Does Publishing Your Own Book Help Your Business?
Publishing your own book definitely have its advantages. However, certain guidelines need to be followed to make the publication successful.
There seems to be a new trend starting, especially when it comes to the internet. Every year, more business owners and home business owners are publishing both print and online e-books to help draw attention to their businesses. Book topics range from offering specific information to coaching materials to life-skills and training manuals. Some are just 'About Me' stories.
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With the increase of such materials, you might think that you too should create some printed materials about yourself and your business. If a person actually gets something published, they must know what they're talking about, right? But that's not necessarily the case.
Having something published does have an advantage for certain business people, but there are certain rules that need to be followed in order to make any publication successful, whether it's a 400 page instructional manual or a 30 page PDF file that can be downloaded to anyone's email inbox. As with anything, there are benefits and drawbacks to writing and publishing a work. Some of the advantages are:
- Both print and e-books will draw attention to your website
and get people to at least take a look at what you have to offer.
So make sure you include a website address somewhere prominent
in your publication.
- If you research and/or know a subject, your printed publication
can automatically make you an expert in that field. Such validation
enhances customer and client trust in you and your product, and
if you've marketed your publication and you're fortunate enough
to receive massive media exposure, you can quickly become a noted
name in your field.
- Earnings from sales of your e-book or book are always a plus.
- If you mention other items or products that you sell or create
in your publication, you can make additional sales with a minimum
of effort.
- When you have good public relations, which can be increased
with the sale of a publication, individuals often buy anything
and everything you have to sell, especially if you've done it
right the first time. Take the time to create a quality publication
so those that follow may be as lucrative.
- Teaming up with someone else can also enhance your chances of publication. Large-print publishers and especially those online often offer massive exposure to writers who have produced a nicely written, informative, interesting and wide selling publication.
Of course, as with anything else, there are also drawbacks to creating and publishing your own book. Some of the more common ones are listed below:
- Writing and finding a publisher for your work is very time consuming.
Your writing needs to be researched, edited before you even approach
a publisher, and then, if they accept it, they can take months,
even up to a year, to actually print the work and offer it for
sale.
- If you choose to self-publish, be prepared to pay. That's just
for the initial printing costs. Be aware that you will also be
responsible for your own marketing research and costs, and costs
for editing and layout and artistic services as well.
- If you don't do your homework and create a sloppy or misinformed
publication, you'll end up hurting yourself. Negative publicity
is an author's worst enemy, so make sure you double check your
fact and figures and be able to back up any claims you make.
- You can't please everyone all of the time, so be prepared for
a certain amount of negativity from the general public. While
jealousy often motivates such disgruntled 'fans', competitors
may also try to throw stumbling blocks in your path or pop up
everywhere and anywhere to dispute or argue with what you have
written.
- You must be aware of the legal aspect of publications: copyright
and distribution laws and laws relating to author rights and publishing
must be familiar to you. Always have a lawyer check over any offered
contract and make sure you're not getting the short end of the
stick when it comes to monetary advances or royalties.
- Never, ever copy someone else's work. Accusations of plagiarism can cause lifelong damage to your reputation. You must also protect your work from being plagiarized by others as well, and this can be costly.
The bottom line is to create a work that is well researched and well written. If you've never written before, you may want to find a ghostwriter to help you with the task of writing the book. Attempting to do it yourself may prove overwhelming, especially if you're not familiar with grammar rules, syntax, and proofreading your own work. You must be able to offer a work that is competitive, but if your work is disorganized or is missing effective word choices, the end result will not read well nor go over well with a publisher. Worse yet, even if the publisher prints an initial printing of your book, you may be faced with returns and charge-backs, which will certainly hurt any chances of further publications from you.
Other books, especially e-books are being published these days that offer very little information on a specific subject. Proposing to be an expert when you're not is also a dangerous situation. Readers are quick to notice if the author doesn't really know what they're talking about. And always remember that there are people out there that know as much, if not more, than you know about your subject.
Always be honest, don't make false claims about a product or event,
and do your best to publish effective, informative materials. If
you choose to venture down the road to publication, make sure you
give it your best shot and employ the help of others who know what
they're doing if at all possible. If you don't, your dreams of success
and fame will turn into your own worst nightmare, so use common
sense when deciding your subject matter and content.
Links
Books
Complete Guide to Self Publishing: Everything You Need to Know to Write, Publish, Promote, and Sell Your Own Book by Tom Ross, Marilyn Ross
Instant Book Writing Kit - How to Write, Publish and Market Your Own Money-Making Book (or Ebook) Online by Shaun Fawcett
Write Your Ebook or Other Short Book - Fast! by Judy Cullins
How To Publish and Promote Online by M. J. Rose