The decision to publish a book is very exciting! It causes the creative juices to flow and the eyes to light up. But wait before you start the publishing process, know about the seven most important steps you positive need to understand before publishing your book. Make sure that you take every step into careful consideration so that your roadway to success is an easy one:

1. Know why you are writing a book. Are you writing your memoirs for the family, are you writing a community cookbook, are you writing a book of regional interest or are you writing a national bestseller? All of these goals are valid, but each wants has different implications for your business plan. Know why you are writing and understand that you might create that bestseller if that is your goal.

2. Treat publishing as a business. You are passing beyond the realm of author into the exciting world of publishing. You are not just a writer, you are about to become a publisher who target to produce a profitable book, and you want to keep the profits for yourself.

3. Write a business plan. Being aware of the business aspect of publishing is not an end in itself you absolutely need to formally write your plan. It does not need to be a fifty page document with every accounting possibility recorded, but it should outline all of the costs that you will encounter from obtaining the necessary funds to knowing the price of mailing a book. The business plan needs to account for future expenses as well as pre-publication expenses.

4. Plan for publicity and branding. You must plan for the publicity and branding of your book. You can have the best book in the world, but if no one knows about it, no one will buy it. You dont want to print books that sit in your garage. You want to print books that will sell, sell, sell!

5. Write about a subject that you know well. Do not write about something that you cant talk about without effort. Write about a subject with which you are very familiar and that excites you. Writing the book will establish you as an expert in your field, so choose the topic that causes all the people you understand to come to you for advice. The publicity will then be so effortless that you will love being the star.

6. Know who will buy your book. So many authors think that everyone needs and should buy their books. Not so. Perhaps every body needs their books, but not many people will want to buy. Research and know WHO will actually WANT your book and market, sell to them. They will buy!

7. Look for non-bookstore markets and do not be afraid of the large discounts. Bookstores are a hugely important sell for most authors, but they are far from being the only place to sell books. There are many non-traditional markets that buy books in large quantities with no returns. This is a dazzling advertise sales made are guaranteed sales not consignment sales. Do not be afraid of the larger discounts when you build those large volume sales. The books you sell are actually SOLD.

Think how much more pleasant a journey is if you know which fork in the pathway will lead you to smooth driving and which fork in the path will lead you through potholes. Knowing the most workable publishing steps before you print will make your publishing career fun and profitable.