Learn our eight key principles of self-publishing. Then use them to create your successful authorship business.
1. Believe that you have something of value to share
If you have little or no confidence in what you are writing and publishing, it will show.
So make sure you take the time to develop confidence in your chosen area of expertise.
Self-assurance comes through experience, skill development and practice in your industry.
Over time, you build your credibility as an expert. Once you have this, you have certainty of the value you are sharing with others.
2. Find a community who is open to you sharing with them
This very simple principle is the one most often overlooked by self-publishers.
Not everyone is your prospective reader. Therefore do not attempt to pitch to a disinterested audience.
In short, this key principle of self-publishing is also a key principle of selling, training, education, entertainment or wherever storytelling is important.
3. Know and understand what it is the community wants or needs
So, you’ve found a community that is open to the value you have to offer. Now, find out what they need or want most at this point in time.
Most importantly, don’t waste time making assumptions, mind-reading or second guessing.
Instead, get involved. Ask questions. Observe conversations. Be curious.
In short, uncover the main problems and issues. Then figure out all the ways you have to solve them.
4. Decide on how you will deliver your message
Traditionally, to publish means to select, prepare, produce, and distribute printed matter (and in a commercial sense, sell it).
However, in modern times, I believe that ‘to publish’ is to make public any self-created work in digital or print format. Additionally, this extends to audio and video media as well as written.
Therefore, treat anything you post within the public arena online (including social networks) as being published.
So, decide the best way to package and deliver your message.
Will it be a free article that promotes your creativity, skills and expertise?
Or perhaps a paid for report, book, or training course that instructs or educates your audience?
In short, base your delivery decision on your projected ROI (Return On Investment). Note: your ROI is not always financial.
Keep reading for more key principles of self-publishing
5. Take the time to outline or brainstorm your message
Once you have decided on the end format, you can begin to sit down and write.
But before you do, take time to outline or brainstorm your work.
Make sure that you know what your message is and what evidence supports it. Also what call to action you want your audience to take.
When you have this framework, it makes it easy to write the first draft.
6. Also take the time to ensure the message is clear and understandable
A good piece of content will have been revised several times before being published.
In other words, it will be rewritten and edited until the message is clear, simple and understandable.
Doing this ensures that you do not bore your reader with repetition and tautology.
Most importantly, do this for all content, regardless of length, or whether it is educational, informative or entertaining.
Oh, and make sure you do all this before you upload it and publish it to your blog, social media, etc.
And in case we haven’t made it clear, never ever ever write, edit and proofread your work in a live environment!
7. Deliver your message professionally and credibly
Congratulations! By now you have written a fantastic piece of content.
However, you don’t want to put your hard work at risk by failing to present it professionally.
Therefore, take a bit more time to turn it into a quality product.
Surely we don’t need to remind you. But if you intend to sell it, polish to to a high standard so it’s worth the price you are asking for it.
8. Get feedback on how the message is received
Feedback comes in many forms.
The best kind of feedback is the kind that is invited.
So ask your appreciative test audience what they think about your published work.
Also ask them how you can improve on it.
Additionally, look for secondary feedback, which comes in the form of sales, comments, likes, and shares.
As a member of KESWiN Academy, you’re guaranteed to get quality feedback on your work.
To learn more about how to join the Academy, visit our home page.
About the Author
Deb Donnell
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