If you have a great idea for a novel or a unique viewpoint on a subject that you’re familiar with, writing a book can be a natural step.
Authorship allows you to put your ideas in a straightforward format and make them available to the public.
As the article, “5 Ideas to Consider When Making a Book Online” looks at, it can be tough to find a publisher that will even take a look at a book written by an unknown author.
Publishing online may be your best bet for making yourself heard.
Costs
One of the great things about publishing a book online is that it’s relatively inexpensive to do, especially when compared to self-publishing physical books.
There are a number of ways to publish a book online, ranging from posting it on your own website, or even a free blog site, to using a commercial self-publishing platform.
Posting your book on a site you already own or a free site will cost you nothing. However, you aren’t likely to make a lot of revenue from your readers this way either.
Also, it can be difficult to reach potential readers unless your site already has a lot of visitors. This is why most self-published authors choose to use a commercial site.
Your work will be hosted on a site that many readers already visit, so it’s more likely to be noticed.
Often the costs associated with self-publishing this way are minimal, and you may be able to simply pay a percentage out of each book’s sales instead of paying up front.
Promotion
As a self-published author, you’ll need to take steps to attract readers to your book.
This may mean promoting it on your website, on social media, or even in person. In order to get the word out, it’s important to go to where your readers are likely to be.
To improve your odds, research book clubs, book review sites, and social media groups where your likely audience is liable to congregate.
You may want to offer free advance copies of your work to respected bloggers or reviewers in your genre in exchange for reviews.
Editing
One major benefit of publishing online is the ability to update and edit your work quickly when necessary.
Of course, your work should be fully edited before you post it. However, if you catch mistakes later – or, in the case of nonfiction, if new information comes to light that should be included – you’ll be able to make the changes necessary to keep your work accurate and relevant.
Make sure to research your editing capabilities on the platforms you’re considering before choosing one. The book layout design is important, too, you can think of it as the art of creating a book’s interior. Many authors underestimate the importance of this step and fail to see how book layout design can actually mean the difference between a good and bad reading experience.
Marketing Yourself
Publishing a book online is a great way to help market yourself and promote your own brand.
Even with the ease of online publishing, comparatively few people have the patience or ability to sit down and write a whole book on any subject.
Writing and publishing a book online can boost your professional profile, establish your expert credentials, and help you market your own brand.
Traditional Publishing
If your ultimate goal is to have your book picked up by a traditional publisher and published in physical form, don’t worry.
You can still achieve that goal after self-publishing.
In fact, if your self-published book attracts attention from readers, you’ll find it much easier to secure a traditional publishing deal. After all, you’ll no longer be an unknown, untested author at that point.
If you have a dream of being a published author, don’t let anything stand in your way.
The ability to self-publish online puts your dream within your grasp.
About the Author: Cheryl Baer is an author who writes about publishing and marketing.
