can be a hit or miss.
So, what’s a savvy, new self-publisher to do?
Your research!
Before you jump on the bandwagon because you read in a writing forum or social media group that XYZ is the best option, learn what’s out there first, evaluate what’s available in your price range, and then make an informed decision based on your unique needs.
Self-publishers have options
There are a few things to consider whether you purchase a publishing package or pull everything together yourself with third-party support. At some point in the process, you’ll either be working with a company or a freelancer. Before you give either your money, consider the following:
- your budget
- the offer
- company or freelancer experience in your genre
- reviews
- service quality
- file rights
- licensing terms
- ISBN details
- timelines
Your budget
Publishing packages tend to be all-in-one solutions, so they can be quite pricey and restrictive to a limited budget. So, carefully consider if the extra expense is worth it for you. Average book package prices range from $2K-45K, depending on the package.
Working with a professional company with a reputation for producing high-quality books can be worth the initial investment if it puts you in a favorable position in the marketplace.
The offer
Read the fine print of what a publishing package includes. If a package includes extras that you don’t need (even if it sounds like a great deal), don’t be afraid to consider other options. For example, some companies include press release distribution as a “benefit” of the package, but they are not necessarily beneficial to authors who write fiction or nonfiction books that aren’t newsworthy. Know what you’re getting and look for packages that include only what you need.
Genre experience
Whether you’ve written a business book or a fantasy novel, you want to work with a company that has experience in this area. From the cover and interior to marketing and beyond, you want your book to meet genre expectations. If you look at the company’s website and you don’t see books in your genre, but they say they work with all book types, ask to see examples of books in your genre.
Reviews
There’s nothing like reading positive reviews. Look for reviews by authors who’ve worked with the company, look up their book on Amazon, and take a closer look. Use the “read sample” section of the product page to look at the interior of the book. Does the formatting look professional? Does the book read well? You’ll also want to review customer comments to see if there are any comments about the quality of the book beyond the story itself.
Service quality
While you’ll never really know about the service quality until you sign up for their package, you can still get information through forums like Reddit and others, where authors actively discuss their experiences with self-publishing companies. I check out the Better Business Bureau and also look at the Google reviews on the site’s business listing.
When reading complaints, learn the difference between someone who just wants to vent and someone who was actually treated unfairly. I also look for whether a company representative addresses any concerns on these sites. When a company actively manages its reputation, you’ll often see a response to negative reviews. Read those carefully to see how they handle complaints. Look for cookie-cutter (copy/paste) responses versus those that actually address concerns. This is a great indicator of how they will deal with you as a customer.
File rights
Whether working with a self-publishing company or a freelancer, you want to ensure that the final files belong to you. Read the fine print of any agreement closely.
It’s not uncommon for some service providers to hold onto source files, which means you have to go back to them if you need updates, or they charge more if you want the source files. I prefer to have the source files so I can make small adjustments myself if needed later down the line.
Licensing terms
When working with self-publishing companies, know what you’re getting into if they ask for exclusive publishing rights. This means that you are giving the company control over your book’s publication and distribution. You will not be able to publish your book on other platforms without violating your agreement with them.
ISBNs
An ISBN is a unique identifier that all retail books are required to have, except for eBooks. You can purchase an ISBN through Bowker for $125 or a block of 10 for $299. Or, you can get a free one from your platform of choice; however, there are some important details to consider.
When you purchase your own ISBN, you are listed as the publisher. This means you have full control of the metadata (i.e., book details) and where your book is distributed. While it can shave some $$ off your budget to get a free one from a publishing platform, their company is often listed as the publisher, so you will have limited control over your metadata, and there could be significant distribution restrictions.
For example, you can get a free unique identifier when publishing on Amazon, called an ASIN, but you can not use that same number if you want to also publish on Barnes and Noble or another site.
The best time to use a free ISBN is if you plan to publish just one book. In this case, you can get a free identifier from whichever platform you choose to use, even if multiple ones. The problem that you’ll run into if you decide to publish more books in the series and purchase ISBNs later is that you’ll have trouble grouping the first book that used a free ISBN with the subsequent books that are grouped together under your ISBNs.
Try to think strategically about your future publishing, so that you don’t run into unnecessary headaches down the road.
Timelines
As a self-publisher, you can dictate the timelines. Unlike traditional publishing, you don’t have to wait 12 months or more to get your book out on the market. This is especially helpful when your nonfiction book is relevant to world events or your fiction book’s genre is currently trending. If your book’s release is time-sensitive, you’ll want to select the best service provider for your needs as a publisher.
Keeping the above-listed areas in mind, let’s consider how they can play out with selecting book publishing packagers vs DIY.
Publishing packages
Pros
- Everything you need is under one umbrella. One of the biggest challenges of DIY self-publishing is finding the right publishing professionals for your book and coordinating timelines. When working with a single company, you have the benefit of allowing them to coordinate schedules. For example, selfpublishing.com has a team of multiple editors and designers, which allows them to publish books more efficiently than a single editor or designer because of the processes in place.
- Packages can be more cost-effective. This isn’t always the case, so know your numbers, but remember that with package pricing, if you’re working with a reputable company, they are also saving you time and providing a professional product, which can save you money in the long run. The worst-case scenario is to publish your book and then have to unpublish it to fix mistakes that customers found. This not only impacts your reputation as an author but could also affect future sales. It’s important that as much as is in your power, to get it right the first time. The built-in checks and balances of a professional self-publishing company can be a wise investment, so consider your options carefully.
- Working with industry professionals. One of the greatest benefits of publishing packages is access to industry expertise. If you are a novice to publishing or aren’t up-to-date on how the market is moving, then having a publishing company take the helm of your project could be a smart move. This will allow you to learn how things work as you follow the process from the passenger’s seat and avoid the overwhelm that can creep in when trying to do everything yourself.
Cons
- Cost-prohibitive. Publishing packages from professional publishing companies are an investment. You are not only paying for a professional end product but also for an experienced team and the company’s publishing expertise. If your budget is limited, publishing packages may not be the best fit, but you still have options.
- Lots of companies everywhere. There are many companies that offer publishing packages, so selecting the best one can be a challenge. Every publishing company will not have your best interest in mind, so pay close attention to how they treat their authors, their reputation in the industry, and referrals or recommendations from other authors. When it comes to successful publishing, thorough research is essential.
DIY
DIY-ing your book publishing in the context of this article refers to taking on the role of publisher, researching, and selecting contractors to help with the book publishing process.
Pros
- Flexibility. When you DIY publishing, you can personally take part in the book’s development. For example, I have graphic design experience and prefer to design my own covers, so that’s not something I’d want to outsource, but I prefer to hire editors and book formatters. If you have a specific skill set that could help with the book publishing process, use it!
- Budget friendlier. Truth be told, you can publish a book for almost nothing, but that’s not something I’d recommend. But a savvy author who invests the time to research their options can find ways to bring down publishing costs significantly. For example, you can use user-friendly formatting software like Atticus or Vellum without having to be a designer, and you can use book cover templates instead of a professional designer; however, there is a trade-off. Using automated software programs and templates removes the marketing edge of a professional designer who can offer designs that make your book stand out in the marketplace, rather than blend in.
- Hands-on experience. Whether you plan to publish multiple books or just one, learning how the publishing industry works is a way to level up your management, research, and marketing skills.
- Creative control. While you may experience limited creative control when purchasing a publishing package, when you DIY the process, you can select exactly who you want to work on your project based on your specific needs.
Cons
- Huge learning curve. Self-publishing has a lot of moving parts, and for the uninitiated, it can be overwhelming at times. Having to make all the decisions from editing and cover design to distribution and marketing can be a lot.. If you don’t have the time to invest in the learning process, trying to do everything yourself might not be the best option.
- Time-consuming. When you are the acting publisher, every decision falls on you. Brushing up on your research skills is essential because you’ll want to research everything before you make any decisions; otherwise, choices could backfire. Research takes time, lots of time. It’s worth it in the long run, but you should know what you’re signing up for if you choose to DIY the process.
- Hit or miss contractors. Just as there are a lot of self-publishing companies to choose from, there are MORE freelancers to choose from. It can be tough to narrow down who will be the best fit for your project. I’ve hired great designers who disappeared when I tried to find them again. I’ve also had less-than-ideal outcomes from designers who went the extra mile to make things right.
Book publishing packages vs DIY: You choose
So, which one is best? Publishing packages or DIY? It depends on you. This is the reality of publishing on your own terms. Sometimes things work out perfectly, other times, they don’t, but you still have a book that needs to be published, so you’ll figure it out. Deciding on the best way to publish will depend on your budget, time, and how involved you want to be in the process.
If you’re new to publishing and have the budget for it, invest in a book publishing package from a reputable company. It will save you time and potentially money in the long run when done right. On the other hand, if you don’t have the budget for a book package or want to be more involved in the process by taking on some of the roles yourself, consider the DIY approach.
Both approaches work; you just have to find which one works best for you.
If you’d like to learn more about self-publishing book packages and what they could look like for you, check out selfpublishing.com’s programs page.
