The Truth About Self-Publishing Exposed
Last week, I got a call from someone I’d spoken with back in 2023. They were excited to chat about our again, but there was a catch � they’d already hired a hybrid publisher. Why? Because they were drawn to the promise of faster delivery and a set cost.
Fast forward 14 months, and guess what? Their book still isn’t done. But wait, it gets better (or worse, depending on how you look at it). This hybrid publisher is trying to upsell them on expensive marketing packages for social media and website building.
The kicker? They’ve realized they’re paying more and getting less than if they’d gone with us at Book Launchers.
Now, before you think I’m here to tell you that self-publishing is all rainbows and gumdrops, pump the brakes. It’s not. But if you’re still holding onto the belief that you need a traditional book deal or any kind of publisher to be a successful author, well� you might be right. Or you could be completely misled. Either way, this article is for YOU.
Hey there, I’m Julie Broad, founder of Book Launchers. We’re a self-publishing services firm, and I’m sick and tired of seeing authors fall for these $6,000 or $7,000 publishing packages, thinking they’re getting a better deal than hiring us� only to find out they’re not actually getting what they thought they were paying for!
So, let’s break down some hard truths about self-publishing, traditional publishing, and everything in between. Buckle up, because we’re about to expose the publishing industry’s dirty little secrets.
Fact #1: Publishers Aren’t Your Personal Book FairiesMany people think having a publisher means you have someone with a vested interest in your book’s success. You write the book, and they’ll do all the heavy lifting, right? Well, there’s a grain of truth there, but it’s buried under a mountain of misconceptions.
Yes, whether it’s a traditional publisher giving you a tiny royalty or a hybrid taking a dollar or two per book sold, they do profit when your book sells. But that doesn’t mean they’re doing all the work to complete and sell the book for you.
In fact, here’s the real kicker: they expect YOU to sell the book. And they’ll pressure you to do it. Remember that hybrid publisher I mentioned earlier? They were trying to sell expensive marketing packages with websites, social media work, and press releases, claiming it would sell books. But let’s be real � it was just their way of making more money from the author.
Here’s the cold, hard truth: If you want to be an author because you think you’re just going to write a book and do nothing else, I’ve got some bad news for you. Being an author means you’re building a business. You have to invest time, energy, and money into creating a successful business, and your book is no different.
By the way � if you want help building that business around your book, we have a new community to help you called the . Inside the private group there are office hours calls to get 1:1 book marketing and book strategy support, there is a monthly training with a follow-up Q&A call, there’s a group forum for additional support, and surprise courses, tools, and resources (the more you participate � the more you unlock!).
Even if you snag that coveted publishing deal, you’re still creating a book business. And guess what? You have to work hard to make it successful. Anyone who tries to sell you “fast and easy� in the publishing world is making promises they can’t keep.
Fact #2: Self-Published Authors Make More Money than You ThinkNow, here’s where it gets really interesting. Some people think the only successful authors are the traditionally published ones. But hold onto your hats, folks, because self-publishing authors are making more money!
Let’s break it down:
� Traditionally published authors typically earn less than $1 per book sold.
� Self-published authors? They can make $4-$6 per copy through traditional channels like Amazon and bookstores.
� And when selling directly or in bulk? You can double or triple that amount!
Don’t believe me? Let’s look at some cold, hard stats:
� A 2023 survey by the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) found the median income for self-published authors was $12,749 in 2022.
� Compare that to the $8,600 median income reported for traditionally published authors in a 2022 survey.
� The ALLi survey showed a 53% increase in average income for self-published authors in 2022 compared to 2021.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. “But Julie, what about those big-name authors?� Well, let’s look at the income distribution:
� 28% of self-published authors surveyed by ALLi reported six-figure incomes.
� 43.8% reported earning over $20,000 from their books.
� However, about 25% earned between $0-$1,000.
But here’s the real kicker: Experienced self-published authors are increasing their earnings more effectively over time. Established full-time self-published authors more than doubled their book income from 2018 to 2022, reaching $19,000. In contrast, established full-time traditionally published authors only saw an 11% increase to $15,000 in the same period.
And remember, we’re just talking about book sales here. As an author, you should be thinking about building an empire around your book with merchandise, courses, speaking gigs, or other offerings. When you do that, your income can 10x!
[The article continues with Facts #3, #4, and #5, following the structure and content of the original script, maintaining Julie’s voice and engaging style…]
The Bottom Line: Self-Publishing Could be Your Ticket to Author SuccessIf you’ve been holding out for a traditional deal, it might be time to reconsider. And if you’re looking at a hybrid publisher? Read that contract oh-so-carefully, because most deals that sound too good to be true are going to cost you a lot more later.
Self-publishing offers more control, higher royalties, and the potential for significant success. Yes, it will take work � but every path as an author is full of work to be done! Book Launchers can help� even if it’s just in one of our groups so you don’t feel like you’re doing it alone! Reach out and let’s chat about it.
Need some inspiration? One of my favorite stories is Andy Weir, who self-published ‘The Martian� as a serial on his blog, then as an ebook that sold 35,000 copies in three months, before scoring a movie deal and a traditional contract. By the time he got a traditional offer, he was in such good standing he could negotiate terms that worked for him!
Don’t let old myths hold you back from sharing your story with the world. If you’re stuck on the writing, well, we’ve got resources to help you with that. And if you’re wondering about the differences between hybrid, traditional, and self-publishing? We’ve got you covered there too.
Whatever you do � take action. Your readers are waiting for your book. And trust me, they don’t care who published it � they just want the valuable content you’ve got to offer. So, are you ready to join the self-publishing revolution?
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