Helpful Articles

The independent author's guide to self-publishing on Amazon

Self-publishing on Amazon is one of the best ways to share your story with a global audience. But, trying to decide between all of the different options Amazon offers — especially when you want to boost exposure and sales — can feel overwhelming.

In this guide, we'll walk you through the process, helping you better understand what self-publishing on Amazon involves and how to make sure your book is set up for the best possible reach to the widest amount of readers.
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The complete guide to self publishing for independent authors

Learn how to get a professional cover design, how to format your manuscript, how to market your book, and more.

Looking to self-publish your manuscript into a full-fledged book? You're in the right place. You may think you've done all of the hard part with writing the book — your manuscript is done! However, this is where things get tricky. What's the next step when you're self publishing?
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Instagram book launch strategies for authors

So you're preparing to launch your book and you're wondering, “What kind of Instagram book launch strategies work best?” You're in the right place. Instagram is a fantastic channel for your book launch, but like anything that's shared on Instagram, you have to have a strategy in place to make maximum impact with your posts. Here's how to do it, step-by-step.
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Create demand for your books: How to use BookTok to drive sales and engagement

In this detailed guide, we'll share some of our favorite creative, unique strategies to help you leverage BookTok to drive higher sales and engagement. From participating in trends to creating engaging content that showcases your unique voice, mastering these TikTok strategies will boost engagement and sales while helping you build a thriving community.
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How do successful authors create demand for their books?

The most-successful authors know that it's not enough to just write your book — you need to use your passion and energy to promote your book and create reader interest. Generating demand starts with you. Discover ideas to help you to continue your momentum once your book is published.
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How to self-publish a book: a guide to printing and presentation

The self-publishing experts at BookBaby have prepared this complete guide to self-publishing your book, from polishing up your manuscript to enjoying the fruits of your labor with beautiful, premium-quality book in hand.
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KDP Direct Publishing vs. BookBaby's professional book printing

BookBaby and Amazon KDP both cater to authors who want to self-publish their books, but they differ in terms of the services offered and how they handle distribution. In this article, we'll do a detailed comparison and help you choose the one that's right for your self-publishing needs.
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A guide to custom book covers for printing services

Today, a book cover does more than just offer another layer of protection for your book. Many readers' first impressions are based on how your cover looks (even though we're taught not to judge!). A professionally designed cover piques curiosity and invites readers to delve further into the story.
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Understanding different types of printing paper for your book

When it comes to printing your book, you want it to look and feel as professional as possible. Choosing the right type of printing paper is just one of several decisions you'll need to make.
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How to market a self-published book: a complete guide

Your book can find a loyal audience with the right marketing strategies, tools, and direction. To help you get started, we've put together a complete guide with a start-to-finish marketing plan for your self-published book.
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A guide to book metadata and its significance for authors

In this guide, we'll take a closer look at not just what metadata is, but what it means for authors, how it works, and much more. By the end of this guide, you'll not only be able to understand metadata with confidence, but you'll also understand the unique role it plays in making sure your book gets into the hands of your target audience.
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A guide to blogger outreach campaigns that boost book sales

Blogger outreach should be viewed as an ongoing investment. It will start well before the publication of your book and continue long after launch. Over time you'll be nurturing a network of fans who can advocate for and share your current and future titles.
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Complete guide to expert book metadata optimization strategies that improve book sales

Metadata is still a necessary part of any book's publication. In this guide, we'll take a closer look at what metadata is, what makes it indispensable for sales, and how to make sure that yours is as optimized as it can be.
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Comparing line editing and copy editing

In this guide, we'll go through the differences between the copy editing and line editing, explain what's included, and explain how to decide which one will serve you best.
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The editing process explained: from submission to final proof

We've broken down the editing process for you, including what each type of editing involves, approximate costs and timeframes, marketing your book, working with an editor, using a style sheet, converting your eBook, and much more.
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Top things to look for in book self publishing companies

You've finished your manuscript. Now what? If you've decided that self publishing is the right path for you, the next step is to decide on a self-publishing company to help you edit, print, design, format, and publish your book.
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What to expect when printing your self published books in terms of cost and quality

So what do you really get in terms of quality for your self-published book, and how much does it cost? This article answers those questions and much more.
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How to run social media book ads that actually work

Here's what to know about running social media book ads that actually get clicks, generate publicity, and potentially deliver sales.
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Sell your book directly to readers with BookBaby Bookshop

If you're a self-published author and you want to sell more books, keep more of your hard-earned money, and create real connections with your readers, BookBaby's Bookshop is how you do it. Think of it as your easy, one-click storefront where readers can buy your printed books and eBooks directly.
Learn more about BookBaby Bookshop

Maximize book sales with direct-to-reader publishing services

Direct-to-reader publishing is the bridge that helps you keep control of your price, your brand, and the relationships you've built with the people who keep you inspired and keep you writing.
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Global book publishing and distribution for indie authors

Your book is printed, packaged, and arrives into the hands of a happy new reader, all without you having to lift a finger. That's the magic of global book printing and distribution for indie authors.
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Using your book sales data to find your most valuable readers

When you learn how to read your data like a story, you figure out who in that story is the reader who will carry your work further than you ever could alone.
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KDP Publishing royalty math that most first-time authors get wrong

KDP Publishing royalty math is tricky, and it's easy for new authors to trip over it — especially that shiny “70%” number. In this article, we'll show you how to double-check your numbers so that you know exactly what you're earning.
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Alternatives to Amazon KDP that give you full control

If what you want is full control over everything from your pricing to your reader relationships to your distribution, you need to start thinking beyond KDP.
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Children's picture book publishers that help your story come to life

We'll take a closer look at how to choose the right kind of children's picture book publisher — the kind that can actually turn your story into a vivid, durable book that survives everything from backpacks to bedtimes.
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Choosing nonfiction book publishers that help you reach more readers

A publisher alone will not get your nonfiction book in front of readers. Real reach comes from choosing the right publishing path and partner based on your goals.
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Professional book publishing for fiction authors

We'll walk you through the art and science of professional book publishing for fiction authors. By the end, you'll have a clear idea of your next steps to take, as well as support and guidance backing your decisions.
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Custom book cover printing checklist for bleed and spine

Think of your book cover as a wrap. It's the front, spine, and back that need to survive trimming, folding binding, and, depending on the format you choose, a lot of physical handling.
View our book cover printing checklist

Formatting a book for print with trim size margins and bleed set correctly

Formatting a book for print has rules, and if your book file doesn’t follow these rules, the trimming and binding will happily make the decision for you. Thankfully, there’s an easy fix to formatting a book with trim size margins and bleed set correctly. We’ll show you how to do it!
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How modern Print On Demand for books is the best solution for the current wholesale crisis

With platforms like BookBaby proving how easy and economical POD can be, authors can now enjoy a wide range of benefits, without the risk and high upfront cost of having to stock inventory
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Frequently asked questions about self-publishing

Wondering how much it costs to self-publish? Trying to figure out how or where to sell your books? Let's dive into some common questions we hear from independent authors.
Read more about self-publishing