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What are the pros and cons of self-publishing a book versus using a conventional book publisher?
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2 Answers
Here are a few off the top - your mileage will vary based on which publishing house you choose or that chooses you:
Self Publishing:
Pros: Speed to Market, Higher Royalties, More Editorial Control
Cons: You pay to publish, Less clout or credibility than a conventional publisher, add on costs can spiral (airport distribution, cover design, warehouse and return costs)
Conventional Book Publisher:
Pros: Editorial guidance, Cover Design and Layout seems more professionally designed, Production, Worldwide Distribution, Increased credibility based on publisher reputation and level of difficulty in getting published the traditional way, you get paid to write the book in advance.
Cons: Slower to market, difficult to correct mistakes in book listings, no control over edition releases (kindle, for example - they choose when), no pricing control, lower royalties
I went through the self-publishing process, so I'll answer this from the self-publishing point of view.
PROS
1) Full control of the timeline: deadlines, dates, when to finish the manuscript, when to send it to the printer, etc. That's all dictated by YOU. If you have a time sensitivity to publishing (i.e. you want it to happen sooner), then self-publishing is a big benefit, as the "time to market" is shortened. While a conventional book publisher has a roughly 1-year turnaround (or more), self-publishing can get you to the finish line in, literally, weeks.
2) Full control of the content (which, based on whom you ask, could also be a CON). I'd certainly hire a copy editor and/or subject matter expert to review your manuscript. I would not recommend self-publishing without a second set of eyes involved.
3) You keep a higher margin on book sales.
CONS
1) For some, being associated with a conventional publisher has some prominence - you get to call yourself "published", which is slightly different from "self published".
2) Distribution is narrower. The conventional book publisher gets you distribution via its vast channels, including (most importantly) "bricks and mortar" book stores. With self publishing, your distribution is primarily online (e.g. Amazon, iTunes/iBookstore, etc.).
3) No extensive editorial process. This is the counter-argument to the "pro" about having full editorial control. The conventional publisher provides you with a team of professional copy editors, who work with you to refine your manuscript and create that final product. Of course, you can hire a team of seasoned editors for your self-published book, but you'll need to front all of the costs for that.
4) No up-front payment. Yes, Tom Clancy gets paid the big advances on his books, but authors of B2B content can receive advances, too (from conventional publishers). Put another way, self-publishers make their first dime after their first sale (or later). Authors with conventional publishers can make their first dime before writing Page 1.
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