Why self-publishing is good for business: Four Questions with Emily Perkins
Entrepreneurs are always looking for ways to stand out and sell their vision. It’s why many of them are turning to self-publishing to market their business and reach a larger audience.
On September 12, join us for a practical two-hour workshop on how to use self-publishing to help power your clients’ business growth. This workshop will cover where to start and what goes into a great entrepreneurial book, as well as what services are available to support self-publishing authors.
We spoke to our presenter, Emily Perkins, senior publishing consultant at FriesenPress – the largest publishing services provider in Canada – about the perks of self-publishing and why entrepreneurs make good authors.
WEOC: Why should advisors encourage their clients to consider self-publishing?
EP: Self-publishing is important for entrepreneurs because they can control what they release. They have ownership and creative control, so it allows them to put their word out there the way they want to. [The book] can also be very branded and specific to what they do. The fact is, not only is traditional publishing incredibly difficult – authors can lose ownership rights, which means they lose control. As for having a book in general, it’s an excellent option for entrepreneurs. It’s about adding to their profile and having another way of reaching a new audience or expanding what they already offer to their existing one.
WEOC: What are the benefits of self-publishing over traditional publishing?
EP: I would say [self-publishing] is about expanding what you do as an entrepreneur. It can get very specific depending on what type of business an entrepreneur has. It’s often the case that a book can lead to further clients or expand the experience of their current ones. Since they have ownership of it, entrepreneurs can be subject matters experts in what they do. It can be hard for them to go to a traditional publisher and have them take control of their writing, or change the meaning and content, which can often change everything that they do. Having control over publishing your writing is crucial to a lot of authors – particularly entrepreneurs.
WEOC: What would you say to an advisor unsure if they should recommend self-publishing for their clients?
EP: I think it depends on the business and the position that they’re in. If you want to be part of speaking engagements or presentations, for example, having a book is essential because it leads to more opportunities like that. And more and more frequently now, to get onto radio and podcasts, it’s also required to have a book. The same goes with teaching – particularly those who teach leadership. It’s always great to have a book because you’re helping define yourself and what your business is. It’s essentially just another way to present yourself and reach an audience. When we talk to each entrepreneur, we try to figure out when is the best time to write their book. Sometimes, it’s right at the start of their business, while sometimes, it’ll be later in their journey.
WEOC: What’s your favourite thing about working with entrepreneurs?
EP: I love that entrepreneurs are forward thinking, and that they’re usually doing something that’s unique and has never been done before. They’re usually very driven. They’re usually very easy to work with because they have often already mapped out a plan and just need some professional support to see the dream through. Having a vision for what you want to do as a self-published author is incredibly important. People can help you see your dream through, but we can’t create a vision for you. Generally, that’s not an issue for entrepreneurs as they already have clear plans. It’s then our job [as publishers] to work out milestones to get them where they want to go and achieve what they want to achieve.
Find a recording of Emily’s webinar in the WEOC Resource Library