self publishing pros and cons

[Debi DeSantis]

Hello All, I have recently had my book published through LULU.com and I am not sure if this was a good decision or not. The book came out beautiful but I need someone that will also help with the promotion aspect of this process. I know I need to do most of the work myself but I am having a hard time figuring out where to go and how to approach people to do book signings. Any suggestions would be great.

[Rae Lori]

Hi Debi!

I've been learning a lot myself about promoting myself and my work for selling books and I've learned even more while working at a epublishing company and helping our authors find creative ways to promote.

I have a few books at Lulu as well as some of our authors and I agree they have great quality! Possibly the hardest part of being a writer is the promotional aspects with marketing and publicity. I don't have much experience with having a publicist (poor writer here! lol) but I have read many resources that share a lot of good ways to promote on and off the internet.

One of the main things is making a web presence for yourself such as getting a website and/or myspace page at the very least. That way, once you have book business cards and other promo items which you can hand out to people you can always refer them to your website which will speak volumes about your work. When people google you, the website will come up with your book info, author info and all that good stuff about you and your work!

Going back to your question about book signings, you would probably want to contact your local bookstore CRM or the person who handles all the in house author signings and community relations. Inquire about their procedures for offering opportunities to local authors. You can even get to know the smaller independent bookstores around you who would most likely be ecstatic to have a local author do some signings for them!

Going even beyond bookstores, think about what makes your book unique and what the theme is and target like minded stores for people who would be interested in buying your book. Approach them and they may even have a book signing event for you. If you have any promo items ask if you can leave it at the front cash register so people can see it as they pass by.

Now that the book is out you can contact everyone you know and let them know it's available via a newsletter or just emailing people on your contact list. Media kits are highly suggested (and can be fun to make!) and many reviewers are available to read self published and print on demand books. Don't forget to contact your local papers, newsletters and magazines (this is where your media kit can come in handy!) and let them know about your book release. Making it relevant to society today will have an impact on your readers and the media as well. Sometimes publications take excerpts and articles which you can tie your book into.

Although this is lots of hard work and time spent, you can have a lot of fun with it with your creativity in getting the word out and in sharing your enthusiasm about your book. No one knows it better than you and I can guarantee that your passion and excitement for your book will be shine through and catch on as you share what it's about with friends, family, co-workers, etc.

Hope that helps!

Happy promoting!

-Rae

[Debi DeSantis]

Rae, thank you so much for taking time to respond to me. You have certainly provided a lot of information. I do have a website and a myspace site. It is getting the people to the site that is the hard part. I have come across the ever so anoying question from the people at the bookstore, "is your book returnable".......I hate that question. I feel a little unsettled at times answering. Sometimes it seems almost impossible to get peoples attention. If something doesn't happen soon my husband is going to make me go back to work!!!(yuck) lol
Can you give me a little more information about the media kits?

Thanks much
Debi

[Rae Lori]

Hi Debi! No problem!

Yeah the returnable question is the dreaded topic in the land of writing and publishing. Yuck. That could be a possible barrier in getting book signings and especially in getting bookstores to order for the signing. For small press publishers it's also a bit of a headache as well because they also bear the downside of the issue. If LuLu is named as the publisher of your book, you may want to ask a rep there to double check and see if their books are marked returnable. At least then you'll have an answer to give people who ask and you're partly covered.

In getting people's attention, people LOVE free stuff lol. So I suggest giving them some handouts like book business cards, postcards, bookmarks, magnets etc. that will catch their eye and get them interested in your work. Even having different places place your banner on their site will help get your name out.

About media kits, sure! They're basically your sales pitch for your book. Since editors, promoters and other media workers behind the scenes have such short time to offer to submissions, the aim for the media kit is to get them interested in showcasing your book and you!

Here's one of the resource sites I use. This page is on how to build media kits: http://authorinsider.com/article.php?subaction=showfull&id=1150...;

I highly suggest the rest of the site for other techniques on book marketing.

I recently passed these links on to some of my authors who are out currently promoting: http://www.published.com/category/Books.aspx <-- Get your book listed!
http://www.linktiles.com/ <--- Free banner and email siggie w/ your tile page!
http://www.upperaccess.com/publicity/brochure.html <----- Aimed at small press publishers but great for independent authors as well!

Jerry Simmons also has a writing organization located at NothingBinding.com aimed at Independent Authors (self-published and small press) where various other authors are promoting and offering promotional opportunities for writers.

The funny thing is now that you're promoting, you can tell your husband that you are already working around the clock because book promoting is literally a full time job! lol

-Rae

[Karina Kantas]

Not much more I can add after Rae's post.

I'm very happy with Lulu. The after-sale service is top rate, and in the the forum, your questions are always answered. The quality of the book is superb. The only downside, as with all SP, is having the time and know-how to market, advertise and promote the book yourself.

I don't have the chance to do book signings, talks, meeting, etc.. because of where I live. So, most of my promoting has been done on-line. And although its the "big wide web" it's not that big!

I wish you lots of success with your book.

[Schuyler Thorpe]

Word of mouth works great for me! It's cheap, inexpensive, and given enough time, you can build up quite a reputation with it.

Have you tried the local scene? Getting the word out there?

[Keetha]

If your book is nonfiction, you may also want to think about articles - either original content or some excerpted from your book - for regional publications and online magazines and newsletters. Offer it free, as long as they agree to run a tagline at the bottom, such as: Get a free tip sheet with the top 10 (fill in the blank) by visiting www.yourwebsite.com

Also, publications love those numbered lists - the 50 best day trips, 12 super foods, etc. Your local newspaper, magazine, chamber of commerce magazine, etc., depending on your topic, may be interested.

One of the very best books on book promotion I've ever read (and I swear, I think I've read them all!) is The Well-Fed Self Publisher by Peter Bowerman. The Publishing Game: Bestseller in 30 Days by Fern Reiss is another good one.

Keep us posted!

[Howard Hopkins]

Hi Debi,

I use Lulu as a printer myself for Golden Perils Press. One of the most helpful (and info packed) books I have read recently on this subject is Steve Weber's Plug Your Book (which I got a half price used copy of on Amazon). Some great tips in there for self-pubbed and even NY pubbed authors (I have no conenction to him, btw, just have read a lot of these type books and found this to be the best of the lot so far.)
best,
Howard

[Joy Calderwood]

Howard, Calderwood Books is thinking of using Lulu as our printer. The quality of Lulu books that I've seen has been excellent, but their shipping charge for multiple books is outrageous. Is there a way around that?

[Diana L. Driver]

There's an online Yahoo group called Murder Must Advertise where members give out all kinds of information about promo tools and marketing. Even if your book isn't a mystery, the tips you'll find are good ones. Be aware, though that the subject of self-publishing vs traditional publishing is taboo.

As for bookstores, you'll be able to setup signings with independent bookstores and chains (depending on the CRM's and/or the manager's opinion of non-returnable books.) What'll happen is that you'll have to bring in your own books and afterwards the books that aren't sold you'll take back home with you. The store most likely won't keep any to put on the shelves. I say most likely because I do know self-pubbed authors who DO have books stocked - even by the major chains like Barnes & Noble, so anything's possible.

Oh, another thing to be aware of. The usual discount that the store takes is 40%. A good manager will take less because they realize that they aren't paying any out of pocket expenses, like shipping and will settle for a lessor discount.

Good luck and congratulations on publishing your book!

Diana

[Terry Spear]

The biggest problem with either epubs or small print publishers is distribution. If you are published with either type of group, a lot of brick-and-mortar book stores are not author friendly. If you can target local groups, that can help--ties to a church, the newspaper, any groups you might belong to, spouse's workplace, your own---my kids both sold some of my "Winning the Highlander's Heart" to their college professors, my mother to all her friends, and her yoga class, another friend to her classmates in Curves...just get the word out and you can make some sales that way! I always take book marks with me and a couple of books. When I was substitute teaching high school, I sold one to a fellow sub! I've sold to the banks I do business with. To my dentist, doctors, insurance salesman, the plumber! And I'm not outgoing. But I hand them a book mark and say, "Does your wife read historical romance? Would you like to buy her an autographed book?" I pay big bucks for their services, so they can buy one of my books! :) And by always carrying the books with me, you catch impulse buyers. I was signing books for a friend at a restaurant and the hostess bought a book! I had to take my daughter in for a doctor's appt and the receptionist bought a book. Book marks work miracles. :)

:) Good luck! Terry
www.terryspear.com