One of the many decisions that authors must make is whether or not to use their own imprint, but like all facets of publishing, this decision can be confusing. To help answer your questions about imprints, I will discuss this topic using the 5W’s.
What is an imprint?
An imprint is the trade mark name under which your book is published. Many publishing companies have several imprints, and they choose an imprint depending on the type of book being published. As a self-published author, you have the ability to create your own imprint or use the imprint of your publishing company.
Why would you use your own imprint?
There are several reasons why authors choose to use their own imprint. Here are just a few.
* Full control – Authors want full control of whow their book is identified, discovered and sourced.
*Industry Standards – Depending on your marketing plans, a personal imprint may be the best option. For instance, textbook authors typically use their own imprints to make business with wholesalers easier.
Association – When you publish your book with a specific company and use their imprint, your book is associated with all of the other books that are published at that company. Some times, self-published authors don’t take advantage of all the services available to them. They might skip the professional copy editing services or choose a poorly designed cover because of a tight budget. Using your own imprint allows you to take advantage of all the services offered by self publishing companies without being associated with the poorly developed books sometimes published by those companies.
Credibility and Branding – By using your own imprint, you are building a brand for your current and future books. If you are an expert in your genre or topic, an imprint can help increase your credibility.
When do you choose an imprint?
You must choose your imprint early in the publication process because your imprint will be printed on all your books. Also, if you have a specific name picked out, you want to secure it before anyone else uses it.
Who can choose an imprint?
Anyone self publishing a book can create an imprint. Typically, the self-publishing company will still assist the author with other tasks such as inventory and accounting even if the author chooses to use a personal imprint.
How do you create an imprint?
If you decide to create an imprint, it is important to research your company name to avoid creating a duplicate. Also, talk to your self-publishing company to find out their specific process for creating an imprint.
I’d love to hear your comments and questions about imprints. Please feel free to comment on this post, and I will try to respond to your questions individually or address your questions in future posts.
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ABOUT CHERI BREEDING: Since 2005 Cheri Breeding has been working as the Director of Production for Outskirts Press. In that time, she has been an instrumental component of every aspect of the Production Department, performing the roles of an Author Representative, Book Designer, Customer Service Representative, Title Production Supervisor, Production Manager and, Director of Production. She brings all that experience and knowledge, along with an unparalleled customer-service focus, to help self-publishing authors reach high-quality book publication more efficiently, professionally, and affordably. |
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