Finding a great publisher takes time as you want them to meet all your demands. Luckily, the demand for reliable and experienced publishers grows which is the reason why choosing one becomes easier these days. However, the problem of choice still remains relevant as there are so many to select from. Here are a few factors having considered which you will be able to choose a publisher that will manage to meet all your requirements and provide you with the quality product you have been looking for.
Team of editors
If you have never worked with a publishing house in question, the first and most important thing you should consider is how qualified their team of editors is. Obviously, you can’t figure out how good the team of editors is until you try. However, risking everything and addressing your request to a publishing house you have never worked with is not an option as well. For this reason, what you should do is conduct your own research and ask around. First and foremost, try to find out as much as possible about the publishing company. Look through customer testimonials and independent reviews. Secondly, ask if any of your friends or colleges have worked with this particular company. Perhaps, they can tell you more. Thirdly, ask for a sample of their editors’ work. Finally, do your own research and evaluate their editors based on their previous work (provided you can find any).
The publisher’s track record
Reputation matters. There is no need to explain why. Smaller publishing houses typically offer a more affordable price. However, quality is not always guaranteed unless you either know the people working there or have used their services before. For this reason, it is much more reasonable to address your publishing request to a publisher you can fully trust. This way, everything will be done on time. What is more, you will now have to figure out how to complete everything before the specified timeline in case a publisher that offers cheap prices does not meet the required deadline. In other words, the more you know about the publisher, the better. Besides, you will also be able to recommend them to others after they have completed your order.
Contract terms
It’s time to talk business. This is one of the most significant aspects. If you have just entered the world of publishing, all of this may be quite overwhelming for you. That is why, having a lawyer on hand who will explain the terms and all the aspects you are not certain about will definitely come in handy. Taking into account the fact that each publisher handles their terms differently, you should allocate enough time to familiarize yourself with them before you make the final decision. Another useful thing you can do is compare contract terms from different publishers. This way, you will be able to see what you’re missing and what you’re gaining if you are going to choose a particular publisher.
Your own preference
No matter whether you as an author are looking for possible publishers to work with, or have delegated this task to your team, your personal preference should be one of the decisive factors. Obviously, it should be based on the advice of experts on your team. However, don’t forget that sometimes a gut feeling is important as well. If you feel like choosing a particular publisher will turn into a fruitful cooperation, you should definitely consider the option under consideration. Depending on the terms you have negotiated, you will have the right to terminate your cooperation and get certain privileges or even receive some money back. However, this option is the last resort as everyone wants to find a perfect publishing house on their first try. It is not always the way it goes, but it is still a reality. So, you should aspire to find professionals in every field you require assistance in. The more experienced you are going to become, the easier this whole process will be. Yet, choosing an experienced and professional first publishing house will certainly set the right tone and will motivate you to collaborate with others more often. Taking everything into consideration, think carefully and make sure that you have allocated enough time in order to choose the right publisher.
