I recently gave a 90 minute presentation at the Everything Food Conference in Salt Lake City. It focused on helping food bloggers harness the power of self publishing to publish cookbooks on their own. You can also download a transcript of the speech here: http://selfpublishacookbook.com/images/self-publish-cookbook/presentations/Self-Publishing-Made-Easy-Cookbooks-Jason-Logsdon.pdf
Understanding the Pakistan Budgeting Process: Basics and Key Insights
Take Control: Self Publishing Your Way to Blogging Success
1. Take Control:
Self Publishing Your Way
to Blogging Success
JASON LOGSDON
Cookbook author and self publisher
@jasonlogsdon
#YouCanPublish
2. What You'll Discover
1. Anyone can self publish a cookbook
#YouCanPublish
2. How the publishing process works
3. Self publishing is a valuable
component of any blogging strategy
3. What to Expect
We Will Cover
Self publishing process overview
How publishing fits into your blogging strategy
Key points for a successful cookbook
Step through submitting to Amazon
4. Who Am I?
Degree in Psychology (go Utes)
Became a Programmer
Web development
Fantasy sports
Only Started Cooking a Few Years Before
Publishing a Book
First cookbook was on Sous Vide in 2009
7. How Do I Get Started?
What are you trying to accomplish?
Make Money (Monetizing)
Spread an Idea (Viral)
Market Something (Marketing)
8. General Publishing Process
Write the book!
1. Determine what the book is about and who it is for
2. Research the material for the book
3. Write, test, and photograph the recipes
4. Edit and proofread the book
5. Choose the book format - print, PDF, Kindle, Nook
6. Design book - cover, fonts, recipe layout
7. Export the book as PDF or ePub then upload
8. Get paid!
9. Self Publishing Considerations
Financial Components
Royalties
Advance
Traditional
Advance of $5k to $15k
Royalty of 5% to 8% of profit
Self Published
100% of the profit is yours
About 20% to 40% of list price
70% for ebooks
No advance
13. Choosing Your Subject
What makes a good subject?
Interesting to you
Focused around your blogging strategy
Focused around the subject of your blog
Popular but not crowded
Change size to fit competition
Don’t be Afraid to Follow Your Gut
14.
15. Choosing Your Avatars
Who is your book for?
First time bakers looking to learn the ins and outs of basic
bread making
Professional bakers hoping to perfect their craft
Gluten-intolerant fathers exploring gluten-free baking
Colorado stoners hoping to add weed to their baguettes
16. Testing Recipes
Testing recipes yourself
Having others test your recipes
Friends and Family
Your Readers
Professional Testers
17. Testing Recipes
Testing recipes yourself
Having others test your recipes
Friends and Family
Your Readers
Professional Testers
26. Digital Print on Demand
Positives
Easy to use
Work with Amazon and Ingram for distribution
Only print what you need, no inventory
Very little risk or cash investment
Negatives
Hard to do unique or unusual designs
Lower quality printing
No bulk discounts
Popular Companies
CreateSpace, owned by Amazon
IngramSpark, owned by Ingram
27. Offset Printing
Positives
Inexpensive for large quantities
High print quality
Complete control over internal and external design
Negatives
Minimum quantities required
◦ Usually 500 to 5,000 books
Often don’t handle distribution
Upfront risk if your books don’t sell
29. Mix and Match Printers
Initially Used CreateSpace
Great Amazon distribution
Paperback cookbooks with black and white interior
Began Also Publishing Through IngramSpark
Better general, non-Amazon distribution
Published hardback, full-color version
Exploring Off-Set Printers
Cheaper for bulk wholesale puchases
32. What is an ePub?
Basically an HTML site
HTML, CSS, Images
How to Create an ePub File
Export an ePub
◦ Easy but limited control
Outsource the Creation
◦ Under $100 on eLance
Create it From Scratch
◦ Time consuming
◦ eBook Design and Development Guide
34. Launching and Promoting
Start Early
Time Launch with Amazon Release
Use Launch Promotions
Release Free Content
Share Articles on Other Blogs
Use Your Newsletter
Solicit Amazon Reviews
35. Wholesaling
Sell books at a discount to other companies
Companies in your niche
Equipment manufacturers
Sellers of ingredients
General cooking stores
Local and regional bookstores
Farmers markets and food fairs
Wholesale line sheet
37. Publish a Practice Book
Our style, design, and layout evolve as we get more
familiar with producing content and the tools available
Create a small, sample book
“Best Of” collection of blog recipes
25 favorite family recipes
Top 30 food photographs
Go through the publishing process
Release on Amazon
Create an ebook version
38. Takeaways
Know you can publish a cookbook
Feel comfortable with the self publishing process
Understand how publishing fits into your blogging
strategy
Explore notes, links and more information at
www.SelfPublishACookbook.com/Everything
#YouCanPublish
Now Get Writing!