Wendy Stetina

The Importance of the Publishing Package

How much an author chooses to invest in the publishing of his or her manuscript is a very personal decision. Most of us are on a budget, and in today’s economic climate, such an investment needs to be given careful consideration.

All self-publishing companies offer different packages that accommodate your budget. When choosing a publishing company and picking a package, it is important to consider both the price and the services included. You need to pick a package that is affordable but still offers the services you want and need. To get started, here is an overview of the packages available at Outskirts Press.

At Outskirts Press, packages prices range from $199.00 to $4,979.00. I rarely recommend our lowest priced package; The Emerald ($199.00) does not include an ISBN number. An ISBN number is a requirement for distribution in the publishing community. The One-Click Publishing Package ($4,979.00) is designed specifically for professional authors that want it all with the push of a button. Authors that want a full color interior publish with the Pearl Package for $1099.00. That leaves the Diamond ($999.00), the Ruby ($699.00) or the Sapphire ($399.00) for authors that have black and white interiors. The difference between these packages involves the amount of flexibility that is allowed in book sizes and cover choices as well as the options that are included.

Beyond the flexibility and options, it is important for authors to understand how the mathematics work. I regularly advise authors to decide when and how they want to spend their hard-earned money. Diamond authors, compared to Ruby or Sapphire authors, pay the most initially;however, their royalties are $1.00 more per book sold than a Ruby author and $2.00 more per book sold than a Sapphire author. Additionally, a Diamond author pays $1.00 less for a copy of his or her own book compared to a Ruby author and $2.00 less than a Sapphire author.

Authors need to decide if they want to spend less on the front-end and more on the back-end verses spending more on the front-end and less on the back-end. I always recommend the second option. Most authors are investing in their manuscript in the hope of selling lots of books. Logically, one would want the highest royalty and lowest per book cost.

Regardless of your budget or needs, there is a package that will make your publishing dreams come true.

ABOUT WENDY STETINA:
Wendy Stetina is a sales and marketing professional with over 30 years experience in the printing and publishing industry. Wendy works as the Director of Author Services for Outskirts Press. The Author Services Department is composed of knowledgeable customer service reps and publishing consultants; and together, they all focus on educating authors on the self-publishing process in order to help them publish the book of their dreams. Whether you are a professional looking to take your career to the next level with platform-driven non-fiction, or a novelist seeking fame, fortune, and/or personal fulfillment, Wendy Stetina can put you on the right path.

Self-Publishing, Wendy Speaks

Trade Discounts and Distribution: One of the Many Self-Publishing Perks

The self publishing industry is a reaction to the traditional publishing industry. For years, the only option for authors to see their manuscripts published was to hire an agent and/or submit their manuscripts to the traditional houses in hopes of being selected for publication. In most cases, this process took many years, involved substantial changes to the manuscript and most importantly, forced the author into giving up the rights. Retail pricing and the author’s royalties were out of the author’s control as well. Self-publishing allows authors to maintain control over their material and allows them to select the type of distribution that is appropriate to their material and marketing goals.

Speaking of distribution the desire for shelf space is always a popular subject for new authors, and its requirements are very strict. Books that make it onto the shelves of the brick and mortar chain book stores have to carry a very high trade discount (50% to 55%). “Trade discount” is our industry specific term for “profit margin.” For example, when you purchase a book within a Barnes & Noble bookstore for $14.95, 55% of the retail price ($8.22) is divided between the store and the wholesale distributor for their profit. When you subtract the $8.22 from the $14.95, you are left with $6.73. This remainder covers the cost of the actual book. The balance that is left after the price of the book is the author royalty. Typically, authors receive very low royalties in these scenarios.

In addition to needing a high trade discount, authors also need to provide the bookstore with a “Retail Returns Program.” This program allows the bookstores to return books to the wholesaler and get their money back if the books do not sell. You must provide this program to the retailers, but having it is no guarantee that they will agree to stock your book.

Conversely, authors that elect to focus on internet sales may select a much lower trade discount as the internet book sites do not require as large of a profit margin. So that same $14.95 retail priced book under a 25% trade discount would look like this mathematically: $14.95 – $3.74 (25% of the retail price) = $11.21 – the actual cost of your book = your royalty. Obviously, $11.21 is a larger number than $6.73. Therefore, your royalty will be greater if sold by an online distributor, assuming the cost of your book remains the same in each equation.

Freedom to choose your trade discount and distribution center is just one of the many perks of self publishing. To learn more about trade discounts, check out Cheri’s post titled Trade Discounts 101. It provides a great overview of industry standards and questions to ask yourself before setting your discount.

Self-Publishing, Wendy Speaks

Traditional Printing vs Print on Demand… What is the Difference?

One of the biggest decisions for self-published authors is whether to choose traditional printing or print on demand (POD). As a publishing consultant, I am constanly asked questions about the differences and benefits of traditional printing versus print on demand. Below I have answered three of the most common questions I’m asked about POD . Hopefully, the answers will give you a better understanding of the two types of services and help you determine if print on demand is right for you.

Why should I choose POD rather than traditional printing?

Most authors who select POD want their self-publisher to handle distribution and fulfillment as well as the actual printing of the books. This allows the author to focus on what they do best – writing, and hopefully marketing, their books – instead of managing inventory, packaging orders, and shipping books to the buyer.

Why is the per book cost higher for a POD title compared to a traditionally printed title?

The more you buy (of anything, from books to business cards) from a traditional printer the lower your unit cost. Whether you print 100 copies of an item or 1000 copies, your set up costs are the same, and they are amortized over the entire print run. Typically, buyers order more than they actually need to achieve a lower unit price. In POD, the cost of your book is the same for book number 1 and book 2000 because each book is printed one at a time and the set up is included in every individual copy.

So why would I accept a higher unit price?

Authors that select POD are doing it for two specific reasons. The first is they want their self-publisher to print the book and deliver it to the purchaser without them having to be personally involved. The second is cash-flow. Inventory costs money. Buying 2000 books, for example, at $3.50 per book will require an investment of $7,000.00. In a nutshell, POD authors are trading a higher per book cost for the luxury of not having 1000’s of dollars worth of inventory sitting in their home office.

POD is a great option for authors who are concerned about time management and inventory cost. After all, authors should be writing and marketing not storing, packaging, and shipping books.

I’d love to hear your questions, advice, and experiences with traditional printing and print on demand.

Book Design, Self-Publishing, Wendy Speaks

Color Printing vs. Black and White Printing… What is the Difference?

When you choose to self-publish a book, you must decide you want the interior of your book printed in color or black and white. This decision impacts the look of your book as well as the price. When considering your options, it is important to understand the process as well as the benefits of each choice.

Colored Printing

Colored printing is typically used for smaller manuscripts averaging 30 to 50 pages. These are usually books geared towards children. Because illustrations tell half of the story in a picture book, color is extremely important in children’s books. It captures the imagination and brings the story to life.

Black and White Printing

Black and white printing is typically used for longer manuscripts. This not mean that you will have a black and white cover. It simply means that the interior pages of your book will be printed in black and white. This option is more cost-effective for longer manuscripts because of production cost and market price.

How is this different from traditional publishing?

In traditional publishing, the black and white pages of a manuscript are printed on one press while the colored pages are printed on another. After all of the pages are printed, the manuscript is assembled. Print on demand (POD) publishing works a bit differently. Each page is printed individually on the same press. This means that just some spot of color will require your manuscript to be printed on the colored press. This immediately increases the cost of your book because the colored press is more expensive to maintain and operate. It requires a more skilled operator and heavier, more expensive paper.

What options do authors of long manuscripts have?

As an author of a long manuscript, you need to not only consider the production cost of your book but also the market price. Long manuscripts that are published in color have a higher market price because of the production cost. This in turn typically results in poor sales because readers are unwilling to buy a book that is overpriced compared to other books of similar lengths.

This does not mean that you have to publish a dull book. If you want to include images in your longer length manuscript, you can use a grayscale. Your manuscript will still be printed on the black and white printer, but your colored images will be converted to black and white. This is an option that is frequently and successfully used by POD authors.

If you are passionate about your book being published in color, it is an option. Just be prepared for higher costs, and plan for a higher market price. One of the perks of self-publishing is that you are in control of your book. You decide how it will look, so make the choice that is best for you and your readers.

Wendy Speaks

Publishing a Book to Enhance Your Credibility

How can I get A client? How can I get MORE clients? What coach or consultant doesn’t want to know how to keep a steady stream of work flowing into their practice? After all – the more work you do, the more money you earn (in most cases, anyway). Why are we talking about this on a publishing blog, though? The reason is quite simple, actually. The best way to get new clients is to “show them the money”. In other words, you need to show them what you know. There are many ways to showcase your expertise – blogging, writing articles, etc. The most effective, though, is publishing a book.

Imagine the respect your clients will have for you once they find out you are a published author – or better yet, a bestselling author. This could significantly change your visibility and credibility amongst the clients you serve. Do you remember the last time you needed help with a particular issue? Wouldn’t you feel even more comfortable trusting the opinion of an “expert” if they have published a book on that very topic? After all, we don’t go to the podiatrist when we have a toothache. That’s not to discredit the podiatrist, but we are seeking someone who is an EXPERT to guide us through our issue. While a podiatrist is a doctor, they don’t have the same specialized experience as a dentist when it comes to toothaches.

Let your clients get to know you as an expert before they speak even one word to you. That way – they will be much more open to trusting you. Once they trust you, it’s easier for them to invest in your services with confidence.

Are you a coach or consultant who has seen a boost in business after publishing your own book?

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