How to publish your book is one of the main questions that an author faces. Do you do it yourself or submit a proposal to a publisher? As part of a series of articles on publishing your book, in this article we look at some of the benefits of having a professional publisher. Here are 10 reasons why you may prefer to have one on your side:
- The editor knows the business
- The publisher knows the market
- The publisher has experience in book distribution.
- The editor knows the pitfalls
- The publisher knows if your book is good and if there is a market for it.
- The publisher has a vested interest in your success
- Publisher frees you from most costs
- Publisher provides expert editing
- Editorial has experts to design book covers
- Publisher best positioned for book reviews
Experience counts in the publishing business. Editors know what works, from the preparation that goes into developing your manuscript, providing editorial guidance, cover design, costs, time, and other factors authors take for granted. Plus, they help keep authors on track to achieve their goals.
Publishers tend to specialize in particular markets. They know those markets extremely well. They keep up with market trends and what the buying public is looking for. They know how to access those markets and where to find leverage for your book.
How will your book be distributed? Most publishers maintain ongoing relationships with major bookstore chains and wholesalers. They know how to get your book through these distribution channels to ensure the best exposure for your book.
So many things can go wrong in publishing. The time for a particular book may be off. The publisher is realistic about how many books to print, as well as controlling the amount of stock shipped to wholesalers to avoid returns. Publishers also take into account if there are similar books on the market or about to be published, and how that might affect sales.
Publishers have a pretty good idea of whether their book is viable. Yes, they will have accepted your book proposal, but based on their experience, they have an idea of how successful it will be in their market. They also recognize limitations. Instead of committing to larger runs, they start with smaller runs to test the market first.
If a publisher hires you, they’ll realize that if you’re successful, they’ll be successful. It all comes down to the bottom line. Your book must be profitable, otherwise you will not be retained as an author. Therefore, you are expected to help them succeed by doing what your publisher suggests and by participating in conferences and book signings.
The publisher assumes the financial responsibility of publishing your book and bringing it to market. If they really like your book, they may give you some sort of advance based on expected sales. Or you may not receive any income until there are sales. They also take responsibility if your book fails in the market by absorbing the costs incurred.
Read any book and between the credits there are thanks from the author to the publishers. Good editors make a better book. Authors are so close to their books that they are often lost or unaware of a plot with serious holes or characters that are not true to their values. The editors bring these mistakes to the author’s attention to correct and improve the author’s work.
It is well known that a great cover can make a big difference in book sales. Publishers have expert cover designers on staff or as part of their freelance workforce.
Book sales can increase dramatically thanks to good reviews. One of the challenges self-published authors face is getting book reviews. These authors are usually unknown and do not have contacts. Established publishers know who they want to review a particular book and how to get that review.
Making the right choice between publishing your book yourself or through an established publisher is not always easy. We have listed some of the main reasons why you might prefer to go with a publisher. One major benefit if you are hired by a publisher is that the activities you must perform as a self-publisher are taken out of your hands. You can focus on the job at hand: making your book the best it can be.