5 Money Saving Tips for Self-Publishing Without Sacrificing Quality
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Self-publishing has given authors more opportunities to take control of their work, but it also comes with an increased cost for the author. A self-published author has to pay for everything from editing to marketing, which can get expensive. This week I have 5 tips to help you save money without sacrificing quality.
1. Leverage Your Skills
Do you have experience with marketing or coding? Figuring out how you can apply the skills you already have will help you cut some costs. If you have a basic understanding of code, you can make your own website instead of hiring someone else to do it for you. Or if you have experience with layout or design, you can design the cover or interior of your book. There are also lots of free resources online you can use to develop skills that will help you publish and market your book.
2. Utilize Social Media
Creating an account on a platform like Twitter or Facebook is free, and a great way to build an audience. Pick one platform that your target audience uses, and engage with the community. YA readers are on Twitter, so engaging with other authors and readers there will get your name out and associated with your genre. Talk about the topics your readers care about. Right now, diversity in publishing is a big issue, especially in YA circles. Maybe you belong to a marginalized community or your manuscript deals with the topic—contribute to the conversations that are happening.
3. Use ebook ARCs
Sending ARCs to influencers can be a very useful tool for marketing your book. But it is expensive to send out physical copies of your book—you have to cover the costs of printing and shipping. Ebooks don't cost anything to print or send, so you can reach out to more influencers without spending any money.
4. Buy 10 ISBNs
This seems a bit backward, but if you plan on writing more books it's cheaper to buy in bulk. One ISBN is $125, but it is only $295 for 10—which is less than the price of 3. Also, every format of your book must have a different ISBN—ebook, paperback, and hardcover all need their own numbers.
5. Don't Pay for a Barcode
When you purchase an ISBN you have the option to add barcodes for $25 each, but you can create them for free here.