Why is it that some self-published books sell quite well and others don’t? Marketing experts have studied this question for years, and many of them say the same thing: the professional quality of your book makes a difference, one that definitely affects sales. In other words, if you want your book to sell well, you must put together a quality product. Not only the story and the writing itself, but the package it’s wrapped in and the words used to market it. Yes, you’re going to have to spend money to make money. (Here’s advice from Hope.)

I’m going through the process of self-publishing now, and I’ve also worked as an editor for the past three decades. Traditional publishers have been in this business for a much longer time than most self-published authors have. They know well the tricks of the trade, so it makes sense to follow in their footsteps. Here are five things traditional publishers do that you can too.

1)    Hire professional editors. A developmental editor is like a beta reader times ten. Don’t get me wrong, you need beta readers to help you through the first part of the revision process, but don’t stop there. Why? Because your beta readers won’t likely tell you the truth. If your book is lacking in some way, they may not have the heart to tell you. Further, they may know something is wrong but not how to fix it. On the other hand, a developmental editor possesses a depth of knowledge regular readers simply don’t have. They are paid to tell you the truth and to suggest ways to fix whatever isn’t working. (More details here.)

2)    Self-edit as best you can before handing the manuscript to a copyeditor. A copyeditor will fix your awkward sentences, catch your typos, and correct faulty grammar, but the voice and the artistry are up to you. Produce your very best work before hiring the copyeditor.

3)    Put together a team of amateur proofreaders and send them each a proof copy, even if you used a professional proofreader for the manuscript. Sound like overkill? After the interior pages are designed, you’ll need this team to read through your book not only in search of typos but mishandled design elements: think extra spaces, errant indents, and folios gone awry.

4)    Splurge for a cover designer. Unless graphic design is your day job, don’t create the cover yourself. The cover makes the first impression—you need it to dress for success! You wouldn’t sew yourself an interview suit, would you? Hire a pro to create an eye-catching cover that’s appropriate for your genre. You can find designers who charge from $300 up. (More details here.)

5)    Write a sales description that creates intrigue. These are the paragraphs posted on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Shop Indie Bookstores websites, your opportunity to convince readers to click the Buy button. If you’re not confident in your copywriting ability, hire someone who is. It can make the difference between a few sales and thousands. (More details here.)

You may have written an awesome book, but if you haven’t treated it with professionalism—if it contains distracting typos, an inappropriate cover that doesn’t draw interest, or a sales description that fails to pique reader interest—your work is going to suffer. Traditional publishers know how to do it right: take cues from them, and your book sales will benefit.

BIO – Kim Catanzarite has been a freelance writer and editor for almost three decades, and she teaches copyediting for Writer’s Digest University. Her thriller, They Will Be Coming for Us, published June 1, 2021. You can subscribe to her self-publishing blog at www.AuthorKimCatanzarite.com/blog.