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“Should I find a publisher or should I self-publish?” Emerging authors often anguish over this question. Caught up in the mass-market dream of traditional trade publishing, they’re blind to their own power to publish, accepting without question the demeaning “self publishing” label.
Wake up to your true power! A book publisher is limited to publishing books for the retail channel. But you can publish your expertise in many media types, in many channels—a book of course, but also audio CDs, articles, your blog, your web site, special reports, e-books, information products, speeches, workbooks, videos, home study systems, webinars, mentoring systems... the list goes on and on.
You have the power to build a business around your content, so recognize yourself as a business publisher. Then leverage the publishing forms and technologies that work for your business—that work for you.
- “How do I want to interact with people?” What kind of interactions do you enjoy? If you enjoy standing in front of a classroom, maybe your first product is a training workbook. If you enjoy coaching one-on-one, maybe it’s a series of audios with a workbook.
- “What’s the easiest way for me to reach people now?” If you work face-to-face with local clients, you probably want a physical product. If you work with people nationwide, you probably want a product they can download from your web site.
- “What are my strengths?” If you’re a great writer, by all means create books, e-books, blogs and reports. If you’re an ace at thinking on your feet, audio interviews will show off your quick wit. If you’re a spellbinding storyteller or speaker, video will convey your dynamic physical presence.
Once you’ve created the products, you have to market them.
Emerging authors often balk at the idea of becoming business builders. “I want a publisher to do the marketing.” But the truth is, publishers don’t do enough marketing to make you successful. In fact, they prefer to publish the work of those who’ve already proven they can market themselves!
Marketing is a skill you can learn. It opens the door to true financial freedom, where you hold your destiny in your own hands. With so many inexpensive and cost-effective ways to reach out over the Internet to those hungry for your content, creating a business around your expertise is easier than ever before.
Don’t wait for a publisher to magically put their confidence in you. Be confident in yourself, and put your power to publish to work creating the business and life of your dreams.
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