Writing a book is one thing, but getting it ready for publishing is a whole different story. While platforms such as Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing have made self-publishing popular, authors often fail to make enough money through self-published book sales. And it is not because the books are not good; rather, authors tend to falter during the process of preparing the book for publishing. Fortunately, these self-publishing mistakes can easily be avoided, and eventually your book(s) can become a good and reliable source of revenue for you.
Trimming the editing process
When it comes to editing manuscripts, there are several flavors of it: content editing, line editing, copyediting, and proofreading; all are equally important. Not getting your manuscript edited professionally can result in a book riddled with plot holes; typos; and structural, factual, or even grammatical errors. It might seem easier to rush through this step, but there’s truly no substitute for a thorough edit. Getting your manuscript professionally edited is a must if you do not want to be discredited as an author. According to the 2024 Indie Author Survey, by Written Word Media, about 60 percent of indie authors now use professional editors. A well-edited book does not just appear professional; it also makes it easy for readers to understand and follow the narrative.
Making formatting errors
The popularity and availability of new and emerging publishing platforms have resulted in the proliferation of self-published eBooks. But the issue with these DIY (do-it-yourself) tools is that authors don’t always get the formatting correct, resulting in books that don’t look right. Moreover, different publishing platforms have varying technical requirements and formatting guidelines, which makes the task even more difficult. Poorly formatted books can greatly affect readability. In 2024, about 70 percent of authors reported investing in professional editing services, compared with around 60 percent in 2023. Paying attention to the details of book formatting can make your book look and read the way it is intended.
Not focusing on the cover
Yes, it is true that one should not judge a book by its cover, but it is also true that when it comes to book sales, first impressions count. A common mistake authors often make to save on cost is to try and create their own covers. Creating a book cover that sells requires experience and competence in book publishing and designing, and unless you have these skills, you should steer clear of designing your own book covers. You would be surprised at the impact a well-designed and visually attractive book cover, based on current trends, has on a book’s sales.
Failing to get the timing right
Getting the timing correct to publish and market your book cannot be overemphasized. There is presently an explosion of eBooks, so making a timely connection with your audience is invaluable to position your book and get it the due attention. This requires meticulous planning and scheduling based on the production timescales needed for both digital and print outputs. And it is most important to ensure you stick to these schedules so as to not disappoint your readers.
Neglecting keyword research, categories, and marketing metadata
This is another mistake that many authors are making lately. Even if your editing, cover, and formatting are great, if your book doesn’t show up in searches or isn’t categorized well, readers won’t find you. Metadata, keywords, and categories are small things technically, but they have a big impact. Many forums and author surveys report that authors only write their book’s description or keywords at the time of upload, without research. This leads to less visibility and fewer reviews.
Self-publishing is a great avenue, but the process of publishing is complex, and unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all formula. It is therefore recommended that if you are keen about your book being successful, you hire experts who can offer you the appropriate publishing services.
Amnet’s author service team comprises literary experts who have years of experience in working with an exhaustive list of authors, helping them create and publish high-quality print books and eBooks. What’s more, we keep our focus squarely on your readers throughout the publishing process, which helps us ensure delivery excellence. Get in touch with us to know more.
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