You’ve worked hard on your
First, you need to find a publisher
There are two options for you to consider.
# 1. Free publishing platforms
If you have a limited budget and you’re a DIY-er who likes a challenge, this is the option for you. With these platforms, you’re in charge of every aspect of the process. You decide how big your book will be and you can also choose from a gallery of book covers. When you register your book, the website will give you an ISBN Number, which you need in order to sell your book. They will also make your book available to all types of e-readers – Kindle, Nook, Kobo etc. The most common ones are CreateSpace, Lulu and Smashwords.
# 2. Self-Publishing packages
For some people, the thought of organising every aspect of a book is daunting. It also takes a lot of time. If you want to save time and produce a book that looks slick and professional, there are lots of companies offering self-publishing packages.These companies may be local printers, or companies that specialise in offering services to self-published authors.
They will design a cover, edit the book, lay it out and make it available for e-readers. With those companies, you’ll usually have to order your own ISBNs. ISBNs are numbers assigned to books which are used to process sales. You need them to register your book with Amazon and other book retail sites. You’re given 10 ISBNs’ there’s no option to just have one. But it does mean you’ll have ISBNs to spare for future editions of your book, as well as print editions.
With both of these options, you can also produce hard-copy books for people who prefer dead trees. The free platforms offer books on a print on demand basis, while the self-publishing companies may do a limited print run.
Now to find an audience
If your book is good enough, it will gather its own momentum and gather an audience. Your job as an author is to make it as easy as possible for that audience to find you. When it comes to spreading the word about your book, social media is your friend. Here are a few ways for you to harness that tool.
Blog tours
A blog tour is a virtual book tour. Over a period of one or two weeks, you get your fellow bloggers to feature your book. They can interview you or review the book; it’s their choice. There are two options for finding bloggers. Some bloggers dedicate themselves to reviewing books and you make a submission to them if you want them to review you, much like traditional media reviewers. Or you can get people in our network who you know have an interest in your book to join your blog tour.
Social media for book lovers
There are websites that allow you to post up a small sample of your work to when the reader’s appetite. The most reputable of these is Scribd. People can comment and share the work using Facebook, Twitter etc. Goodreads is a haven for book lovers. Get your book listed on that and your followers can review the books and pass the word around among their friends.
Social media profiles
Create a profile for your book on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, just as you would for your business. Use them to give away copies of your book, or just give tantalising hints of what to come. Share the process you used for creating the book. Let people know what you’re doing to promote it. And last but not least, put up pictures of the cover and of events that you’ve organised to promote the book.
Now all that’s left to say is good luck.
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