Is it better to self-publish or get a publisher? Good question! One I suffered over for so long without really having great answers.
The self-publishing vs traditional publishing conflict is best sorted out by asking yourself some business-related and personal questions to help guide the decision. These questions are often not even considered by beginners because they just don’t know to ask them. I’d love to save you some pain and get you started on this legacy-leaving journey the right (and more joyful) way!
Self-publish or traditional publish
You’re either going to do it all on your own, or you’re going to get some help. There are varying degrees for each, so it’s good to understand what you’re in for, what you need, and your expectations for the process.
You might start by answering some important questions that’ll help you make the right decision or realize you’re ready for one or the other kind of publishing experience.
Please don’t forget hybrid publishing – a very powerful option that’s somewhere in between self-publishing versus traditional.
Questions to ask when deciding on self-publishing vs. traditional publishing:
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What are your goals for publishing a book?
Do you want a super-powered lead magnet? Or are you writing your memoir in hopes of getting booked on The Today Show? Do you want to leave something to your kids? Or are you hoping to sell thousands of copies on Amazon and make some passive income? Whatever your goals are, they are important to know before you decide on the self-publishing vs. traditional publishing question.
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Do you already have a substantial author platform?
A traditional publishing company is going to ask for a couple things, including a formal book proposal (if you’re writing non-fiction) and proof of your platform (your email list and social media follower numbers). What’s your platform looking like? Are you over 10,000? Or not? You’re going to need a minimum of that to be considered by most traditional publishing companies. A traditional publishing company, please don’t forget, is a business with a budget. They rely on your platform to sell books, cover costs, and make a profit.
On the other hand, a hybrid publishing company may take you on with a smaller platform and more in a spirit of partnership or collaboration. This route may be the best when you don’t have the platform of an in influencer or celebrity yet.
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How quickly do you want to get your legacy into the world?
This one was a dealbreaker for me. After having an agent for a year who shopped traditional publishers with only a couple bites but no eventual success, I sat waiting for someone to believe in me. It was very clear to me at that point that the self-publishing vs. traditional publishing question wasn’t a question anymore. I wanted to help people with my brave words, and I wasn’t willing to wait. Self-publishing became the route I took at first so that I could get that message out in a timely manner, begin to help people, and also begin to build my business with the book.
Self-publishing
I was happy to self-publish at first. My platform wasn’t big enough for a traditional publisher and I knew I wanted to get my work into the world. There was so much to learn. But with coaching, courses, and YouTube, I slowly made my way through the important information to being able to self-publish at least five books. Today there are things I would’ve done differently with those books. You live and you learn.
What I do now after all I’ve learned:
- Build my platform before launching.
- Hire professional editors and designers.
- Hire professional help for distribution.
- Build a launch team.
- Get help with marketing.
Here’s where hybrid publishing comes in and how to understand expectations from a book publishing company.
Brave Healer Productions is a hybrid or small independent publisher (also called an “indie” publisher). We help with all the things authors need on the journey, from professional design, to editing, to promotion, book launching, and beyond. We’ve built our platform to a size that when combined with yours, we make a dynamic marketing duo with our authors. We especially love publishing and launching our expert collaborations. These are multi-author books where we create an expert toolkit for our readers on an important topic for healing or business. We manage these projects for our authors from coaching the writing all the way to our Amazon bestselling book launches.
Hybrid publishers receive a fee for service because just like traditional companies they are a business that is covering costs and making a profit to be able to run. One thing I love about our company is that part of our profits are gifted back to the non-profits and charities we love. We are going big to be able to give big, and our authors are part of that world-changing badassery.
I love the feeling of changing the publishing industry into a legacy-leaving, world-changing, healing industry. When you’re part of Brave Healer Productions you are part of something much bigger than a book. This is a generous community who are sharing their light, love, and profound work in the world.
We hope you’ll reach out to us and get support with your brave words this year!
