What Industry Standards Should a Self-Published Book Meet?
What industry standards should a self-published book meet? It should look and read like a book from a professional publisher. Readers should never be able to tell, from quality alone, that it was self-published.
Standards cover things like editing, cover design, interior layout, front and back matter, and metadata such as your title, description, and categories.
In this article, you will get a clear answer, then the solution step by step, and then an industry hack that makes meeting these standards easier and helps you avoid common hurdles.
Questions and Answers
Q: What is front matter and back matter?
A: Front matter includes the title page and copyright page. Back matter includes the author bio, acknowledgments, and other books.
Q: Do I need a copyright page?
A: Yes. It is standard and shows readers your book was published with care.
The Solution
Have the book professionally edited and proofread.
Use a genre-appropriate, professional cover.
Include a title page and copyright page.
Use consistent fonts, margins, and chapter openings.
Add an author bio and a call to action at the end.
Order a printed proof and check every page.
The Industry Hack
Pick a well-known traditionally published book in your genre and copy its structure page by page: what comes first, where page numbers start, how chapters open. Using a professional book as your model is the fastest way to meet industry standards.
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Want to see how your book measures up? Download the free 10-point checklist at selfpublishmedia.com.
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