CHECKLIST: How to publish a book
Here’s a checklist of the major steps in publishing a book to help you get started.Key Tasks to Publish a Book
Here’s a checklist of the major steps to publish a book in print and ebook editions. For help with all, or just a few of them, please feel free to contact us.
- Review manuscript and prepare publishing plan
- Edit manuscript
- Proofread manuscript
- Source and prepare digital image files
- Review and obtain digital rights and permissions
- Design ebook cover
- Design print edition cover
- Prepare book description, author bio
- Obtain ISBNs, CiP
- Prepare book and ebook front matter and back matter
- Layout interior (print)
- Markup manuscript for ebook conversion
- Ebook formatting and conversion (EPUB and Kindle
- Produce print-ready cover and interior files
- Testing and quality control (ebooks)
- Produce final, distribution-ready ebook editions
- Set up distribution for Kindle and EPUB ebooks
- Set up printing and distribution for print edition
- Print proof copy, review and make any corrections
- Print final copies as required
- Set up accounts, tax, royalty payments
- Set up author pages
- Set pricing strategy
- Optimise and distribute metadata
- Set up book/author website
- Set up social media profiles
- Set up email marketing
- Implement SEO (search engine optimisation)
- Book launch and promotion
- Monitoring and reporting
Publishing a book is a big project to manage. There are new skills to learn, contractors and suppliers to coordinate, and lots of decisions to make. And you’ve got one chance to get it right!
What to do when your book is published
The internet now ensures your book will always be available to purchase instantly, everywhere. In the past, there was a very short window when bookshops held stock, then most books were remaindered and discarded. Successful publishing today is a marathon, not a sprint.
Here’s a quick tip sheet on how to sell your book in this new world