I was supposed to give you a writing tip today.
(I sent a publishing tip last week, so this week was supposed to be about the more artsy side of the biz.)
But this is a topic that’s really close to my heart.
It affects some of my clients deeply. I hate when they find themselves in this situation.
Recently, I learned that another client is in this mess, and I had to write as soon as possible to try and be sure it doesn’t ensnare anyone else on my list.
Please, please, DO NOT seek the publishing services of:
I want to slap these people. And others who use their business model.
They claim to offer self-publishing services, setting an indie author up with a team to walk them through the entire publishing process. They make it look like they offer editing, formatting, design, and marketing—everything you’d need to feel confident that you’re giving your book its best chance.
And here’s the kicker: they’re often associated with legit publishing houses.
Archway, for example, is Simon & Schuster’s self-publishing arm. So they tell authors there’s an excellent chance that editors at Simon & Schuster will look at their book and pick it up for wide-scale traditional publishing.
Why wouldn’t you believe them? They look like the real deal, with great reviews, booths at big writing conventions, and affiliation with companies like Simon & Schuster and Penguin.
Why wouldn’t you fork over $2,000, $6,000, $10,000 . . . or even $16,000 for the chance to make your book a HUGE success with Penguin or Simon & Schuster?
Please, wait.
Look closer.
The publishing packages they offer appear to include things like editing, formatting, and cover design. But they don’t.
Archway, for example, offers an “editorial assessment.”
That sounds like a full editing package. It’s not.
An editor (not one from Simon & Schuster) will look at the first 1,700 words of your book and tell you whether it needs full-scale editing. That’s an extra charge.
They don’t write your book.
They don’t edit your book.
They don’t design the cover.
They don’t format it.
They don’t market it effectively.
And more than likely, your book will not be picked up by their affiliated big publishing house (or even reviewed by them).
If you look at Archway’s full list of options, it sure seems like they’re offering a heck of a lot.
But again—look closer.
“Archway’s Enhanced Listing Service” sounds impressive. In truth, it’s nothing more than customizing your book’s metadata for SEO. Here, “metadata” is a fancy word for keyword and category optimization. Optimizing your keywords and categories can (and should) be done during the publishing process. Skipping this step is irresponsible practice.
They list “Amazon and Google Look Inside” as a feature that they offer—but “Look Inside” is an inherent feature of Amazon and Google Books. You don’t have to set it up. It just happens.
Their “Concierge Service” is just a free downloadable guide and a collection of how-to videos about topics you can easily find on YouTube.
What about writing a press release for your book? That’s another add-on. Sounds good, right? From my background as a marketing writer, I think, “A press release? Are you kidding me?” A press release doesn't have the effect that some indie authors expect. (See Forbes on “Why the Press Isn’t Interested in Your Press Release.”)
As far as I can tell, these companies don’t do anything except offer guidance as you design your own cover, do your own formatting, put together your own marketing strategy, etc.
They definitely don’t provide a ghostwriter.
I’ve had clients (more than one) pay these companies over $10,000—and that was before hiring me.
One of my clients paid a company like this for an editing and formatting package (which was an add-on to her initial purchase). You’d think these scam companies would at least employ some professionals to make your book look good.
But nope.
She shared the final product with me for review, and I spotted so many mistakes and poor design choices, I had to write a Strongly Worded Letter to her team and make a bullet list of what exactly needed to be corrected, complete with screenshots.
I was so angry on my client's behalf. What exactly had she paid them $10k for, if they weren't even offering basic quality editorial services?
With these companies, you are still responsible for creating every aspect of your book, and ensuring its quality.
Plus, if you publish with one of these companies, they’ll often take a cut of your royalties—AFTER Amazon takes its cut.
It is So. Very. Common. For new indie authors to be taken in by these supposed deals.
Their whole business model is to approach people who are unfamiliar with the industry, and offer them a dream.
I promise, everything these companies claim to offer, you can get for a fraction of that price by working with legit professionals.
Almost all of the services that Archway lists on its website are things I provide for my own authors. Guidance on cover design and formatting, connecting authors with affordable editors, tips on marketing—this is all stuff you can get with a ghostwriter.
Please, SAVE THE MONEY you’d otherwise invest with these people.
Put your money toward the actual creation of your book. Put it toward hiring your writer, editor, and designer. Put it toward an experienced marketing team who will actually help you sell your book.
If you’re considering partnering with a self-publishing company but you’ve got a few questions about them, please reach out to me. I’ll take a look and let you know if they seem worth your money, your trust, and your book.
Want to read more about this?
Check out David Gaughran here.
