Member Article

Consider the costs of self-publishing

The cost of self publishing varies dramatically. Some people choose to do everything themselves spending nothing, others spend thousands paying for printing, marketing and other services.

The best option is to try and find a balance between a few things you can do on your own and a few things you may need to pay a little bit for.

Here are 3 examples of self publishing budgets to give you some ideas.

1. The under $500 option

• Developmental edit – Free (ask your friends)
• Copy editing – around $300 (see if a college student could do this)
• Cover design – around $30 (buy cover art and do it yourself)
• Book formatting and layout – Free
• Author photo – Free (use an existing pic)
• Marketing – Free (rely on social media and your social circle)
• Website – Free (use Wordpress)

2. Big Budget push for $14,000+

• Developmental edit - $3,000
• Copy editing - $1,500
• Cover design - $800
• Formatting & layout - $1,500
• Author photo - $400
• Online advertising - $1,000
• Marketing consultant/PR - $2,000
• Marketing collateral - $1,000
• Events/launch party - $1,000
• Website - $2,000

For most people the big budget option is ridiculously out of reach; but also you should factor in that the under $500 option may not be at all successful in reaching your potential audience.

It’s important to make sure your book and your image as an author are presented well. Cutting all the corners might have a negative effect on your success. So how about a budget somewhere in the middle?

3. Spending wisely at around $4,000

• Developmental edit - $1,000
• Copy editing - $800
• Cover design - $300
• Book formatting & layout - $300
• Author photo - $100
• Marketing total - $1,000
• Website - $100 (custom wordpress)

Now with a crowd-funded push you can take the edge of that investment, encourage support, and drive essential early interest in your book, which makes all the effort, late nights, drafts and re-drafts worthwhile.

Want to cover some or all of the costs of self publishing by securing ebook pre-orders? Sign up now at http://pasturesmoo.com. It’s free!

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Pastures Moo .