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When it comes to publishing a book, third-party publishers have long dominated the market. With the rise of the Internet and the dotcom boom, however, an unprecedented opportunity for new authors seeking to bypass traditional methods of publishing in favor of self-publishing was born. Although today self-publishers represent a comparatively small percentage of the market in terms of sales, the practice of self-publishing is on the rise, particularly among aspiring authors seeking a fast, easy, and affordable way to distribute their book to the public. And-unlike costly and exclusive traditional publishing houses-self-publishing allows authors the rare opportunity to retain creative control over their book, resulting in a higher-quality, above-par product. While self-publishing requires an author to undertake any and all costs associated with publication, distribution, and marketing of their book, royalties incurred from self-published books will be significantly higher than those from books released by mainstream publishers. The relatively inexpensive cost of self-publishing-combined with the professional formatting and cover design most self-publishing companies offer their authors-makes it an affordable alternative to traditional publishing. Authors may have their printed book in hand in as little as a few months-as opposed to the years it takes for traditional publishers to push a manuscript through development. While many self-published books are marketed to more traditional retail outlets such as Borders, Barnes & Noble, and Target, self-published authors can also opt to market directly to their target audience via websites, email, and other promotional tools-thus ensuring the greatest return on their product. Thanks to recent advances in technology, self-publishing also allows for copies of an author's book to be printed only as the need arises. As the push to be environmentally conscious increases, so too does the methods by which printers are able to electronically store books, removing the need to warehouse large quantities of printed books. |
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