Self-published authors are now turning a glimpse of different publishing and marketing services provided by different publishers around the world. For some, self-publishing doesn’t work on their ways because they lack to strike it toughly. Yet, self-publishing has proven to be strategically smart decision for most authors nowadays, especially with those who are eagerly responding to its every vital plunge.
Self-publishing companies on competition
The evolution of self-published authors gives havoc among publishers and book agents trying to find ways so as to respond to their every book publishing and marketing need. Publishing companies are on high competition of offering fast and inexpensive ways to get authors’ books off their computer screens into their readers’ hands.
Through effective publishing and marketing tools, huge publishing companies like Bookwhirl, Outskirts press, lulu.com, and Author Solutions (ASI) have always topped on self-published authors’ list of which they can choose which one to partner with in the process.
Similar book services differ in some angles
While all of these publishing companies have offered authors almost the same publishing and marketing services, the latter can still be comparable in some stances.
Prior to self-publishing a book, an author can have all the options of furnishing it from text editing to designs from all these companies offering such services. Professional copyediting and design services are offered by all publishers for a set price.
Copyediting services
Outskirts Press offers high-quality copyediting services for books by which price depends on manuscripts’ length. While the company requires a payment deposit that varies the length of the manuscript, the completion of the service usually takes four weeks in general. Under the Ala Carte Services of BookWhirl is the publisher’s copyediting service which sets specific price range for specific length of words starting at $0.0069 for 120,001 words, up to $0.0089 for 10,000-60,000 words.
Author Solutions (ASI) on the other hand, charges $0.022 per word on its copyediting service and requires a 5,000-word minimum to begin with two-three weeks timeframe. Like ASI, Lulu.com charges $0.023 per word and requires the same minimum number of words before the service can be started.
Usually, the game for the said service in all these companies revolves around “per length of word” approach. Now, let’s proceed how these companies differ in the real world of publishing.
Publishing services
Publishing packages make a distinction with their features from one publisher to another. Bookwhirl has two general classifications of its publishing packages: Black & White and the Full Color; by which each has sub categories. There is specific publishing package that suits every book theme such as Dreamer, Adventurer, Sensation, and more. Publishing package service for the company starts at $699. Meanwhile, Outskirts Press has “one-click” classifications for their publishing packages: One-click publishing for fiction, for coaches and speakers, and for children’s books. Whatever the price set for each publishing package; the publisher requires $35 for down payment before they can start using the service.
Book publishing services of Author Solutions Inc. have been varied through its partnership with other different publishers like Iuniverse, Trafford, and Xlibris. With Iuniverse for instance, book publishing packages’ rates start at $899 with the basic book publishing features including but are not limited to book stubs, copyright registration and digital formatting. The company’s Book Launch Premier Pro package, which costs $ 4,449, has the most comprehensive features like book signing kit, and promotional materials.
Concurrently, Lulu has set its publishing packages separately for e-books, and photo books. The publisher has classic/classic color, debut/inspired color, and blitz/artful color publishing packages by which price rates start at $999. Through the $3,999-artful publishing package, features included on top of the basics are five paperback copies and a free hardcover copy for free, author website, eligibility for Lulu social promotion, and more promotional materials.
Book marketing services
Outskirts Press has four main book marketing packages: Book Blast, Global Book Tour, Promotional Materials, and the Elite e-book Package. While the company assures 25% on five popular marketing services for book blast, it also offers one discounted book for four books set for global events. The publisher’s 2000 promotional items include bookmarks and postcards while for the elite package, books can be featured at Amazon kindle, B&N Nook, and Apple iPad ebook editions with 25% discount on the set $829 set amount for the service.
On the other hand, book marketing services of Bookwhirl includes Newswire service, Web Design, Email Advertisement Campaign, and Specialty Marketing. The Newswire Service features a 400-word press release article that will be sent to over 17,500 media outlets all over United States. Moreover, Web Design service is initiated in a way to be SEO friendly while authors can freely write any articles and stories to its blog page included on the design.
While publisher’s EAC program is considered to be a distinctive technique to reach a massive audience through electronic mail ads, Bookwhirl’s Specialty Marketing service includes the features like Book Exhibit Service, Radio Interview report, book trailer and more.
Like BookWhirl.com, ASI has similar features in its book marketing campaigns such as press releases, traditional publicists, and review services under its Publicity package. The publisher has also other marketing service packages such as Online, Multimedia, and Events. Social Media Setup and web design services are under their online package; whereas the publisher’s Multimedia package features its marketing kits, print advertising, and author videos and book trailers. ASI also caters book fairs and book signings though its Events package.
Lastly, Lulu publishing categorizes its book marketing services into main packages such as Publicity service, Book fairs, and Promotional services. The publisher’s Publicity Service package includes features such as newsmaker publicity campaign, online newsmaker publicity campaign, video newsmaker, and social publicist. Under the publisher’s Book Fairs package, books have the chance to be featured in book exhibits whether regional, national, or international events. In addition, its Promotional Services package let authors benefit the service’ features including the creation of an author’s website, business cards, and bookselling promotional materials.
Book and self mastery
No matter what service and which publisher has the various range of services, authors will always have the last say which company to choose and what service that best fits their books. Publishers and publishing companies might have the same range of services but they always differ in prices and online connections which always matter to authors in weighing and making their best preference. More importantly, authors weigh these services from different publishers based on their specific knowledge about themselves as authors and knowledge on what their books are all about.
