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Self-Publishing: Mid Year Evaluation for My Small Business

ByShannon L. Mokry

Wow! I don’t even have words to describe the first half of 2020. In terms of business plans, out the window. Goals? Out the window? Survival mode? That is where a midyear review comes in.

Don’t think that a review can only happen two time a year, if your smart your evaluating all the time, but I’m taking this time to write down my thoughts, my actions, and the reasons for them. If you’ve spent the last 3 months reacting, and not thinking about the long term results, now might be the time for some reflection.

If you’ve already done this, GREAT! Please take a minute and share your thoughts, I know I’d love to hear how others are handling this.

What Kind of Business Am I?

Specifically I’m working as a micropublisher. If I view myself simply as a self published author, then I wouldn’t be doing myself or my business proper credit, and I wouldn’t be looking at all the business aspects that need to be considered. If your an author or an illustrator using the traditional model, then your review will be vastly different than mine, but this might give you a small insight into what the big guys that pay you are thinking. Or maybe not 😀

Here are my options for what to call myself (Yes I am more than one):

  • Sole Proprietor
  • Author/illustrator
  • Self Publisher
  • Micropublisher
  • Small Publishing House
  • Single Author Publisher
  • LLC
  • Did I miss something?

Its Okay to Mourn

Mourn the ‘could of been’, then move forward. I had big plans for 2020. I was going to move from Micropublisher, to Small Publishing House. I sold well over 600 books last year, I published 6 titles, things where looking good! I was set to publish 6-8 books this year, I had events scheduled through July, with several dates already set for the fall. Then Covid. After you mourn, what next? Giving up isn’t an option for me so…

Weighing the Options

Both have good arguments. To swivel or pivot would mean to focus on something else for a time. It could be setting all my current work aside, and push off publishing dates until next year or even later. Focusing instead on creating value for the works I already have out there. This is a good plan, and I will do some of this. You can already see an increase in my blog posts as I catch up on providing more value for those kiddo’s who are antsy at home and their care givers needing some way to give them direction. But some of the things I want to do cost money, and I don’t have enough inflow without all those cancelled events. This is limiting because it is action with no real way to monitor return.

To stay the course then? Just keep working and publishing on my previous schedule? That doesn’t work either, again that takes money. Yes I self illustrate, but publishing still costs money. So I am delaying some of my books. At the moment I am planning to end the year with 4 books, 5 if things pick up. So do I swivel or stay the course?

Implementation

My plan is to do a little of both. I’m still working on new books. I have one more that I will definitely publish this year, its already up for pre-order. (You can order it here.)I have plans for another, I will finish it and keep working through my slush pile, whether they go to print this year or some year in the future. Stopping now could mean losing my momentum.

Sample of my blog posts that create value.

Invest what I can in online ads. Utilize my free days on Kindle Unlimited more effectively (paired with paid ads). Build my website so that I can effectively promote my books by promoted my free resources. Work on making more teacher and librarian connections.

I hope my thoughts and process have been helpful to you. Did it change your mind or help clarify anything? I’d love to hear from you.

Blessings,

Shannon L. Mokry

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