We’ve been taught to go for the dream of traditional publishing. I mean, who wouldn’t love to be backed by Hay House or one of the other big publishing houses? I know I had that dream once upon a time when I started my journey with Balboa Press. What I learned along the journey helped me shift my perspective and continue the legacy work of writing and publishing my own books.
My journey includes publishing with Balboa, self-publishing, landing an agent and shopping traditional publishers, getting a couple of bites that went nowhere, getting a hybrid publishing deal, the hybrid publisher closing their business, and then deciding I didn’t want to wait for a traditional publisher to make me feel worthy and opening up my own publishing house.
I knew there were people whose lives I could change if my brave words were out there. And the book, by the way, wasn’t the primary income. The programs that the book led to were. So it was important to put my strategy into action and take control of my own destiny.
If you look at the articles on this topic, they will tell you these things about traditional publishing vs. self-publishing and why traditionally published books sell better:
Traditionally-published books are more thoroughly vetted.
They are professionally produced.
Traditional publishers have more experience.
Traditional publishers aren’t afraid of selling.
With self-publishing, sometimes the goal isn’t to sell books.
Traditionally-published books need to sell more to make the same money.
I’d like to dwell on that last point for a moment, mostly because of the flack I’ve read about us indie or hybrid publishers out there making a living by asking for a fee for our publishing service.
Traditional publishing is a business, y’all.
It takes thousands of dollars to produce a beautiful, professional book. If a traditional publisher doesn’t contract with an influencer, celebrity, or other authors with a significant platform (thousands or tens of thousands of email subscribers), what guarantee is there they will even make their money back on the production side of things? There isn’t.
In fact, in some cases, the fine print of a traditional contract can lead to the author having to purchase thousands of her own books to make sure the publisher makes money.
I hope you look at indie and hybrid publishers a bit differently now – because the fee you’re paying them, mostly likely as a much better promotional partner than a traditional publisher, is so well worth your investment. And they are also likely to help you build your reader audience by introducing you to an engaged community. They are also more likely to act as a coach, cheerleader, and emotional support person when required. They care.
Publishing a book? These steps will help in terms of making sure your book, whether self-published, indie or hybrid published, or traditionally published, sells well beyond the launch and helps you leave the legacy you were born to leave:
- Be the author who passes that vetting test. Do email list-building activities every day. Get out there and build your community. Let the numbers speak for themselves.
- Be the face of your book, mission, and business every day. Don’t let someone else speak or write for you or share your mission. You are the one who is selling your book.
- Make sure you’re hiring professional editors, designers, coaches, and publishers.
- Create a launch, promotion, and marketing plan. Make sure your vision goes well beyond launch day.
- Seek out partners who will help you share your message.
The best book publishing service is going to care because sharing your message and leaving your legacy in the world in a bigger way is also their legacy. If you want to be treated like more than dollar signs, then partner with a service that exudes this kind of energy upfront.
The best publishers are your partner and collaborator. They guide the steps to a great launch, but they don’t disappear afterward. They become your forever partner in the business of sharing your book. They will offer more ways for you to build your community, business, and readership beyond just launching your book with you.
You will know the CEO of your best publishing companies. They are not some unreachable person who hides behind their team. You won’t only know them; you’ll feel like they care about you. Your success is their success. You can tell they’re invested in the self-development process that is writing, publishing, and promoting your work.
The people in my world understand publishing as the healing and self-development process and journey it is. This matters to me because when we put our energy and intention into a book, we’re sharing healing with the world or not. The awareness matters. Our words have energy. They matter. Demand awareness from your publishers. Demand they be your partner in changing the world.
