If there’s anything that writers share in common, it’s the confusion on deciding which self-publishing companies in New York, USA would be best for their printed works. Well, aside from the shared love for coffee, of course.
To help you make up your mind, let’s first make it clear what do we mean by “self-publishing companies” in New York? What does it take to have your book printed in the whole USA?
Before looking for the best company to help you self-publish your work, it’s a lot helpful to fully know what that means.
In definition, “to publish” means to “bring printed works before the public, usually for sale.” (Merriam-Webster). So, yes, to self-publish means to sell it to the public. Now, people who say that you can’t make a money out of writing probably have never heard of self-publishing, or even publishing in general.
Now let’s dig deeper by breaking the words into two. The “self” word actually comes in when the writer sends the whole content to the company while “publishing” refers to making a physical copy of the content. Some companies even offer marketing services for self-published authors!
Best Self-Publishing Companies?
Sure, it’s difficult to say which is the best because either one or both of companies in New York, USA claims to be the “best.” Now, it’s up to you to find out. How do you exactly know? Well, this is what this blog is for!
Alright, if you’re in such a hurry, here are some quick tips to know which works the best for you:
- Do they offer prices that match your budget? If you don’t have a budget, allocate one and start from there. You’ll be able to filter your search by having an estimate budget plan.
- What are the offered services? Do they just print books? Is there a post-printing service? How about marketing services?
- Do they have a portfolio to show? Always check one on their website, and see if their style suits your preferences.
Options for Self-Publishing?
If you’re at the point of still being confused whether or not to go for self-publishing companies in New York, USA, then you may as well know your options.
Basically, there are three options:
- Do it all yourself.
Pro: You have the total freedom over this self-publishing project! You can retain both editorial and design control, and best part is you have 100% of your royalties.
Con: Time-consuming. Of course, not all things can be done on your own. Not to mention that this also often come with substandard results. It can also cost you a lot in the long run, especially in sales loss.
- Contract with a publishing services company, limited to only printing and book design.
Pro: You still get to control in terms of editorial and design, but this time you get better results with some assistance from the professionals. You still get to keep 100% of your royalties.
Con: Higher upfront costs. Also, be careful of self-publishing companies in New York, USA that offer cheaper services but asks for a large portion of your royalties.
- Handing the whole thing to a self-publishing company, from pre-prod to marketing.
Pro: Less work from you, and you can expect the best of results since we’re talking about professionals in here.
Con: Can be pricey and deducts on your royalties.
How Do I Know Which Are the Best Self-Publishing Companies in New York, USA?
If you’re still reading until this line, then it’s time to get more details. In case you also choose the third option, let’s find out which is the best company to go for.
When you stumble upon a promising company, make sure to always ask for quotations on the production and publication. This way, you can easily compare the prices and services.
Here’s a checklist to help you go through your online search, compare quotations, and ultimately decide on which should you put your trust on printing your masterpiece.
- The company provides you with a detailed quotation and clear terms and conditions.
The more details the company could provide, the better. It’s not hard to appreciate a straightforward company, so don’t hesitate to ask them questions as well. Ask about the costs regarding ISBN purchase, printing costs, and even marketing services.
Make sure to clarify if there are additional charges down the line.
- Gets you informed with the fixed and variable costs.
Fixed costs refer to charges that don’t change regardless the sales, such as design or editing. On the other hand, variable costs are charged per book, like printing. If the self-publishing companies include publication of the book, make sure to clarify which is which.
- Does the company have reasonable prices?
Let’s talk about two prices: the budget and the royalty. First, the reason why it’s good to ask for quotations is to check if the service is within your budget. If you can also check the services, you can determine if additional expenses are worth the cost.
Next, the royalties. This is one of the agreements you should clarify with the company. If they offer reasonable royalty percentage, then go for it. If not, negotiate.
- If they can’t trust you, then you can’t trust them either.
The first talk is always crucial, and good first impressions do last. If the company is not transparent about anything including ISBN ownership, then it’s time for you to bid them farewell. In the USA, ISBNs may only be purchased from Bowker; in Canada, ISBNs are available from Library and Archives Canada for free.
- A company that has positive customer reviews.
If the company has positive customer feedback and these reviews are easy to find online, then most likely it’s a company to trust. You can always search the company and see what people are saying.
If you’re looking into the best self-publishing companies in New York, USA, then check out Omnibook Publishing Co. Omnibook offers a tailor-made publishing platform for independent authors worldwide.
