Article by Barbara Joe-Williams.
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As a first time self-published author, you want to avoid making as many
costly mistakes as possible. Based on research and several years of
publishing experience, I’d like to share some of the mistakes that I’ve
made and show you how to avoid making them. Please proceed with caution.
1. Publishing books with unattractive covers and spending too much money on them. Hire someone to design an attractive front book cover. Or you can save money by developing the book cover drafts yourself. Simply download royalty-free pictures and add your own text.
2. Printing books in large quantities because it’s the most economical value. With print-on-demand (POD) printers, you no longer have to print large quantities of books to receive a good return on your investment. You can print as few or as many as you need at one time.
3. Paying large amounts for website development and maintenance. Find a web hosting company, download a template, upload your book information, and maintain the site yourself for a low monthly or yearly fee. Most of these companies provide 24/7 customer support.
4. Working without an action plan or any means of accountability. Writing may be your passion, but publishing is a business. Therefore, you have to develop a business plan to follow and show accountability for your funds.
