Self-Publishing Children’s Books: 7 Steps To A Best Seller

Do you want to know the method behind self-publishing children’s books?

header image- Self-publishing Children's Books

If you are a writer and want to get your Children’s book self-published, you have come to the right place. 

Everything you need to know about self-publishing a book is just a few words away. 

However, before jumping into the details, let’s talk about self-publishing first. 

Now there are two main types of publishing; traditional publishing and self-publishing. 

Traditional publishing is when you publish a book through an established press. In contrast, self-publishing is when you publish a book without any publishing company’s help. 

This means you have to do the editing, producing, distribution, and marketing of your book by yourself. 

Although both these methods have their pros and cons, we will be talking about self-publishing a children’s book in this article. 

Let’s take a look at all the steps you need to follow once you have written your initial manuscript to become an indie author.

Steps To Self-Publishing Children’s Books

01- Edit Your Manuscript

Self-publishing Children's Books red pen on paper for editing

Editing your manuscript is the first step to getting your book published. Rereading your manuscript at different periods can help you find mistakes and edit your writing.

The key to getting the perfect draft is to:

1- Self-edit as much as you can

Reread your manuscript while keeping in mind your target audience. 

Ask yourself if your story is engaging and if your characters are appealing. 

Another trick is to read your manuscript from a third person’s point of view. 

Imagine yourself as someone else and read the document as if you are reading it for the first time. 

You will undoubtedly make edits that you otherwise wouldn’t have had.

2- Get professional help if needed.

Sometimes you need another person’s opinion. Who knows, they might give you honest reviews that will help better edit your manuscript. 

Work with a professional editor or even ask your family and friends to read your manuscript and give you their honest feedback. 

If that does not work, you can also reach out to beta readers and get their input. 

It’s good to see your manuscript in a different light by getting reviews from others.

02 – Hire An Illustrator

an illustrator designing images: Self-publishing Children's Books

Getting a good illustrator is vital for a children’s book. 

Pictures and colors are what make the text more engaging and captivating. 

So, it is essential to hire an illustrator that would give wings to your words. 

You can ask your family and friends or even search for illustrators on Facebook author groups or freelancing websites like Fiverr.

Fiverr is a freelance marketplace where you can find an illustrator according to your budget. 

03 – Design The Cover And Format The Interior

woman designing on computer

Apart from illustrations, your interior format, from margin size to typeface, plays a vital role in engaging your readers. 

There are many formatting tools available on the web that can help you format your book’s interior.

You can also find a professional designer for more customizable and professional work.

Self-publishing Children's Books: Copyright stamp

Purchasing an ISBN (International standard book number) is necessary to get your book self-published. 

ISBN is a long number paired with a barcode, and you can find it at the end of every book. 

You also need to get your book copyrighted so that no one can copy or print it in any form in the future. 

You can get the ISBN through Amazon services; however, they will own your book because of it. Therefore, it’s always a better idea to buy one on your own instead.

05 – Self-Publish as an eBook or a Print Book

stock image with words: ready to get published

If you are done with all of the above steps, you have finished the first half of getting your book published. Now you need to pick a distribution method for which you have three options:

1- Publish with Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing

Amazon is the most common choice for publishing your book through self-publishing companies. 

The best part about it is that you do not need to have an expert to publish your book on Amazon. It also gives you access to a wide variety of audiences. 

The process of publishing your book through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing is also an easy and simple one.

2- Print on Demand: Self-publishing Children’s Books

If you desire to get your book printed, print on demand is the best option because of the many benefits, such as no limit and no storage issues. 

It is faster than other options, such as Offset printing. 

Moreover, it is also cost-effective, making it the perfect choice for indie authors.

Some famous book print on demand services are

1- IngramSpark

2- Book Baby

3- Blurb

3- eBooks

Publishing a children’s book as an eBook is a great idea. Let’s be honest; we live in an era of technology, where more than half the world uses the internet. 

Publishing eBooks can attract more young readers due to the colorful electronic format. 

EBooks are easier to buy and read. 

As an indie author, eBooks are a great way of reaching a wider audience at lower costs.

06 – Market Your Book Effectively.

Self-publishing Children's Books

I cannot stress the importance of properly marketing your book enough. Selling your book the right way can make or break your book. 

You need to have a proper marketing plan so that your book can reach broader audiences and be read by various eyes. 

The first step to marketing your book is to identify your target audience. 

Children’s books may be the only kind of book that you don’t actually market to your target audience.

Because children aren’t the ones buying books, you market to the people who buy books for children: their parents and relatives.

Secondly, choose an effective marketing platform. 

You can put advertisements on Facebook and other social apps. 

Send out copies to bloggers and book bloggers specifically and have them write reviews. 

You can use various combinations of these ideas to market your book.

07- Create An Excellent Launch Plan

Jumping onto the bandwagon without a launch plan is the worst mistake you can make as an indie author. 

Having a plan does not mean you won’t have any problems along the way. 

However, having one can help you overcome those issues more effectively. 

Also, having an excellent launch plan makes everything a hundred times more manageable than before.

Financial Implications; The Cost of Self-Publishing Children’s Books

When publishing on Amazon, quality sells. And yes, quality costs money.

Many factors can affect your publishing costs like:

  • Length of your book
  • State of the draft
  • The genre and complexity of your book
  • The experience of your contractors
  • The medium of your book

According to Reedsy, for every 1,000 words, authors can expect to pay an average of $24 for developmental editing, $15-20 for copy editing, and $10-$15 for proofreading. 

Hence self-publishing children’s books can be costly, but it has its benefits if done right. 

Getting illustrations can be the most expensive thing about publishing a children’s book. 

Although the price may vary depending on various factors, an illustrated book can cost you between $1,000 and $20,000.

The Bottom Line

Self-publishing a children’s book may seem hard, but planning and following the above steps can make your journey straightforward. 

The best part about self-publishing is that you have a free hand at publishing your book however you want. 

It might feel overwhelming at first, but once you have a copy of your book in your hands, you will feel like all the hard work has paid off. 

So if you are thinking about getting your story published in a book, go for it. It will all be worth it in the end!

Disclosure: This article might contain affiliate links to the resources I refer to. It's at no cost to you, and it's how we pay the bills. Get more info here.

Brooks Conkle Banner Image
Brooks Conkle

Brooks is an entrepreneur, father, husband, & follower of the golden rule. He has over 15 years of experience as an entrepreneur after graduating with a Finance degree from Auburn University. Addicted to starting new business projects, he believes in creating multiple income streams and a life of flexibility. Business should work around your life, not the other way around. He creates content on his website, sharing his projects to help other hustlers in marketing, personal finance, and online business.