Traditional publishing is dead. You no longer need a publishing house like Penguin or HarperCollins. Look at E. L. James (Fifty Shades of Grey). Or Margaret Atwood (The Handmaid’s Tale). Or Robert Kiyosaki (Rich Dad Poor Dad). These authors are all self-published. They did things on their own terms.
You can, too. Self-publishing gives you creative and financial control over your masterpiece. You decide how much your book costs. You determine its content. No one can tell you what to do.
Before self-publishing, your book, increase your success with these six self-publishing trends of 2021.
#1. New Options for Self-Publishing
Amazon used to dominate the ebook space, with indie authors using the platform to reach large readerships. Now there are more opportunities for self-publishers like you. Apple, Google, and other companies have branched out into ebooks, exposing indie authors to even wider audiences worldwide. There’s never been so many possibilities — or such enormous demand — for self-published writers.
#2. More People are Reading Self-Published Content
Readers seek out new content from independent writers all the time, and there’s research to back this up. Revenue in the ebooks marketplace where most self-published authors release content could reach $1.56 billion by the end of this year. Plus, experts predict ebook revenue will experience an annual growth rate (CAFR) of 3.18 percent from 2021 to 2025. What does this mean for you? Higher book sales and more people that view your content.
Did you know…? During the COVID-19 pandemic, more readers discovered self-published content at home, and this societal change has pushed new indie authors into the spotlight.
#3. Wide Distribution
Wide distribution means making your ebook available to customers on several platforms at the same time. This includes online libraries. Conventionally, self-published authors sold content via one channel (typically Amazon), but a shift toward the multi-channel model where authors expose their content to the largest potential audience has proved successful.
Savvy self-publishers also make ebooks available as paperbacks and hardbacks to sell in local independent bookstores for even greater exposure. Although this type of publishing requires an outlay of cash, it could provide indie authors with additional revenue streams.
#4. Authors are Working with Self-Publishing Companies to Increase Exposure
While it’s never been a better time to self-publish, some authors – especially those starting out – struggle to attract readers and expose their work to new audiences. That’s just one reason indie authors use self-publishing companies like Scribe Media when writing a book.
Scribe Media lets authors maintain ownership and creative control of their content but provides them with professional expertise in writing and marketing. The result? Talented authors can target new audiences and establish themselves as self-publishers. It’s a revolutionary way to self-publish content in 2021.
#5. Social Media
Word of mouth has always fueled book sales, but social media has made it easier for authors to connect with audiences worldwide. In particular, self-published authors that lack access to marketing resources use platforms like Facebook and Twitter to promote their content and drive sales on platforms like Amazon.
With billions of monthly active users, social media has the power to turn an indie book into an international bestseller. Authors can engage with readers, self-promote material via media agencies, and build a loyal fanbase from the comfort of their home. These benefits wouldn’t be possible even ten years ago.
#6. A Shift Toward Diversity
With so much self-published content online, readers have discovered authors typically under-represented in traditional publishing, such as African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and LGBTQ writers. This welcome shift toward diversity has been, in part, driven by the social changes that occurred during 2020.
This diverse content has inspired new writers to create self-published content of their own. Under the self-publishing model, writers of all backgrounds can reach audiences without fear of being rejected by traditional publishing houses. Now there’s a platform for exciting new ideas, narratives, and viewpoints that differ from those found in the mainstream.
Final Word
From its humble beginnings on Amazon in the late ’90s, self-publishing has become a cultural powerhouse and reshaped the world of literature. With more platforms to self-publish online, more people reading self-published content, wide distribution, social media, and a shift toward diversity, consider the indie model for your next book and keep creative and financial independence.
For even greater exposure, use a self-publishing company like Scribe Media, which provides you with unparalleled expertise, publishing, and marketing as you maintain ownership and creative control over your upcoming bestseller.