The prospect of publishing a book is something on most professionals’ minds. After all, publishing a book is a milestone that virtually every professional looks to reach. Writing a book is a combination of time, knowledge, and dedication. Writing a book isn’t just a question of sitting at the computer and hammering away at the keys. Yet, there are mistakes that professionals often make when self-publishing their first book. In this article, we are going to explore these mistakes, and what you can do about them.
- Self-publishing for the Sake of Self-Publishing
The reason why professionals opt to self-publish is that their chances of landing a book deal are slim. So, they decide to go the self-publishing route. However, some professionals do so for the sake of publishing a book. They believe that simply publishing a book is enough to get them to notice. Over time, they may become frustrated when book sales don’t pick up, or they don’t get the recognition they expected.
That’s why all professionals must have a game plan. For instance, the plan may not be to sell books per se. Instead, the plan might be to create awareness of a topic which then leads to paid consultations and speaking engagement. In this case, the book is nothing more than a marketing tool.
- Publishing a Low-Quality Book
A low-quality book doesn’t mean the content is bad. What it means is that the format, grammar, writing, and layout are subpar. This often happens as a result of inexperience, or simply rushing through the publishing process.
Professionals publishing their first book ought to hire professional writers and editors to help them proofread their material. Also, a professional graphic designer can help with the layout and visuals of the book. Taking care of these elements bolsters the overall quality of the book, thus highlighting its content.
- Not Doing Enough Marketing
A book is often a marketing tool. Of course, the book has valuable content that readers enjoy. However, its main purpose is to position a professional by making them a respected expert in their field. However, some professionals feel that simply publishing the book is enough to draw attention to them. What they don’t realize is that a book needs marketing efforts behind it to position the professional.
Marketing a book doesn’t mean spending an arm and a leg on ads. Grassroots advertising on social media, video streaming services, or word of mouth can generate buzz around the book. Making money from book sales is nice. Ultimately, position a personal brand is much more valuable than selling the books themselves. Think about celebrity cookbooks. People don’t buy the recipes inside the book. They buy the person who endorses the recipes. Many times, the celebrity doesn’t write the book. Yet, people buy it because they are drawn to the personal brand represented in the book. This is what professionals need to aim for when self-publishing their own material.
