There is no doubt that self-publishing your book with a self-publishing company that charges fees in exchange for quality, service, and customization will result in a better book, statistically speaking, than publishing with a DIY online platform. So, why do so many authors gravitate toward the latter? Cost.
But imagine if there were a way to self-publish your book with a high-quality self-publisher WITHOUT spending a dime of your own money . . .
Enter crowdfunding. Wikipedia describes crowdfunding as: “the practice of funding a project or venture by raising small amounts of money from a large number of people, typically via the Internet. In 2021, it is reported that over $17.2 billion was raised in North America alone by crowdfunding. This modern crowdfunding model is generally based on three types of actors: the project initiator who proposes the idea or project to be funded (that would be you, the author), individuals or groups who support the idea (friends, family, and even strangers who like your idea), and a moderating organization (the ‘platform’).
There are several popular platforms that you can use: Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and GoFundMe. As of this writing, exploring the “publishing” subcategory on these sites reveals thousands of active projects seeking funding. And that’s the rub. While it’s easy to post a new project on a crowdfunding site, it can be challenging to secure the necessary funding.
There are several ways to increase your chance for success though. One is to set your investment needs relatively low. Many of the publishing projects have investment requirements in the tens of thousands of dollars, while self-publishing packages with Outskirts Press, for instance, begin at just $999.
Another tactic is to market your crowdfunding campaign just as aggressively as you plan on marketing your book. Tell your friends and family before, during, and after the project posts on your crowdfunding site of choice. Market and promote your project heavily during its entire run. Communicate with backers before and after, and especially during your actual publication process. Keep them informed of your progress as your book nears publication. They’ve just invested money in your book—they’ll be excited to read it! Which is to say, you already have a built-in audience demanding your book. To say that puts you a leg (or two) up when the marketing phase kicks in would be an understatement.
Once you’ve secured your crowdfunding money, it’s time to self-publish your book! Again, Outskirts Press can help you. We look forward to seeing your book published in 2022.