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How To Start A Book Publishing Company
In Nigeria
Book publishing is one of the oldest businesses in the world. It
started with the invention of writing and the introduction of
printing centuries ago and to date has remained a relevant and
profitable industry.
Book publishing is the production and distribution of books of
all kinds. It is making available printed works like self-made
books, textbooks, newspapers, magazines, journals, e.t.c to
different readers. It begins by turning the idea of an author
into what can be accessed by a wide range of people.
Publishing is the activity of making information, literature,
music, software, and other content available to the public for
sale or for free. It can also involve the act of distributing
written information through print and digitally.
Book publishing starts with soliciting and accepting of
marketable manuscripts; proofreading and designing; printing and
distribution of books; then selling to book retailers or
directly to the final consumers from the website. In this
context, there is a contractual agreement between the author and
the publishing company on the payment or commission pattern.
Beyond the profit, the industry is an impact and result-driven
one. The fundamental purpose is to pass on knowledge from one
generation to the other by bringing to reality the author’s
dream of continuous intellectual development.
With technological advancements, it is easier than ever to start
and run your own publishing company. It is more affordable and
less complicated as long as you know your onions.
Set Up An Office
For a publishing business, you need a physical office where you
can close deals with clients. Your office should be accessible
and motorable for easy carriage of printed materials. In setting
up an office, you need a computer, printer, dedicated phone,
etc. Also, the design of the office should be modern with
designated workspaces.
To operate a book publishing company, ensure that the authors
own the original manuscripts that you’re publishing so you don’t
get into trouble. Also, terms of the business transaction need
to be agreed on. To take care of these, they need to sign
legally binding documents prepared by a lawyer.
Print The Book
During the design, the format of the book is decided, whether it
should be print or digital format. If it’s going to be in a
printing format, then printing begins. First, print a pre-press
proof for a final check in case of omitted errors at the
previous stages.
When printing, it can be printed in large numbers at once,
printed on demand (POD) or web-to-print. Large print means
producing a large number of units of the book at once. Printing
on demand is the printing of books in units based on customer
demand. While the web-to-print is a more streamlined way of
connecting customers to printing through an online medium.
After printing, stack the sheets together through the process of
binding.
Distribution And Book Promotion
As established, a publishing company is responsible for bringing
a book from the ideation stage to the last point where it gets
to the reader. Hence, book promotion is also part of the
responsibility of a publisher. As soon as you sign a contract
with the author, you are to ensure that all terms and conditions
are fulfilled by your company.
Marketing
Once the book publishing company is ready, the next thing is to
look for clients. Paying clients is the lifeblood of your
business, so you have to develop strategies to get customers who
need your services.
Firstly, create a website. A website will make your contact,
work samples, and all your information accessible to people all
over the world.
Also, you have to have a good digital footprint so that you can
easily be found on Google when keywords related to your industry
are used.
To improve your online presence, list the company on business
directories, create a Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Youtube, and
other social media pages.
Get an ISBN Number
The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is an
identification code allotted to published books. It’s also used
to track book sales, so you will need it if you want your books
to be sold in proper bookstores. The ISBN can be purchased from
the National Library of Nigeria (NLN). Guidelines for obtaining
ISBNs, as well as locations of the National Library’s offices
nationwide, can be found on the NLN’s website.
Write a business plan
Whatever your plans are for your business, it’s important to
have them documented. A business plan details a company’s
organizational structure, products and services, competition,
marketing strategies, and financial projections for a specific
length of time from its creation. It serves as a roadmap which
you can refer to and measure your progress against. It’s also a
key document to have if you’re seeking a loan for the business
from investors. Your business plan, if well researched and
written, will be an evidence to show that you have scalable
goals and a strategy for reaching them.
With the advent of digital information systems, book publishing
has expanded from print to digital. It has paved way for PDFs,
e-books, websites, blogs, online journals, print-on-demand, etc,
and has gone from offline to online. Also, it is now a wide
profession that requires the coordination of different
stakeholders to turn a manuscript into a book.
It is a much-patronised business, with authors creating their
publishing companies in order to self-publish their own works.
Also, investors and entrepreneurs venture into it to
independently serve the need of the general market. Whichever
way it’s looked at, a book publishing business is a profitable
venture owning to the influx of authors and the demand from the
masses. Get our practical training guide on Book publishing, These resources provide guidance and practical knowledge, teaching you industry-standard techniques and helping you stay updated with the latest trends in Book Publishing Business. It will introduce you to key narrative devices and all what you need to know set up your own Book Publishing Company.
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