Choosing which route is potentially only a question for roughly 2% of authors.

Many famous authors started as self-publishers, were then noticed and then achieved a publishing deal.

See our Blog article ­ https://www.interprosolutions.co.uk/self-publishing-success-stories

Authors such as:- Margaret Attwood, EL James, Robert Kiyosaki, Lisa Genova, Wayne Dyer, Irma S. Rombauer, Andy Weir, Beatrix Potter, Mark Twain, Michael J. Sullivan all self-published FIRST!

• For 98% of authors, the answer is very clear: self-publishing is the right choice.
• For the other 2% of authors, the answer is very clear in the other direction: traditional publishing is the better choice.

This article is for the 98% of authors who should clearly go one way or the other, and it is designed to help you easily and quickly understand which direction is best for you.

The Key Differences Between Self-Publishing and Traditional Publishing?

These are the key differences:

• The author owns the rights and royalties, the book is self-published.
• The Publishing company owns the rights and royalties, when the book is traditionally published.

Who Should Traditionally Publish?

First of all, it’s VERY hard to get a publishing deal through traditional publishers.

Only about 1% of submitted manuscripts are accepted.

But if you can get an offer, and an advance from the publisher, you should (almost certainly) accept it.

These are the types of people who can get these deals:

• A-List Actors
• Celebrities
• Major CEOs
• Politicians
• Professional Writers (novelists, etc.) with a history of sales success
• Those with established connections in the publishing industry
• Well known Sportspeople

Who Should Self-Publish?

Almost everyone else:

• Anyone who just wants to write their book
• Business owners
• Business people
• C-level executives
• Coaches
• Consultants
• Doctors
• Entrepreneurs
• Financial planners
• First-time Authors
• Lawyers

Why should you self-publish?

Because without a large advance from a major publisher, the advantages of self-publishing greatly outweigh the disadvantages.

Self-Publishing Advantages & Disadvantages?

Advantages

• Self-published authors have full ownership of their rights and royalties
• Completely customizable in all aspects
• Fast to market (6 months or less)
• Complete control of marketing
• Complete creative control
• Complete freedom, no gatekeepers telling you what you can and cannot do
• Self-published books have a significantly higher profit potential for you!
• Can do niche market books, especially business (which are a huge advantage for most authors).
  

Disadvantages

• You must make sure the book is good in all aspects. If it’s unprofessional in any way (writing, grammar, design, cover, marketing, etc.), it will give a poor impression.
• It’s time-consuming to learn and manage the process yourself.
• If you hire excellent professionals to help you, there are costs involved, but worth the effort
• There’s either a lot of work, or a lot of money to pay someone, to get it right. The right advice can save you money.
  

Traditional Publishing Advantages & Disadvantages?

Advantages

• Monetary advance prior to publishing (no up-front cost), but not always.
• Publisher invests the money to publish the book (and they usually can ensure professionalism)
• Highest potential for traditional media coverage
• Highest chance of print distribution in bookstores
• Sends signal of validation (to some people)
  

Disadvantages

• It’s nearly impossible to get a deal (less than 1 percent of proposals are accepted)
• Huge time investment (the traditional publishing process is overly complex)
• Very slow to market (2 years +)
• No ownership of your manuscript rights
• No marketing control
• No creative control
• Limited financial upside
• Won’t do niche books
  

Self-Publishing vs Traditional How to Decide?

What is important to you?

• Control
• Creativity
• Freedom
• Long Term Wealth
• Make An Impression
• Status
• Validation
  
  

  Traditional Publishing

NO

NO

NO

NO

NO

YES
YES

Self-Publishing

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

NO
NO

Self-Publishing is probably the right answer most of the time

With many things in life, taking out exceptions, it becomes very clear and easy to decide on the right direction.

• 98% of authors should clearly self-publish.
• 1-2% of authors should traditionally publish.

The other 2% should take a lot of time and effort considering all the available options.

I hope this helps. If not, email me and I’ll see what I can do to assist.