Why Professional Standards Matter in Self-Publishing

Professional standards matter in self-publishing for several reasons and the lack of them is harmful not only to your book and your reputation as a self-published author, but to the industry as a whole. 

It may seem snobbish to insist that this is the case, or it may feel like a burden to authors with few resources, but that’s not the goal of keeping professional standards.  

Below, we’ll go over what these standards are and why they matter for authors and the industry. 

 A Brief History of Self-Publishing 

Self-publishing as we recognize it today is is becoming more and more common and the industry outside of traditional publishing and the Big Five is growing every year. 

But did you know that as far back as the mid 1800s, authors were self-publishing for the same reason they are today? They wanted their work out in the world and they may have not had access to traditional publishing due to their lack of renown or connections. They also self-published to have creative control, or to seek a better pay off than the royalties offered by publishing houses.

Even Charles Dickens self-published A Christmas Carol! 

Unlike today, those authors, like Dickens, didn’t have a whole industry behind them. The modern day boom in self-publishing started in the 1970s and figures like the late Dan Poynter led this revolution in the industry. Through shared knowledge, access to technology, and the increase in availability of resources, self-publishing has only grown since. 

Professional Standards Matter in Self-Publishing for the Industry as a Whole

Though the industry is growing and thriving, self-publishing still struggles to be taken seriously. That’s why organizations such as the IBPA (Independent Book Publishers Association) and others formed. There was a need to set a standard and establish self-publishing as a legitimate industry. They recognized that if the industry was going to get the respect and recognition that it deserves, then they would need to follow professional standards. This is why professional standards matter for self-publishing as whole.

The ecosystem that makes up the indie publishing industry, from small-presses to author-publishers, and even author services providers, all know that gaining the recognition and respect for this alternative to the traditional would require producing books of equal quality. 

The self-publishing industry also understands that besides validation, it’s also about access. This is why so many resources are now available to aspiring authors. Self-publishing seeks to remove those barriers put in place by the traditional world and to show that just because you may not have connections or a massive platform, you too, can be a published author. 

We’ve also learned that there is a wide audience of readers out there, eager to get their hands on books they really want to read. But that doesn’t mean they should be subpar. They should hold their own against any traditionally published book! We owe that to our audience.

These Professional Standards Also Matter for You, as an Author

Professional standards matter in self-publishing as an industry and for you, as an author. Remember, indie publishing is an ecosystem and authors are an integral part of it. Imagine, if a big publishing house suddenly started putting out low quality books, with subpar covers and did little to promote them. They would die off! Authors would get no respect. And readers would be very disappointed. But, putting all that aside, let’s move on to why these professional standards matter for authors!

Why Authors Need to Follow Professional Publishing Standards 

These professional standards matter in self-publishing because they don’t only mean having a quality book that looks nice. These standards include important elements such as metadata, BISAC codes, and other requirements which make your book sellable and discoverable. 

These standards exist because:

• Book retailers and libraries won’t stock substandard books
• Without these standards, your book won’t even be discovered by booksellers and libraries
• You won’t be taken seriously as an author and your reputation will suffer if you overlook them
• Your audience won’t find your book either because it won’t be discoverable
• A book lost in the abyss will be a waste of time, money and effort

Remember too, professional standards matter in self-publishing to the industry as a whole, but it’s an ecosystem. When you produce a professional quality book as a self-published author, you lift up the industry as a whole. This benefits you as well. Because it’s less likely that you’ll be snubbed as a ‘self-published author’ of a ‘self-published book’ when the industry has the respect and legitimacy it deserves. After all, the modern indie publishing industry is what made it possible for you to publish your book. 

So, What Do We Mean by ‘Professional Standards in Self-Publishing’?

The professional standards that matter in self-publishing are all the standards that traditional publishers abide by. They include everything from a professional-looking cover that fits genre conventions to a fully polished and edited book. But they also include all of the things the traditional publishers use to make your book sellable and discoverable.

These important details matter as much as the book’s quality:

• Keyword and category research
• Accurate metadata
• BISAC codes
• ISBNs
• Slick marketing copy
• Human readable price
• Registration with LOC ( library of congress)

Below is more info on the details of professional publishing standards. Click on a topic to read about it.

Okay, So Professional Standards Matter in Self-Publishing, But is it Ever Okay Ignore Them? 

By now, you probably see why professional standards matter in self-publishing but you may also see them as a burden, a formality, or even as further gatekeeping. But this is not the case. 

Can we think of any situation when it’s okay to ignore these standards? Yes. There is one: If you are publishing a book for yourself, or your close family and friends and don’t plan on distributing it or selling it beyond that. That’s about it, honestly. 

But here’s the deal. When we talk of professional standards we are not judging your work, or how much money you spent. We are talking about things you can do on your own with time, education and dedication. Or things you can get help with when you really can’t pull it off alone. 

For instance, you may not be able to edit your own book to professional standards, but you can make it better. You may not possess the skills and knowledge or talent to design your own book cover, but you can budget for a designer if it’s important. Mostly, it’s not about how fancy your cover looks, but that it fits conventions. It’s not about a cool title, but your metadata and BISAC code choices.

It’s about making a quality book that is sellable and discoverable!  

You Can Self-Publish a Book to Professional Standards No Matter Your Budget!

If you don’t have a big budget, there are a ton of resources out there in the indie author ecosystem to help. You just have to take the time to look and learn. Some self-published  authors get creative and build their audience through short-form publishing platforms like Substack. Other fundraise their publishing costs on funding platforms such as Kickstarter and GoFundMe. 

Whether your budget is big or small, following professional publishing standards is just a matter of education and resources and your own dedication. 

Here at Monkey C Media, we aim to be a resource, not just our clients, but all aspiring authors. In fact, below are some posts specifically aimed at the DIY-minded authors out there. Our whole blog is full of information on industry standards, book marketing and more, and we share this because we want every author to succeed, not just the ones we work with. Browse our blog to find topics you want to know more about. And sign up so you don’t miss our latest posts! 

Here’s that list for the DIYers out there:

These Standards Exist for a Reason

Ultimately, professional standards matter in self-publishing not just for individual authors, but for the industry as a whole. You are part of that indie author industry as an author-publisher and you owe it to yourself, your book, your audience, and the industry that made self-publishing possible to put out the best book you can. And you do that by following the professional standards that help make these books a success. Yes, self-publishing is hard work, but it it’s totally worth the effort if you do it right!