Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing for Your Business Book: Which Is Right for You?

Writing a business book is a significant step toward sharing your expertise with the world and establishing yourself as a thought leader in your field. Once you finish the actual writing process, another important decision awaits: Should you self-publish or pursue traditional publishing? Both paths have pros and cons, and understanding them can help you choose the best route for your book’s success. 

Pros and cons of traditional publishing

With traditional publishing, you submit your manuscript to a publishing house. That company handles the production, distribution, and marketing of your book. Some business authors choose this method because traditional publishers tend to provide editing, design, and marketing expertise. Plus, being published by a reputable company may enhance your credibility as an author, as readers might perceive traditionally published books as more trustworthy than self-published titles. 

Another benefit of traditional publishing is that in some cases, you won’t incur up-front costs for editing and formatting your work. However, the financial disadvantage is that they’ll take higher book royalties than if you publish on your own or partner with a company that provides self-publishing services. Although you might spend less at the onset, you’ll also make less when your book sells over the years. 

And it’s not just about losing royalties. Many business authors find additional disadvantages to traditionally publishing their books, including: 

• It’s a time-consuming process. You can plan to spend a lot of hours on finding a literary agent, submitting proposals, requesting responses, and making multiple revisions. Time spent on traditional publishing is valuable time away from your business. 
• You might lose creative control. Publishing companies generally cater to market demands that might not align with your vision or message. Your traditional publisher might require changes to your title, book cover design, and the actual content that strip your work of your voice and vision.
• Book deals are rare. Getting a book deal is difficult, and not many authors get enticing offers. Sometimes publishers aren’t ready to buy into or financially back a manuscript, or perhaps they don’t see the full potential in the topic. Whatever the reason, receiving rejection from multiple publishing houses proves disheartening for many business authors. 

If you believe in your business book’s value and ability to help your fellow professionals, self-publishing might be a better fit than the traditional method.

Understanding self-publishing

While traditional publishing can be frustrating and time consuming, self-publishing allows you to take full control of the entire process. You’ll be responsible for editing, designing, and marketing your book (or finding a service to partner with to help with these tasks). This freedom is just one of the many advantages of self-publishing. Additionally, publishing on your own allows you to: 

• Maintain complete creative control. As a self-published author, you have the final say on every aspect of your book: the content, cover design, and marketing strategy. This creative freedom allows you to fully express your vision in the exact way you want to communicate it.
• Publish more quickly. Self-publishing can be a much faster process than traditional publishing. You can prepare and sell your book as soon as it’s ready, allowing you to share your expertise and thought leadership with readers while avoiding lengthy delays. 
• Establish a direct connection with your audience. Since you’re in charge of marketing your self-published book, you can engage with your readers (including your company’s existing or potential clients) through channels like social media, newsletters, podcasts, and speaking engagements.
• You keep your royalties. You set the prices for your business book and keep a larger portion of the sales than you would with a traditional publisher. 

As you weigh how to publish your business book, keep in mind that there are a couple of disadvantages to self-publishing. First, as a self-published business author, you will be responsible for all aspects of the editing, design, publishing, and marketing-–and that can be overwhelming, especially for a first-time author. Second, you will incur up-front costs, particularly if you want to sell hard copies of your book. The good news is that you can get the most out of your self-publishing budget by choosing a great partner. 

The role of a self-publishing partner

Having the right self-publishing partner is key to your success. A reliable partner can provide essential support since they understand the challenges of self-publishing and offer the wisdom, experience, and resources to help you navigate the process successfully.

Here are a few services that a self-publishing partner can provide: 

• A detailed manuscript evaluation, which includes a detailed write-up of your work’s strengths, areas for improvement, and actionable next steps 
• Book editing services, such as developmental editing, copyediting, line editing, and proofreading
• Professional book formatting for a variety of retail platforms 
• Creative book cover design to catch your audience’s attention 

The best self-publishing partners also offer a variety of book marketing services so you sell more copies once your book is available to the public. Finding the right partner to elevate your business book can be the difference between a flop and a bestseller, so it’s important to find the right company to guide you through the process. 

Why self-publishing is an appealing option

Given the advantages of self-publishing, many business authors find it to be the most appealing and accessible path toward becoming an authorpreneur. With complete control over the publishing process, you can align your book with your personal brand and goals and even cross-market with your company. You’ll also be able to quickly respond to market trends and reader feedback, ensuring your book remains relevant.

Furthermore, self-publishing opens up new avenues for creativity and innovation. You can experiment with different formats, such as e-books, audiobooks, or print-on-demand options. This flexibility allows you to reach a broader audience and adapt your book to meet their needs. To maximize visibility, partner with publishing experts to refine, design, and market your business book. 

Elite Authors can help you self-publish the best version of your business book

Choosing between self-publishing and traditional publishing for your business book is a crucial decision. If you’re like many business authors, the best path forward is self-publishing—and we’re here to help! You focus on what you do best—writing and sharing your expertise—and we’ll take care of everything else. 

Connect with a publishing expert today to start your journey toward self-publishing success!