If you still haven't decided on which route to go, then continue reading the blog below to see some helpful answers based on my very own experience. Find out who wins in this self publishing vs publisher debate.
Today's question has three answers and the third answer is a secret that you are going to want to stick around for. Because it can make the difference between making a lot more money or making a lot less.
The question that was sent in today was self publishing vs publisher debate. This idea between is it better to go with self-publishing or maybe the publisher route is the better way, like a traditional publisher, is the way to go?
That is not completely clear, there is a lot of arguing that goes on between these two. So some people think that when you are getting started with publishing, maybe you should try to go traditionally.
Check out this related article: Self Publishing Versus Publisher Battle?
Because then, you don't have to learn as much about doing covers and titles and all of these sorts of things. Then, you can just focus on your writing. That's part of the thing that makes it so difficult to decide which route is right for you and who wins this debate.
Before we get into the answers, check out my free Self-Publishing Secrets Checklist to get you started on your self-publishing journey.
When I first started, I was not tempted to do traditional publishing but rather went straight into self-publishing. The reason was that I already had understood and heard before just how difficult it is.
It's Self-Publishing For Me
Even if your books are high-quality because they don't want to take a risk on new authors. That was the reason why when I first got started, I went on the self-publishing route. Also, I had people who could break it down.
I was using some books at the time, they told me exactly how to break down self-publishing to keep it as simple as possible. Now, there is a couple of answers. The first is that if you are first getting started, you don't have an audience.
Your chances of just having your book accepted by a traditional publisher are slim to none. It's very very difficult to get them to accept your book. So, how do we get around that?
Well, the answer is you self-publish the book and that's why for the debate, I have to say the answer is self-publishing is the way to go. Amazon is by far the best place to start.
Check out this related article: How To Start Self Publishing With Amazon Kindle?
If you're selling to self-publish and in particular, you should start with your Kindle book. That's what you want to start with. After you have published your Kindle book out there and you've figured out the tricks with the description and keywords.
Also with the titles, cover, getting reviews, and building an audience, then your second issue will then be to get the paperback version. KDP will make it possible for you to put a paperback version of it out.
I like to use a tool called Jutoh. That is exactly the best tool for formatting your book. Once you have that Kindle version, you can then go over to ACX and get your audiobook version out. Now, the secret that most people don't know when it comes to the self-publishing front.
Control The Distribution
So this is the third answer and our secret answer of the day. You shouldn't stop with Amazon but you need to move on to Lulu to get hardback books out. Ingram Spark will also give you, even more, extended wider distribution.
This is one of the reasons why self-publishing is better as well because you can control the distribution. One of the things we want is for our books to be in as many bookshelves as possible. In libraries, bookshelves all over the place, in bookstores all in many countries across the whole world.
You will find my books that are out there. Some under my own name and some under pen names. Usually best to keep it to a particular genre under the same name.
But whatever the case is, the self-publishing route gives you that 70% in profits. You're going to boil to that, you'll be making off of your self-publishing books. It gives you the ability to run ads and do marketing.
Check out this related article: How Much Can You Make Self Publishing On Amazon?
You control the rights to your books as opposed to the traditional publishing which is only giving you about an 11% return on your books. This is the reason why in the question of self publishing vs publisher debate, that self-publishing for most writers is going to be the starting point.
Once you're successful at self-publishing, then you might can then be moving over to traditional publishing. What have you found? Who wins the self publishing vs publisher debate for you?
Have you found maybe some sort of a different result on this key question? Let me know below in the comments and check out my other blogs and videos to find more answers to your self-publishing questions.