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7 Big Advantages of Self-Publishing

7 Big Advantages Of Self-Publishing

Maybe you’ve been rejected by so many literary agents that you can’t remember how many query letters you’ve sent out. Maybe you can’t get a publisher to give you a response about your manuscript. Thanks to modern self-publishing technologies and changing attitudes about choosing this method of bringing a book to the market, you no longer have to go through the pain of rejection after rejection.

Several advantages make self-publishing a viable option for many authors today. Here are a few reasons why it might be the right choice for you today.

7 Big Advantages of Self-Publishing Click To TweetI often hear this statement from the many thought leaders I’ve worked with. You don’t have to worry about proposed character changes or plot twists that someone else might want to put in. You get to be in charge of your story’s final message and structure. For those with a specific creative vision that they want to be followed, self-publishing is sometimes the only option to allow it.

#2. The costs of self-publishing are lower than ever before.

With current print-on-demand technologies, getting a printed book out on the market today for less than $1,000 is possible. This includes graphic design needs for the cover, interior designs, formatting, and all of the other end-stage needs that must happen to make a printed book a reality. Then you can choose to pay for your own books to sell, have them distributed for sale, or create your own e-commerce site to sell books.

#3. Self-published authors make more $$ per sale.

If you go through a traditional publishing house, you’ll be earning royalties based on the book’s price. Most author royalties hover around 10-15%. That means a book selling for $14.99 could earn you $1.49. In self-publishing, you pay for the cost of printing that book when you buy it for sale. If you pay $4.99, then you make a $10 profit. That’s a big difference. It also means you only need to sell a small number of books to make up your setup costs. On Kindle Direct Publishing, you can earn up to 70% royalties and not even have setup fees.

#4. You control the direction of marketing.

If you want to do book signings with your self-published books to promote it, you can do it. You can combine both skills into a gallery show if you’re a photographer and a writer. You can walk door to door selling your books if you wish. Whatever your comfort zone happens to be, then you can make your marketing happen. If you wish, you can hire a marketing firm to do this for you while maintaining control over the directions you’d like to pursue. Traditional publishers may not allow that to happen.

#5. There’s a certain pride that comes from self-publishing.

Publishing a book in any way is a prideful moment for an author. No matter how that book comes to market, it’s a great feeling to see that your book is available for sale. When you self-publish that book, greater pride comes because you know that you did everything to make that happen. You found the editors. You approved the final graphic design. You wrote a magical manuscript. It’s a feeling that you’ll want to repeat once it happens because nothing else in this world is like it.

#6. There could be tax advantages.

If you’re a self-published author, then you may be able to classify your venture as a sole proprietorship. This means you could potentially deduct the setup, printing, and marketing costs as a business expense on your taxes. If you keep a large inventory of your books, this may also affect your taxable income. For some writers, there could be some tremendous tax advantages here, but you’ll need to consult with your tax advisor or research on your own how these efforts may affect your finances at the end of the year.

#7. You establish an author bibliography.

This helps to establish your credentials as a writer. It also promotes your previous works to readers who are interested in a story you’ve written. Think of it as a resume that proves your expertise as an author.

What are the advantages of self-publishing? Many happen which aren’t listed here. It can be difficult to walk if you want to bring your manuscript to the market, but it can also be very rewarding. Consider these advantages today to see if it could be the right decision for you.

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