5 Book Publishing Mistakes To Avoid

Publishing your book can be a big pain if you do not know what you are doing. Here are 5 Mistakes to avoid and think about before you print your book.

1. Wrong formatting – Chapters need to start on the right, chapter headings need to be consistent throughout and fonts need to be consistent.Note that fonts should be in the serif family for easier reading—and to ensure the book looks professional. Readers don’t want to spend hours reading books typeset in Arial fonts or Comic Sans.

2.Weak Back Cover Copy – The description of your book that goes on the back cover is typically the same sales copy that will be published on Amazon, BN.com, etc. This description is often your only chance to convince a reader to buy the book, which means that it must sizzle and convince a potential reader to fork over some cash.

For nonfiction, back cover copy should explain the benefits for the reader. For memoir and fiction, the copy should summarize a compelling story.

3.Wrong Book Pricing – A sure sign of a self-published book is when its price doesn’t align with others in the genre. For example, if you’ve authored a short, 100-page self-development book, don’t price the paperback at $24.99. When you do a little research into the genre, you’ll find that a short nonfiction book will more likely land in the $14.99 price range.

You also need to make sure you allow for enough margin to make a profit. Using the same example, your 100-page trade paperback will likely have a wholesale cost between $3 to $5, depending on your printer. When you set the retail price at $14.99, Amazon and other retailers will typically take around 50% off the cover price, thus paying you $7.50 for the book. Make sure to run these calculations before setting your retail price.

4.Forgotten Marketing – Waiting until the book is published is the worst time to think about marketing! Ideally, your marketing plans should begin as far in advance as possible. This can mean months or years before the book is released. Do yourself a favor and start establishing a marketing plan long before your next book becomes available. this includes setting up your website and social media profiles.

5.Wrong Publishing Company Name – If you are publishing your book with a “big box” publisher, like CreateSpace or IngramSpark, be sure to establish your own publishing company name. Allowing your brand to be associated with self-publishing services like IngramSpark or CreateSpace instantly tells media pros and potential readers that you’re self-published.

When deciding on a publishing company name, try to choose something that sounds like a legitimate publishing company. If your name is Annie Author, avoid using something like “Annie’s Publishing Co.” Remember, the goal is to create a professionally-produced book that doesn’t look like it was self-published.

These are 5 mistakes you can avoid when publishing your book. You can download a free publishing checklist to keep you organized. If you have questions just ask me, I would love to help you.

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