The Authorpreneur: 3 Paths to a Lifetime of Success

I would like to share an article of how to be successful authorpreneur. Many of people would like to write their own book however mostly stop selling after bought by their family and friends. The article below share on how to make more than that:

1. Traditional publisher.

Many people desire a traditional publisher because of their international distribution in physical bookstores. It can be even more important if your intent is to target an American or German audience. Ninety-two percent of American university students and 95 percent of German students prefer print books over ebooks, as discovered in a recent international study.

This study is quite encouraging if your plan is to get your book in all the big box stores, airports, and major bookstores. Although, it is worth noting that traditional publishers will not do a lot of marketing for your book. However, their network of connections can open up an abundant amount of opportunities for you. With those connections, you can partner with some cool organizations like Habitat for Humanity, Amtrak and JetBlue.

It is these partnerships that can help you sell more books and attract potential clients.

2. Independent publisher.

More people are learning that they can make more money with their books elsewhere. Some aspiring and struggling authors do not care about the fame, but rather on making a sustainable living as an author.

Related: Best-Selling Author Tim Ferriss Doles Out Business Advice

Independent publishers offer an advantage -- better terms. They do not offer the typical terms that you will get from a traditional publisher (10 percent royalty for print books and 25 percent royalty for ebooks and audiobooks). Independent publishers also offer the convenience of allowing you to keep the rights to your book. Often, with a traditional publisher, you commit to an agreement for a duration of five to seven years.

The only potential disadvantage that may dissuade authors is the book advance. Some independent publishers offer a small book advance, usually between $2,000 to $5,000. However, some others will not offer any book advance, especially if they are a small press or new publisher. As an indie author, you will make more money from your books, but you will not have the privilege of leveraging a major publisher’s connections. While your indie publisher may have a network of connections, it is likely that it will not be enough for you to be dependent on them. Moreover, you will have more success working with indie bookstores than the commercial counterparts like Barnes & Noble.

You should also consider partnering with local businesses and nonprofit organizations. It can be harder to form alliances with the national ones if they do not know your brand. However, local businesses and nonprofits are significantly easier because they are more likely to work with local residents. After all, you and they share a common objective, which is making a difference in your community. These types of partnerships can open up opportunities to sell more books and attract potential clients.

3. Self-publisher.

Self-publishing is without a doubt the easiest way to publish a book. Before there was the book platforms (like Amazon, Kobo, Nook and iBooks and aggregators (like Smashwords, Draft2Digital and Pronoun), the majority of people were limited to publishing with Author House, Xlibris or iUniverse.

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