How Should I Choose a Self-Publishing Company?

By Christina M. Schumacher

Choosing a self-publishing company can really be a difficult decision. There are many of them to choose from and they all offer a multitude of options for you to choose from. I have specific guidelines that I use now that I wished I had used when I published my first book.

The first of these is: Is the self-publishing company's website easy to understand and navigate?

In looking for the publisher for the fourth book, I was amazed at some of the websites I came across. I realize that there is a lot to cover for these companies, but I found myself lost far from the page I started from and having difficulties determining where I'd been and where I needed to go.

The fact is, what I needed to know was what size books they printed, what type of royalty percentages they paid, what it would cost for the basic publishing package and their procedure. I found myself all over the place, literally digging for these things when they should have been found very simply. When a website causes me frustration like this, I know it is not a company I wish to pursue.

In my point of view, as webmaster of two websites, the easier the site is to navigate, the more pleasurable an experience a viewer will have. No one should have to spend hours digging for the information they are seeking on one site.

The next thing to consider when searching a company's website is: Are the prices for publishing a book easy to find or does the company choose not to post them at all?

In most cases, you can find the prices by doing just a bit of digging. Be prepared for confusion, however, as some offer a lot of different packages that are difficult to understand if you've never published this way before.

Those companies who ask you to send for their publishing package I avoid at all costs. This is just a personal thing, but I feel that prices should be right up front so you don't waste your time waiting for postal mail. It makes me think they don't want to spend time adding the extra page to their website.

Another aspect I look for is: Does the website give clear instructions on how to present your manuscript and photos (if you have any) for publication?

This should be done step-by-step on the website in a very clear and concise manner. You should be told what format your manuscript must come in, how you are to set it up, whether page numbers are required, how to present a cover if you have a cover design in mind, etc. If you don't understand the instructions, it can cause delays in publishing that could have been avoided with better instructions. This leads to the next area I check into.

If you don't understand the instructions, is there a contact phone number or email address for you to address your questions?

If there is no contact number or email address, I will definitely not use the company. If there is an email form, though I really don't care for these, I will try them. Preferably, I would like to see just an email address that I can write to with my question.

I send my question and pay attention to how long it takes for someone to get back to me with the answer. If the response comes within a day, this company is put at the top of my list. If it takes a week, forget it. Since this is a company, they should have staff enough to answer an email in at least two days' time.

Another area I look at: Are there a slew of "extras" that you feel should be a part of the actual publishing package? If so, how does this compare to other companies?

The basic package, in my mind, should include publication of your manuscript, cover design, proofing (checking over your book before it is released), and some leeway when it comes to errors you might find in proofing. When I say leeway, I mean, most companies allow a certain number of errors before charging you. This is a good thing. If they charge extra for Ingram, I understand this as it is a separate part of publishing - it's actually marketing.

Word of caution. Book return policy has become a huge issue. This return policy is a protection for the book store owners so that they are not stuck with books that do not sell. It's a good idea, but compare the book return policy between different publishing companies. Some of them are actually charging almost $200 more for this service than others.

Don't settle because you want to see your book out there in print. It will get there, but doing a bit of research and comparing services and prices can make self-publishing a good experience instead of a big headache.