If you have decided to take the step to self-publish your manuscript, it’s time to do the research to find the right publishing company that best fits your needs. Online research can give you the different publishing packages and marketing services that the companies provide, along with price comparisons. I would also strongly recommend checking out if there is a FAQ page, as many times this information will be able to answer most of your questions, as well as give you insight into issues you may not have thought about yet. Online discussion forums and customer reviews should also be something you might want to look into.
Along with checking out the websites of the various publishing companies, I can’t begin to tell you how important it is to find someone who has actually used the services of the company. If you have friends who are writers or know people on social networking sites, spread the word with them to have them find someone who has had some experience with the company if possible. First hand experience is invaluable and you should try to get a few personal experience critiques.
Finally, when you decide to call the publishing company and start inquiring more about what they have to offer, beware of hard sells. I spoke with representatives from three different companies before deciding on my final choice, AuthorHouse. The AuthorHouse rep simply gave me all the information, allowed me to ask questions, and told me contact them if and when I had made my final decision. The other companies kept calling me and seemed very pushy, which was a turnoff for me. That’s not to say that their product would have been inferior, but I simply connected with the style of the AuthorHouse representative and felt comfortable working with the company. Which ever company you decide to use, you should feel comfortable when speaking to them, and ask as many questions as you need to in order to satisfy your concerns.
I wish you the best of luck in finding your publishing company and hope to see your manuscript in print in the near future!
