Self-publishing is not new, it’s been around a long time but it’s only just started to look good! Initially it was lame. The books often looked more like a school project and the binding and artwork was poor. But all that is in the distant past. Unfortunately some of the stigma attached to self-publishing remains today, especially if you are talking to mainstream publishers!

Advanatges:

• Total control - The obvious advantage of self-publishing is that you retain full control. If you are undaunted by the task ahead, self-publishing can offer a unique opportunity for you to create exactly the book you want without outside interference.
  
  
• Greater revenue - Self-publishing removes those “middle men” and allows you to negotiate directly with those actually making the book. By speaking directly to printers, designers and editors etc you can manage the unit cost yourself. Providing you can effectively sell the books you are therefore in a better position to keep more of the revenue
  
  
• Future potential - Once you have scaled the steep learning curve, self-publishing does offer a significant revenue stream if you feel you have half a dozen books in you and have a large natural market.

Disadvantages:

• Total control! - This is either the biggest advantage or the biggest disadvantage depending on your perspective. Publishing is not a simple three-step process – each stage of writing, publishing and selling has a great deal to it.
  
  
• Significant up-front costs - Because you are responsible for everything, you have to pay for everything. You have book preparation costs and a minimum print run to pay for. And then you’ve still got to sell them!
  
  
• Sales – You have to distribute and sell your own book and that’s not always that easy. Unless you know what you’re doing or have a large database or speak at regular events, you risk ending up with a garage full of books!

Self-publishing Might Suit You If:

• You have plenty of cash.
• You have plenty of time.
• You see a long-term value and use in the knowledge and expertise you could gain from self-publishing.
• You have plans for several books and a guaranteed way of selling at least enough to make it viable.
• Your business is content rich and in-house publication could be a lucrative sideline.

Basically self-publishing is the control freak’s answer to publishing. It’s a serious amount of work for one person to undertake and if you are already running a successful business it’s not really viable. Especially when you consider that your intention is probably not to sell millions of copies (although that would be nice) but rather to create business development opportunities. Self-publishing, in this context, is therefore probably not the best option. The only exception to that is if you plan to launch a speaking career, or if you are already an established speaker in need of books and product to sell to a thriving and motivated audience. Otherwise, there is a far better option.