Build the Right Publishing Team

Despite the information readily available online, self-publishing doesn’t have to be a solo endeavor, nor should it be.?

Yes, you should retain complete control of your rights, earnings, and files. Yes, if printing on-demand, you should have unimpeded access to your printer accounts.

However, this does not mean that you need to do everything on your own.?

Instead of working with a middle-man publishing company that may dip into your royalties and gatekeep your printer accounts and files, you can work with an author services company or assemble your own team of professionals.?

Choosing a reputable author services company will save you a great deal of time, as a team will already be vetted and assembled. Either way, it’s important to ensure the team you choose is right for you. Here’s how.

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Set Your Budget

Start by determining what you’re able and willing to spend. You should create a range of prices you’re comfortable with. Some tips when setting your budget:

• Don’t overspend because you expect to make a large profit from book sales later on. The market is fickle. You’re investing in your long-term publishing success by hiring help, but you also need to pay your bills in the short term! On the other hand, try not to undershoot what it costs for expert help. This will factor in on the research tip below.?
• Don’t break the bank. If you can’t afford a service but feel the service is otherwise a great fit, save up until you can or see if you can work something out with them. Some services offer payment plans; other services are less flexible.?

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Do Your Research

Use your budget to guide your research. You’ll find a range of rates, but while you’re researching, if you notice that the general cost of certain services is higher than planned, you may want to re-evaluate your goals.

You can find plenty of cheap or even “free” services online that claim to help you create a professional product. In most cases, you get what you pay for. If you want a quality book, look for quality services with positive reviews, the right experience, and clear pricing and contact info. These author services are not cheap.

Part of your research should include determining what help you need. We recommend authors hire help for each stage of book editing, cover and interior page design, production, and marketing. This article delves further into the most common services authors need. The more you educate yourself about the industry and the services needed to produce a book, the less likely you’ll fall prey to scams and subpar services.

Understand what you’re paying for before taking the plunge.

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Ask Questions?

Most reputable businesses have websites that break down their services and pricing; it’s just a matter of clicking through and reading. It’s important to review a service’s offerings on their website before reaching out because this gives you a point of reference from which to ask questions and gauge their answers.

As you conduct your research, jot down any questions that come to mind so you have an organized list to reference when you reach out. Some of your questions will likely be answered during your research, but it doesn’t hurt to verify them and compare the answers you receive from various businesses to determine who’s the best fit.

Some things to keep in mind:

• Not all author services are reliable or honest. Many will give you a lower up-front fee and then load you with random charges on the back end, or they’ll promise a fast turnaround and then either fail to meet the deadline or turn out a low-quality product.
• Read the entire contract any business sends you. After all, how do you know you aren’t paying for unnecessary services or giving away your rights, etc., if you don’t read the contract? At 1106 Design, our contracts clearly outline each service, share information about approximate turnaround times, and offer helpful tips that could save you money. If you have any questions about a contract, get answers before signing.
• Don’t be afraid to say “NO” if a business doesn’t sit well with you. Simply thank them for their time and go elsewhere. Disreputable businesses will try to pressure you into hiring them. Don’t let them push you around. Aggressive sales practices are a major red flag.
• True self-publishing means the author is the publisher, which means you should keep all earnings (minus retailer discounts and printing costs), rights, and control over your accounts and files. This should be your guiding star when comparing companies, unless you’re happy with a hybrid or traditional publishing model. Click here to learn the difference between publishing models.

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Of course, hiring editing, design, and production assistance is just the next step in your publishing journey after writing your book. You’ll still have a long road ahead before the book is ready to be published. This article explains how to help that journey go as smoothly as possible, but if you hire the wrong service(s), not even those tips will help. Be careful who you trust.?

If you’ve looked through our website and feel we may be a good fit, please reach out! We’d love to answer your questions and help you learn more about our process.