|
Abstract
& This book describes in a practical and straightforward
manner, techniques and processes that anyone with modest PC skills can employ to
write, print, manufacture and publish their own books. If you use a PC you
probably have most of the tools you need already – word processing, printer,
etc. What applications you might lack can easily be obtained and additional
skills you may need, can be learned with relative ease. This is an exciting time
for budding authors and publishers as high quality books can easily be created
at home or in the office for effective local, national or internationally
marketing – all for remarkably low cost.
For those who
have the imagination, drive and determination to create a successful publishing
enterprise, independent publishing can be immensely satisfying and financially
rewarding – provided your books are of good quality and can be marketed
efficiently. In addition to describing traditional marketing methods, details
are provided to exploit the Internet: how to create a website to provide
universal access to your published material and how to implement effective sales
and distribution methods. Small publishers now have access to the same eCommerce
methods only recently devised and adopted by major publishers and booksellers
and so automated sales and ordering is well within grasp.
It has never been
so easy to produce, market and sell publications from your PC. We describe as
clearly and as jargon-free as possible, practical, tried and tested methods for
publishing your own work in both conventional and electronic book formats. The
following are some of the subjects covered:
&
Motivation: Why do you want to write and
publish a book?
&
Basic equipment you will need: PC, printers,
scanners, binding machines, etc.
&
What PC applications you will need: Word
Processing, Desktop Publishing & Graphics.
&
How to organise your writing and plan your
publishing project.
&
Understanding your market and maximising the
appeal of your book.
&
Recommended book styles, formats, font types
for your type of book.
&
Components of a book: formal sections,
creating a Table of Contents and Index.
&
Publishing requisites: Registration, legal
requirements, copyrighting, obtaining ISBNs.
&
Printing options: Lasers, copiers, Inkjets,
digital duplicators, toner versus ink methods.
&
Production costs: price comparisons, options
to suit your pocket and style of book.
&
Binding & finishing methods: DIY perfect
binding and the many alternatives.
&
Equipment: optional requirements, how and
where to find affordable machinery.
&
Using outside resources: printing, cover
production, finishing, distribution & sales.
&
Minimising costs: detailed costings for
various production and distribution scenarios.
&
Alternative production and distribution:
pros & cons of Print-On-Demand (POD) services.
&
Marketing strategies: direct sales versus
sales through bookshops and intermediaries.
&
Advertising and promoting your books by
traditional methods and using the Internet.
&
The Internet: Creating & promoting a
website, the importance keywords & search engines.
&
Setting up eCommerce, automating orders &
sales, alternative ‘on-line’ shops.
&
Alternative sources of incomes: sales of ebooks
&
Business fundamentals: orders, sales,
invoices & dealing with your customers.
|
