How to Self-Publish — Concept to Paperback!

Raise your hand if you have thought about publishing a cook book! We know most of our audience has thought of this and many of you have already done so. In this session, Jessica Stier from Desserts With Benefits has helped her turn to food blogging and writing as a full-time job not too far removed from college. Jessica will share her blueprint for self-publishing a book that she has already used to produce two cookbooks with a third on the way.

Transcript

2. How to Self-Publish: Concept to Paperback! Jessica Stier www.DessertsWithBenefits.com Author of the DIY Protein Bars Cookbook and Naughty or Nice Cookbook
3. In Today’s Session, You’ll Learn… The blueprint to publishing a successful book! • How to choose an idea/concept • Successful marketing tips for passive income • Editing and proofing tips • How to prevent burnout www.DessertsWithBenefits.com
4. Who is Jessica? • Canada à Connecticut à Arizona à Texas • Started blogging at the age of 18 as a freshman in college www.DessertsWithBenefits.com – a healthy dessert recipe blog • Self-published 2 cookbooks: • The DIY Protein Bars Cookbook • The Naughty or Nice Cookbook Find ‘em on Amazon!
5. Why did I self-publish? • Over 8 years of blogging, 7 publishing houses reached out to me. 2 of them, twice. It never worked out… • Didn’t want to be toyed around with. Didn’t want to waste time. I want full control.
6. Self Both Traditional • Make more $$$ per sale • Full control Concept Design Photography Editing/Proofing Marketing (and ultimately sales) Public Relations • Keep true to yourself, and don’t have to lose your voice, style, personality, quirks, etc. • Everything is on YOU Recipe Development/Testing Photography/Photo Editing Writing • Book meets and signings • You have a book to your name • Brings you closer to your followers • Small advance* and small royalties • Fast, demanding timeline • Photography • Editors to correct grammar and spelling… and your tone and voice • Marketing (the more books you sell, the more money they make) Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing www.DessertsWithBenefits.com *Depends on a number of factors (years of experience, audience size, niche, etc.)
7. Choosing Your Book Concept • What’s the most popular/successful/engaged content on your blog? • Survey your readers. What do they want from you? • Where is there a need? • What void can you fill? • Where is your authority? For example, if you’re a paleo meal prep blogger, don’t write a book on baking cupcakes using flour and sugar. • What can you build off of in the future? For example, if you write a low-carb ice cream cookbook, you can make a related cookbook, like low-carb cupcakes, fudge, etc. www.DessertsWithBenefits.com
8. • Demand • Competition • Target Audience www.DessertsWithBenefits.com Choosing Your Book Concept – Research!
9. Find Inspiration • Book Design • Table of Contents • Number of Recipes • Photography • Marketing • Price Point • Print: $___.___ • PDF: $___.___ • Kindle: $___.___ (all text, no images) www.DessertsWithBenefits.com
10. Platform • KDP (previously CreateSpace) • Blurb www.DessertsWithBenefits.com
11. Create Deadlines for Every Step Finish Planning: MM/DD/YYYY Finish Outline: MM/DD/YYYY Finish Recipes: MM/DD/YYYY Finish Photography: MM/DD/YYYY Finish Design: MM/DD/YYYY Finish Writing: MM/DD/YYYY Finish Editing: MM/DD/YYYY Finish Publishing: MM/DD/YYYY Begin Marketing: MM/DD/YYYY www.DessertsWithBenefits.com
12. Planning • When should you publish your book? • Promo and Pre-Promo Dates • Blog Posts • Email Newsletters (Opt-Ins, Funnel List) • Sneak Peeks on Social Media • Keep your audience engaged so they want to learn more, be invested, and invest in YOU down the road • Ask for insight, create polls, etc. • Manuscript, as if you were creating one for a publishing house www.DessertsWithBenefits.com
13. • Develop • Test (and RE-Test) Recipes • Test Substitutes • Variations • Recipe Notes • Recipe Testers • Film Tutorial Videos Recipes www.DessertsWithBenefits.com
14. • Biography/About the Author • Introduction/About the Cookbook • Getting Started • Chapters and Chapter Intros • Recipe Headnotes • Index Write www.DessertsWithBenefits.com
15. Photography • Stick to one theme • Bright and white • Dark and moody • Modern vs. vintage www.DessertsWithBenefits.com
16. Design • Adobe InDesign • You can get away with Microsoft Word for a word-only book • Hire a Designer • Color Scheme • #F7F5F5 #E8C827 #CFD335 #2F7E7A #8BCABA #47BEB8 #A51E58 #524B4B • Style Guide • Fonts (stick to 2) • Consistent font sizes + colors for Sections, Chapter Titles, Headings, Subheadings, Body, etc. • Page Numbers (i, ii, iii, … / x, xi, xii, … / 1, 2, 3, …) www.DessertsWithBenefits.com
17. Editing and Proofing Tips • Read the entire manuscript OUT LOUD! • Get proof-readers (followers, friends, family) • Consider hiring a copy editor • Spelling/Grammar • Recipe notes/Variations formatted similarly www.DessertsWithBenefits.com
18. Launch • Sidebar Widget (photo + blurb) • Sales/Landing Page (more on next slide) • Email Blast • Giveaways www.DessertsWithBenefits.com
19. Sales Page/Landing Page • Who are you? • Why did you write this book? • How can this book improve your life? What problems can this book solve for you? How is this book the solution? • Graphics and Pinnable Images • Note common words/phrases in testimonials, reviews, comments, and feedback • Purchase Button, Links to Buy (print, PDF, Kindle, etc.) www.DessertsWithBenefits.com
20. Successful Marketing Tips • Email newsletter • Drip campaign • Target List from Opt-In Funnel Earlier from Exclusive Content Releases/Recipe • Share reader remake photos and feedback • Roundups (evergreen content!) • Consider Etsy along with Amazon • Adapt recipes from your book and post them to your blog • Social Media (more on next slide) www.DessertsWithBenefits.com
21. Social Media Marketing • Make recipes from your book regularly, share on all platforms • Instagram • Prepare images, captions, and hashtags. Reuse them every couple of months! • You can be more involved and post regularly on IG stories, or even host an IG live! • Facebook • Explore Facebook Ads • Create graphics (format, size, colors) and copy • Twitter • Explore Twitter Ads • Create graphics (format, size, colors) and copy • Pinterest • Review analytics, keep pinning the most successful images (saves, clicks) • YouTube • Cooking videos and tutorials www.DessertsWithBenefits.com
22. Post Launch • Track sales (Do you notice any patterns? Are there any high-selling months?) • Track (and repeat) successful ads, promotions, and newsletters • Submit to Barnes & Noble and Book People • Review what worked, what didn’t. Keep this in mind for your next book! www.DessertsWithBenefits.com
23. Post Launch • Track sales (Do you notice any patterns? Are there any high-selling months?) • Track (and repeat) successful ads, promotions, and newsletters • Submit to Barnes & Noble and Book People • Review what worked, what didn’t. Keep this in mind for your next book! Publishing is addicting ;) www.DessertsWithBenefits.com