Tag: Self-Publishing

Self-Publishing, Wendy Speaks

5 Reasons to Self Publish in December

As 2011 winds down, you may be wondering if December is the right time to self-publish your book. Here are five reasons why it is a great month to start the self-publishing process.

Great Promotion

Many self-publishing companies are getting in the holiday spirit by offering great deals on publishing packages and marketing options.

A Christmas Gift to Yourself

Publishing a book is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. The sense of accomplishment and pride is better than any box of chocolates or new sweater.

Plenty of Time to Market

By starting the self-publishing process in December, you will have your printed book early in 2012. This gives you the rest of the year to market your book.

A Jump Start on Your To-Do List

If you are reading this, “publishing a book” is probably on your 2012 to-do list. Start the year off right by checking it off the list before the ball drops on New Year’s Eve.

Be a Part of a Great Trend

According to Outskirts Press, total book sales in the self-publishing industry will exceed 32 billion dollars. You can still be a part of that amazing statistic.

Happy Holidays!

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.
Cheri Speaks

Self Publishing for the Eco-Conscious

As our society becomes more concerned with environmental issues such as climate changes, pollution and land use, many authors want to know how they can publish a book that fits their environmental values. These authors want to know about the practices of the companies they publish with as well information about the materials used to print their books. If sustainability and conservation are important to you, here are a few things to consider before publishing your book.

1) Ask About the Ink – Some self-publishing companies use non-toxic ink. This is important for many reasons. For instance, it means…

  • Your book can later be recycled or composted without the fear of toxic ink seeping into the soil.
  • Once recycled, the finished product will not have a grayish-yellow appearance like the recycled papers of the ’90s.
  • The ink in your book will pose no threats to those who come in contact with it. (If your two-year-old child decides to nibble on the pages, he or she is perfectly safe.)

2) Ask About the Paper – Some self-publishing companies will print your book on recycled paper. There are also companies that use certified paper products. For instance, Outskirts Press uses bookblock paper that is Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Certified and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Mixed Credit. These practices are important to prevent deforestation, which causes global warming and species endangerment.

3) Ask About Certifications – It is important to find out about the practices and products used by your self-publishing company. One way businesses prove that they use environmentally conscious practices and products is certifications such as SFI Certified and FSC Mixed Credit. Most companies will be more than willing to share this information with you, so ask your publishing company what certifications they have.

4) Ask About Best Practices – There are plenty of ways individuals and businesses can help the environment. Just a few ideas include energy-efficient appliances, telecommuting and recycling. Ask your self-publishing company what they do to reduce their carbon footprint. Do they value sustainability and conservation? Do they encourage their staff to share their values by taking small, eco-conscious actions?

When choosing a self-publishing company, it is important to find a company that shares your goals and values. Before committing to a self-publishing company, do your research. Find out about their practices and products. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. An honest company will be more than happy to answer them.

Cheri Breeding 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.
Cheri Speaks

5W’s of Using an Imprint

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.

Cheri Breeding 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.
Self-Publishing Book Review of the Week

Weekly Self-Published Book Review: Unlocking Potential

Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if they don’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.

When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review by Midwest Book Review:

Unlocking Potential

Hilderbrand Pelzer III

 Publisher: Outskirts Press

ISBN: 9781432770273

Crime and education come together more often than one would think. “Unlocking Potential: Organizing a School Inside a Prison” is a guide to prison-based education to help those youths who are incarcerated not to lose their way  and to help them turn around their the future. “Unlocking Potential” is strongly recommended for those in charge of education of imprisoned youths.

Contests, Kelly Speaks

2012 Global Ebook Award Now Accepting Submissions

Contests are a great way gain exposure and credibility. By winning awards, you can convince readers that your book is worth reading and you can generate word of mouth marketing. Well, Dan Poynter, founder of the Global Ebook Award, has announced that his program is now accepting submissions. Why should you submit your book?

Awarded ebooks will enjoy these benefits:

–an official “sticker” on your ebook cover, website, Amazon page, and promotion materials
— buoyant feedback from judges with experience in your category of book.
–a free listing in Publishing Poynters Marketplace offering copies of your book for reviews in prestigious
ebook dealers’ sites such as Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, and others.
–being honored at an award ceremony in gorgeous Santa Barbara.
–media coverage for you and your book.
–being listed on the official Global Ebook Awards site.
— a Global Ebook Award certificate attesting to your honor.
–a news releases announcing that you won
–discounts on video trailers for YouTube, Amazon
and your website
–discounts on other services for authors and publishers
And much more…

So, how do you apply?

Eligibility:
eBook released anytime on or before March 11, 2012.

Application deadline:
March 12, 2012 (midnight Pacific Time).

Award ceremony
in beautiful Santa Barbara: Saturday, August 18, 2012.

For more information on how to apply, visit http://globalebookawards.com/.

 

ABOUT KELLY SCHUKNECHT:
Kelly Schuknecht works as the Vice President of Outskirts Press.  In addition to her contributions to the Outskirts Press blog at blog.outskirtspress.com, Kelly and a group of talented marketing experts offer book marketing services, support, and products to not only published Outskirts Press authors, but to all authors and professionals who are interested in marketing their books and/or careers. Learn more about Kelly on her blog at http://kellyschuknecht.com.