What can a hybrid publisher offer you that self-publishing cannot?
When writers are trying to decide which way to go when publishing their books, many are confused by the vast array of differences that exist between hybrid publishers, vanity presses, and/or small presses. Specifically, what benefits can they bring to the table as opposed to handling it all yourself?
It is true that there are many different business structures and program offerings in the liminal world between self-publishing and traditional publishing, because, the truth is, it’s not a regulated market. There are no strict professional standards for what is and is not allowed at these small- and medium-sized publishers.
So how can you possibly make an informed decision?
Let’s begin with some definitions before we get into the specifics:
A hybrid publisher is a publishing house in which the revenue comes from both book sales and fees charged to the author for the execution of their publishing services. In this model, the publisher and author collaborate to share costs and risks.
A vanity press is a publishing house where the author pays to have the book published, and signs a restrictive contract which involves surrendering certain rights.
A small press is a publisher whose revenue comes from the sale of books, and their annual sales fall below a certain level or below a certain number of titles published.
However, in reality, there is often a lot of crossover between these different models in the market. Different publishers can pick and choose how they conduct business, earn revenue, and/or support their authors. Unfortunately, there are many bad actors out there who use these vague rules to take advantage of writers who don’t know what to watch out for.
In general, writers who are self-publishing are responsible for:
- Researching, finding, vetting, project managing, and paying their Entire Team:
- Including editors, formatters, book cover designers, beta readers, and promotional partners
- Researching, creating, paying for, and promoting their Author Website
- Determining which Marketing Channels to use (ex: social media, ads, paid reviews, etc.)
- Creating a Launch Strategy, including creating and posting personalized content, images, and videos
- Researching, finding, and vetting their Publishing Platform
- Securing a Custom ISBN, making sure their Manuscript & Cover Files are set up correctly, Uploading them to their publishing platform, and Ordering Proofs in time for launch
- Receiving Royalties after publication (100% net profit)
This means they are responsible for everything that goes into writing, publishing, and selling a book.
On the other hand, when they are working with a hybrid publisher or vanity press, the writers are typically only responsible for:
- Paying publisher’s invoices as well as recurring third party costs
- Researching, creating, paying for, and promoting their Author Website
- Determining which Marketing Channels to use (ex: social media, ads, paid reviews, etc.)
- Creating a Launch Strategy, including creating and posting personalized content, images, and videos
- Ordering Proofs in time for launch
Whereas the publisher is responsible for:
- Researching, finding, vetting, project managing, and paying their Entire Team
- Researching, finding, and vetting their Publishing Platform
- Assigning a Non-Custom ISBN, making sure their Manuscript & Cover Files are set up correctly, and Uploading them to their publishing platform
- Receiving Royalties after publication (percentage varies)
While it often seems like the publisher/press is going to take care of everything for the writer, this is often not the case. Many publishers/presses will even go so far as to advertise themselves as one-stop-shops in order to get the writers to sign a contract with them, then surprise them with the ugly details later on.
I’ve heard way too many horror stories of writers getting taken advantage of this way. They are all excited that someone else is going to take care of the hard work for them, only to realize too late that they were sold a false promise and/or signed away the rights to their book(s).
The most common broken promises boil down to three things:
- Marketing Channel & Launch Strategies
- Publishing Platform & ISBN(s)
- Royalties
Let’s break them down individually.
Hybrid publishers may or may not include Marketing Channel & Launch Strategies. If they do, it’s often at an extra cost. This means that the writer is still responsible for generating the actual sales of the book(s) and must learn how to market their work(s) month after month after month in order to get anywhere close to earning back what they originally spent on the publishing process.
The Publishing Platform & ISBN(s) almost always belong to the publisher, not to the author. After publication, the publisher usually owns the book files & distribution for a predetermined amount of time (typically for several years). This means that the publishing imprint for the book(s) will be connected to the publisher, not the author. The writer will have no access to the backend sales data nor will they be able to sell their books through other distributors (like third-party retailers, independent bookstores, or libraries).
The author also receives a predetermined percentage of net profit from their Royalties (usually between 30-50%) from the publisher. Profits almost always go to the publishing house first, then a check is cut for the author later on. And that’s after the sales platforms take their cut. The percentage of royalties that Amazon takes, for example, can rise up to 70%, so the publisher will take 30-50% of the 30% that’s left over, then cut a check for whatever is remaining for the author (which usually amounts to pennies).
The moral of the story is to pay very close attention to the details whenever you are considering a contract with a hybrid publisher or vanity press. Get real clear on the benefits and disadvantages of going that route, the latter may very well outweigh the former.
Because I’ve seen too many good writers get screwed over by these kinds of contracts, I’ve actually created an alternative. After publishing my first two novels, getting them sold in six countries, and getting them picked up by three independent bookstores as well as a local Barnes & Noble store, I decided to systemize my process for my audiences.
This is what I call my Self-Publishing Support Services. This way, the Publishing Platform & ISBN(s) always belong to the author, the author has full autonomy over the book files & distribution, and they receive 100% net profit of their Royalties.
Also, my full service package always includes Marketing Channel & Launch Strategies so that the writer doesn’t have to try and become a marketing expert on their own overnight.
If you’re interested in learning more, you can find the full breakdown here, and you are always more than welcome to reach out to me with any questions you have along the way. I am wishing you the best of luck on your journey to becoming the author you always dreamed of becoming. Let’s make those dreams happen!
