What do I need to watch out for when self publishing?

If you are considering self-publishing your book, then you should be aware of a couple pitfalls first time author’s fall victim to.

Buying Too Many Books Up-front
There is a famous cliché in the publishing industry that the first book that comes off the press is the most expensive. After all, the more you print, the less each book costs.

All too often beginning authors look at the “per book” charges on the quote and decide to print thousands of books before they have any idea how well their book will sell. That is too much risk!
The last thing you want is to end up with a garage full of books, and with today’s print on-demand technology there is no reason you should have to store, ship or invoice books, ever.

It is usually better to print a few dozen books - even if the initial cost per book ensures that you will not make money. Once you have gauged the demand for your book, you can always order more at lower unit cost. This lowers your initial risk, and lets you focus your money on the marketing side of your business.

Paying for Services You Don’t Need
The other major mistake many self-publishers make is paying for lots of services they do not need. The fact is that you can usually do most of the layout and design for your book yourself, or find a friend who is willing to help you for little or no cost.

It is true that people judge books by their covers, but this does not mean you need to spend thousands of dollars on an expensive designer. Many times, simpler is better, and a well-chosen picture with your book’s title across the top can be just as effective as an expensive design.

You know your market better than the designer does. You know what will appeal to them the most. Make your book look like the product they are searching for, and it will sell.

Other services you might consider doing yourself:

• Typeset your own book
• Market your own book
• Write your own Press Releases

Some self-publishing companies require that you work with their designers and editors. This makes sense because this is how most of them make their money.

WWAOW does not require you to use any particular designer or editor. In fact, Wwaow has a cover "library" and you can select your own cover at no additional cost. This allows you to enter the self-publishing market for a minimal expense. With Wwaow, five copies of your book total as little as $79.