Publishing companies are easy to find because people are able to search using the internet. You may be asking yourself, how do I find a publisher near me? How do I find a publisher that is reputable and want the best for you and your book?
There are hundreds, if not thousands of publishing companies that are appearing because it has become really easy for anyone to create their own website and to call themselves as business with no qualifications but because ‘they feel like it’. This has, therefore, lead to an increase in scamming and causing more people to be skeptical of the publishing companies that are reputable.
However, there are some ways that you can learn to tell the fake publishing companies from the highly respected ones. It is important to note that not all small publishing companies are the result of an unqualified individual or a scam. There are some important things to take into consideration when picking the right publisher for you.
Find Out What You Want From Your Local Publisher
One of the most important things to know is what you want from a publisher. This will ensure you know exactly what you want and expect from a publisher and allows the chances of scammers talking you into services that you know you do not need or want. Further, you should carefully research the companies that you find online. If they have a phone number, it would be best to call them. This will help you to grasp the kind of business they are from the beginning and before you decide to invest your time, or money with them. If they answer their phone in a way that a major business would, e.g. they say the name of the company and announce who is speaking when they answer; this will help you get a feel for the professionalism of the company.
When you ask yourself, how do I find a publisher near me? One way to tell whether a publishing company is reputable or not is by seeing what services they offer and how much knowledge they have surrounding these services. Always make sure the publisher can answer all your questions, even the tricky ones, like the different stages of editing, how long it takes to get a book published, and how they can specifically help you. To know whether you are receiving the right information, you need to do your research and ask around.
Listen To What Most Publishing Companies Are Telling You
Before you choose the publishing company that can supposedly publish your book in 2 months check with other publishing companies because three of them might say that it will take 8 months, it is probably wise to go with a publisher that has said a similar timeframe to all the other publishers. If a publisher says they can publish it faster, chances are they are just saying this to get you to pay more money.
Is The Publishing Company Near You Or Is It Based Online?
Is their publishing company purely based online? If the answer is yes, this could very well be a scam. Go with a company that will let you communicate with them either face-to-face, this will help with finding a publisher near you too because they will be in a location close enough to meet in-person, or will happily arrange to meet with you via Skype, Zoom, or another video communication service. If someone from the publishing company is willing to meet with you, this is a good sign that they are legit and not just a start-up business used to create quick and easy money.
Plus, meeting with people and being able to see their face when communicating is a great way to gain a better judge of character and to see whether that person has the best intentions for you and your book. Further, this can help you gain knowledge about whether they are only interested in gaining your money from you or gaining a relationship with you. The most reputable publishing companies have their location on their website, so you can see where they are based and you can go and visit them. Be wary of publishing companies that hide this information and don’t encourage people attending their office.
Does Their Publishing Company Have Reviews?
Do these publishing companies have reviews? Reviews are a great way to assess the reliability and legitimacy of a company. If there are a number of reviews on the company’s Facebook page, Google page, or if they were recommended to you by someone you know who has published with them, then they are reputable. However, if their reviews are on their own website, be careful because, like mentioned above, anyone can create a website, therefore, anyone can put positive reviews on their own website regardless of whether they are real or not. Look out for people who have added a review but have a weird username, these could be bot reviews. Basically, the more real reviews, the more reputable the publishing companies are.
Although there are a number of publishing companies out there, it is important to know who is going to be beneficial in the publishing of your book, or who will be detrimental. By reading and following these tips, you are sure to avoid unreliable publishing companies, ensure your book is only published with a company that is right for you and has your best interest at heart. This will help you in ‘finding a publisher near me’.
