Many of us dream of becoming a published author. If you’re like most who dream of having their book published, you have likely spent hours and hours researching the different options that are out there. These may have included publishing your book through a traditional publisher, through a vanity publisher or even publishing the book yourself and, effectively, creating your own publishing company.

These options are quite different, and the process that one must go through in each option is different as well. Let’s explore each publishing option and its details, including why self-publishing is not “made-easy.”

• Traditional publishing is what most of us initially think of when wanting to become a published author. You may worry about the submission process or the length of time it may take to get your book on the shelves in bookstores. Traditional publishing is known to be a longer, more drawn-out process that is intricate, and requires that you stick to the publisher’s rules and regulations. The timeline from acceptance of your manuscript to seeing your book in print is approximately one and a half years. You will also likely give up most of the “control” that you have over the book itself.
• Then there is vanity publishing which most of us first consider as the “self-publishing” option. Though in reality the book isn’t really “all yours” when you choose to go this route. Vanity publishers typically own the ISBN number for your book, therefore the book is not registered in your own name. The process can still take quite some time and most of all it can be more expensive. There are also added problems with distribution that authors typically experience with vanity publishers.
• Finally, there is the option of self-publishing where you create your own publishing company and do everything under your own name. This option, though quite detailed, ensures that you own your book, its ISBN number and have all rights to the publication. This is a great route to take, but do not think for a minute that it is the “easy” route. Nonetheless, it is a route where you will be sure that your book is how you hoped for it to be and what you set out to create from day one.

There will be no surprises and there are many ways you can keep expenses down. However, you will have an exceptional amount of work in store for you, but the process will be enjoyable and most of all rewarding. Once you are finished, your book will be in print, have the ability to be on the shelves of bookstores and proudly displaying your name and publishing company. Not only will you be a published author, but a business owner as well. The hard work and much attention to all the details will definitely be worth your extra effort.

Another added bonus is that self-published authors keep 100% of the profits from book sales, as well as the fact that books can be designed, printed, and distributed in as little as two months. You are truly in control of the process from start to finish. So, therefore, if you’re willing to put in the hours and attention to detail that is involved in this route of self-publishing, it is definitely an option to consider.

You won’t have to wait on a publisher to call you, or pay the big bucks involved in vanity publishing. You can do it yourself and experience all the many benefits of self-publishing. As the old saying goes, “a little hard work never hurt anybody.” Why not find out for yourself just how it feels by choosing the do-it-yourself self-publishing option?

I often hear people say, “I cannot write.” or “I’m not a writer.” and I wonder to myself, “Have they tried?” The truth is, I believe everyone can write.  Who says it has to be well-written or even good?  Not at first at least, the important thing is to just start.  Writing can be freeing and stress releasing, a good practice for everyone, really.

There are almost 1,000 fans of writing over here on Facebook.  We believe, “The written word will impact someone’s life today.” This page gives you  writing prompts as well as inspiration for writing.  Above all, we encourage you to just begin writing and see where it can take you and what it can do for you.

So, go pick up a pen, or open up a word document on your computer, and just start writing.  You’ll be glad that you did!  And if you get stuck, come and join us on the Writing Fans page and get some inspiration.

So, you wrote your book and you thought that was the hard part, then you had to get it published and you thought for sure that was the hard part, but no, now you’re marketing your book and you’re convinced that this is the hardest part. That may seem like the case, but it doesn’t have to be. This article will give you an easy three-step marketing plan to market your book.

Marketing your book can really be as easy as one, two, three.

ONE:

Jump on the social media bandwagon. One of the first things that you will want to do is get listed on social media sites. Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter (hook up with me by clicking on any of the site links) are some of the top social media sites I recommend to start with. With the power of social media you can literally be your own promotional tool, allowing you to spread the word about your book quickly and easily to a larger audience than ever before. That is the power of social media.

TWO:

Build your web presence with a website or blog. In days past you might have purchased and distributed business cards when promoting a book or your business, however in today’s society a website or blog is your “digital” business card. It is a necessity no author should be without. A website or blog will be the place for you to showcase your book and you will use it to link to every other outlet that you utilize to spread the word about your book. For example, link to your website or blog from Facebook, Twitter and all other social media sites as well as from articles that you write or that others write about you and your book. You can also include your URL (website address) on any press releases that you send out as a place for them to learn more about you and your book.

THREE:

Hire a team. We aren’t all experts at everything. You are an expert on the topic you wrote your book about, but you are not likely an expert at everything. That is why you should hire a team, specifically a PR team. A PR team has the skills and knows what it takes to promote your book to create the biggest buzz and to sell the more books. After all, that’s what you want, right? So, why not get the professionals to help you make it happen!

I told you that it was going to be easier than you thought. Just work the steps: one, two, three, and watch where it takes your book! I’ll bet you go straight to the top!

Hey authors, are you on Facebook? No, well, why not? It isn’t just a playground for teens and college kids anymore. It is now also full of adults and businesses, and it is a great place to market your book. How, you wonder? The best way to promote your book on Facebook is with an author fan page. Yes, you will ask others to become your fan, but the truth is you probably have a few fans already, so why not use it to your advantage and get the word out there at the same time?

You can create your author fan page on Facebook in three easy steps.

Step 1: Sign In or Sign Up! If you’re already a member of Facebook with a personal profile, all you’ll have to do is sign in to your Facebook profile and begin the fan page process. If not you’ll have to first go to Facebook.com and sign up for your Facebook account. They make it super simple, so don’t be scared.

Step 2: Build it so they can come! Next, you’re simply going to build your fan page. Once signed in or signed up on Facebook, you will need to go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php to set up your page. You will want to be sure to include a professional picture of yourself and links to your official website, and of course info about your book.

Step 3: Promote, promote, promote! After you’ve built the page, you’ll want to put it to work for you. Promote it, share it, tell everyone about it. Share it on your blog, put a link to it in your sidebar, share it on message boards, on Twitter, and even offline. You can always put the URL to it on your business cards or any fliers or bookmarks you make to promote your book. And Facebook makes that easy with their “vanity” URLs. Once you have your fan page set up and 100 fans, go to http://www.facebook.com/username and create a custom URL that is easy to advertise. And while you’re at it, check out http://www.facebook.com/writingfan and become a fan of writing!

Studies show that it take a person eight times of seeing something before they take action on what they have seen. That means a person may have to see you and your book eight times before they’ll buy it. You want to help contribute to those eight times and a Facebook fan page can help. It will help give you yet another place to communicate with those interested in your topic, allowing you to send them updates and information. It will also drive traffic to your website or any other social media site you are on. So, what are you waiting for? Go sign up, build and promote! Ready! Set! Go!

Every author is a writer, but not every writer is an author. Kind of like the every vegetable is a fruit, but not every fruit is a vegetable thing. So what’s the difference? When does a writer become an author?

Simply put, a writer is, well, one who writes. Rocket science – I know! Writers’ work can vary from freelance magazine and newspaper articles to copywriting for websites and corporate marketing. A writer typically writes for a living, often freelance, or on the payroll of a company large enough to have its own copywriting or journalistic department.
 
An author, however, is a special breed of writer. Don’t get me wrong, all writers are special! But authors see a larger vision. They see the world through the pages of books. Nonfiction, self-help, novels, children’s, fairy tales-you name it; they see it in book form. Authors don’t usually think in terms of “articles.” In fact, many authors I have met with consider writing articles to be difficult and a totally new concept.

Authors often think so big, they fail to think small enough to overcome writer’s block, which could be why authors tend to be struck with that dreaded ailment so often. If you are an author, I encourage you to keep your large vision in mind (the book-the goal) but think small enough to get that next sentence down on the page. Even if you have to take baby steps once in a while, that’s better than no steps at all. Eventually those baby steps will turn into a flat out dead run.
 
And for all you writers (non-authors), don’t dismiss your talents to being too small to ever fit into book form. A short story can be the synopsis of a best-selling novel. A collection of articles can become the Table of Contents for a how-to book. If you dream of writing a book one day, start calling yourself an “author” instead of simply a “writer.” And if you don’t dream of writing a book, keep doing what you do best-helping to change the world, one word at a time.

In Part 1, we discussed the Cons of blogging. Now check out some of the Pros.

The Pros

Argument #1: I can exercise my writing skills.

Blogging every week, or even once a month, is an exercise in writing. Whether you’re writing an article or posting a few thoughts, it gets you into the process of writing. It improves your typing speed and accuracy, helps you become more creative, and regular blogging will help you create your writer’s “voice.”

Argument #2: It is free promotion for my book.

If you write an article and post it to your blog, you can include a link for readers to purchase your book. You can also include links to your website and other social media sites (such as Facebook), drawing more attention to your work. Through your blog’s comments section, you can post a piece you are working on and gain feedback from readers. It’s like having your own private critique room and editing staff. The main con to the free promotion is you need to keep your blog updated and the content of good quality. There are a lot of blogs that are not accurate or up-to-date. If you are promoting your book, keeping it updated will not only draw readers back, but show them you are active in your own promotion on an ongoing basis.

Argument #3: A blog will improve my website’s search engine ratings.

This statement is both true and false. A blog can be like a newsletter, but unlike a newsletter it can be indexed by search engines, thus helping your search engine ratings. If you embed your blog in your domain name (very technical process), it will directly affect how your website is rated by search engines. However, if your blog stands on its own (not a part of your domain name), your blog may get good ratings but it won’t affect your website very much. If you link to your website from your blog, or to an order page for your book from your blog, it doesn’t matter how search engines find your website. Your blog will point buyers to your book, and that is all that matters.

Argument #4: A blog will help my writing become popular.

Your blog will help you create relationships with your readers, engage new potential book buyers, and even be a connection for mainstream media. It does help improve how others see you and your book, if you use personal experiences to connect with your readers. By tying in your blog’s topics with current events, you stay connected and keep the content fresh. These are all things that will help you sell books.

So if you have decided to start a blog, or have one you haven’t visited in a while, how should you use it? First off, give your professional opinion on topics you write about. You are an expert in your field, so present yourself as such. Review other books and products related to your book’s topic and share information with your readership. Write about topics others are interested in, such as current events, finances, or writing in general. And most of all, don’t start a blog to make money. It is a promotional tool, but if money is your primary objective your writings will come across as superficial and you will lose readers and potential book buyers.