Here are just a few simple tips to help you get started in owning and operating your own publishing company.
Preparation:
For the purposes of this article, we are going to assume that you have already written up a solid business plan. What? You haven t? Well, creating a business plan is the very first thing that any business, no matter how small, should do (take a look online for some free templates, guides, and tutorials to get you started). A business plan is a vital document that sets the tone for your organization in every way possible including markets and marketing, financial planning, and goal setting. A good business plan can help you right the ship if you veer off course, and gives you something to refer to in times of need.
You will also have to contact your local and state governments and jump through all of their hoops to register your business and fill out all other necessary forms. Don t sweat this part (everyone has to do it) just make sure that you give yourself enough time to do whatever is necessary to start a legitimate enterprise.
Last but not least (and maybe even first), choose a great name for your publishing endeavor. Make a big list of possible names, cut it down to the best five, and carry that list around with you. When you have minute here and there, glance over the list and see which name pops out at you and best conveys what it is you intend to accomplish. Get the opinions of others, too.
Office and Equipment:
If you intend to run your company out of your home, do the best you can to dedicate a whole room to the venture. Get a computer with lots of memory and an external hard drive for backups, a high quality all in one printer, and start to think about how you are going to put your books together. Thermal binding machines (those which produce hardcover and softcover books) are inexpensive and super easy to use. Having this kind of machine on hand is a great way to save costs, especially for smaller run books. There are other types of binding machines that might be appropriate as well, depending on what you are trying to do. Lots of art and photo books use twin loop sire systems that are elegant and functional. Take a look online, do some cost comparisons, and you may well find that doing your own printing and binding in house is the way to go.
As far as software, you will need a word processing program (MS Word is fairly universal), and a typesetting and layout program. If you don t know how to operate the latter, you may have to either outsource or take some classes.
Getting Submissions:
You are going to have to look for ways to draw the attention of writers and to let them know that you are in business and looking for submissions. Before you do that, however, you will want to create a great looking website for potential writers to view. This website will be the face of your organization, so do what you have to do to make it a good one. Then, put some ads in writer s publications, advertise and post on online forums, and make other efforts to get writers to your site where they will get a sense of what it is you are looking for and what your submission procedures are.
Author Resource:-
Jeff McRitchie is the designer and Director of Marketing for http://www.mybinding.com .He has written over 500 articles on binding machines,binding covers,binders,laminators,binding supplies,laminating supplies,paper handling equipments,index tabs, and shredders.
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