E-book publishing is a process, just like so many other things we do or go through in life. It’s a process that has a start and a finish. It’s a process that has stages. So to ensure a smooth process, it’s always important to be organised and know the tasks at hand. An effective plan has to be put in place. And to reduce errors and inconsistencies, a checklist is a tool that would come in handy.
The main requirements for publishing your e-book
To successfully publish your e-book, the following are some of the most important questions you can ask yourself while writing your checklist:
1: Do I have a strong book to write?
We have countless books on the market today, and so there’s a lot of competition. So what will make yours stand out, or side by side with the bestsellers? If your answer is “Content,” you are right. Your content matters, and it must be either of the following: impactful, engaging, inspirational, thought provoking, exciting, educational, informational, entertaining, and an answer or solution to what people are currently facing. On top of that, your unique story and perspective should be the cherry on the cake.
2: What’s my budget?
Unless you have your own team of skilled, dedicated and committed people, each playing a specific role as you work together towards the goal of publishing your e-book, you need a budget to cover the costs of editing, e-book formatting and conversion, and graphic design for your cover art. There are a number of companies that offer these services, and prices vary. W2K (Word-2-Kindle) is among them, and offers the best quality at the most affordable prices.
3: Do I have an Amazon KDP account?
It’s not the only one, but Amazon is easily the biggest and most popular player in the e-book publishing game. In order to publish your e-book, you need to open a KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) account, on which you are able to upload your book and fill in the necessary details such as book title, author name, genre, and even set the price of your book. And, it’s all for free.
4: What’s my marketing plan?
The work does not stop when your e-book is finally on the online market. Actually, that’s when the work that will determine your sales comes in. Just like any other product or service, putting the word out and spreading it to as many people as possible, making them notice your e-book and convincing them to buy it is of utmost importance. Luckily, with social media, you can spend little to no money to advertise and reach millions. However, you should have a marketing plan and strategy.
5: Do I have a reliable team behind me?
Last but not least, you don’t need to be a lone wolf on the journey to publishing your e-book. Two heads are better than one, so having a team behind you that can help you with anything from building hype around your book to reviewing it, and even financial and moral support would definitely be an added advantage to you. We all need help in one way or another.
E-book publishing can be stressful, and with other responsibilities to take care of in life, a checklist is necessary, without a doubt. With your thoughts and plans already spilled onto it and organised, it’s just what you’d need to keep you grounded, on your path, accountable, updated, and as a starting point from where you might have left off. So, get you a checklist.
