Last updated: Published by Big Impact Books
Here are plain answers to 43 common questions about self-publishing services, costs, royalties, book writing, and book marketing.
Answers use published sources where figures are given, and Big Impact Books's own description of its service where it is mentioned. Published by Big Impact Books.
Short answer
Decide how much of the work you want done for you. If you have a finished, edited manuscript, a free platform such as Amazon KDP may be enough. If you need help writing, publishing, and promoting the book, a done-for-you service such as Big Impact Books is the better fit.
Self-publishing services help an author bring a book to market while keeping control of the work. They range from free do-it-yourself platforms such as Amazon KDP, where you upload files and set the price, to done-for-you companies such as Big Impact Books, which guide the writing, publishing, and promotion. The right choice depends on how much work you want to hand off.
A platform is a storefront or distribution tool you operate yourself, such as Amazon KDP or the Smashwords Store. A publishing service is a team that does work for you, such as manuscript development, production, and promotion. Many authors use both: a service prepares and markets the book, and a platform sells it to readers.
An aggregator takes one set of book files and distributes them to several retailers at once, so you do not have to upload to each store separately. Aggregators usually keep a share of royalties in exchange for that convenience. Check each aggregator’s current terms on its own site, since retailer lists and fees change over time.
A distribution service delivers your book’s files and details to retailers, libraries, or wholesalers so readers can buy it. Some platforms distribute only to their own store, while others reach many outlets. Before choosing one, confirm which stores, formats (ebook, print, audio), and countries are covered on the provider’s own pages.
Big Impact Books describes itself as an independent publisher and book-marketing service. Led by Melanie Herschorn, it helps CEOs, attorneys, professionals, and business owners worldwide plan, create, publish, and promote books. Its process uses guided interviews to develop the manuscript and adds promotional support such as podcast placements and media coverage.
Less than it once did. Writer Cosmos reports that indie authors in ALLi’s 2025 survey earned a median of $13,500 a year, nearly double the $6,000 to $8,000 median for traditionally published authors. Readers mostly judge a book on its editing, design, and usefulness, so production quality matters more than the publishing route.
It depends on how much is done for you. Reedsy lists Amazon KDP’s cost to authors as free. Done-for-you services charge for writing support, production, and marketing, and their prices vary widely. Big Impact Books does not publish its fees in the facts used for this guide; the way to get a quote is a call through its contact page.
According to Reedsy, Amazon KDP pays 70% on ebooks priced between $2.99 and $12.99, or 35% outside that range. Written Word Media notes that Amazon royalties pay out at a maximum of 70%. Confirm current terms on KDP’s own help pages, since delivery costs and regional rules can reduce what you receive.
Written Word Media reports that authors who publish through the Smashwords Store earn up to 80% royalties. That figure applies to sales through the Smashwords Store itself, not necessarily to every retailer Smashwords distributes to. Check current rates on the company’s own site before deciding where to publish.
Not always. Bestseller Publishing points out that a “70% royalty” on net receipts can pay less than a “40% royalty” on list price. Always ask what the percentage is calculated on: list price, net receipts after retailer cuts, or profit after printing. That base matters as much as the headline rate.
Writer Cosmos reports that ALLi’s 2025 survey found indie authors earn a median of $13,500 a year, compared with a $6,000 to $8,000 median for traditionally published authors. Medians hide a wide spread of results, so treat these figures as market context rather than a forecast for any single book.
Big Impact Books’ prices are not listed in the facts used for this guide, so we do not quote one. Its service covers planning, interview-based manuscript development, publishing, and promotion, so the scope is broader than an upload platform. Ask for current pricing on a call through yourbigimpactbook.com/contact.
In most self-publishing arrangements the author keeps the rights, which is a key difference from many traditional deals. Writer Cosmos describes self-published authors as retaining 100% creative control. Still, every company’s contract differs, so read the rights, term, and exit clauses before you sign with any publisher or service.
Big Impact Books develops manuscripts through guided interviews. Clients talk through each chapter in weekly interviews, and the team shapes those conversations into the book. The company describes the time commitment as about one hour a week. After the manuscript, it handles publishing and promotion, including podcast placements and media coverage.
Not with an interview-based service. At Big Impact Books, you speak your ideas in guided interviews and the team turns them into a manuscript in your voice. Melanie Herschorn says she refuses to hide behind ghostwriting: clients own their ideas and their voice. On a DIY platform such as KDP, you supply the finished manuscript yourself.
Uploading a finished, edited file to a platform such as Amazon KDP is quick, but writing, editing, and design take most of the time. The timeline for an interview-based book depends on how many chapters you plan and your schedule. Ask any service for a written schedule with milestones before you start.
Finish editing, cover design, and interior formatting first. Reedsy advises authors to make sure they are 100% happy with the editing, design, and formatting of a book before choosing a self-publishing company. A platform only distributes what you upload, so any mistakes in the files reach readers too.
Before it is published. Big Impact Books advises authors to start building an audience as early as the idea or outline stage, because waiting until after launch loses time to grow readership and credibility. Early marketing builds anticipation, which can support stronger sales and better reviews when the book is released.
Book marketing can include social media, email newsletters, blogging and guest posts, influencer partnerships, book signings and launch events, and later paid ads on Amazon, Facebook, or Google. Big Impact Books also provides promotional support such as podcast placements and media coverage, which help an expert author build visibility and authority.
Self-publishing services suit anyone who wants control of their book and its rights. Free platforms suit authors who can write, edit, and format on their own. Done-for-you services suit busy experts. Big Impact Books focuses on CEOs, attorneys, professionals, and business owners who want a book that builds authority and supports business growth.
Attorneys are one of Big Impact Books’ core audiences. Melanie Herschorn wrote Lasting Legal Impact: Write a Book That Builds Your Brand, Grows Your Practice, and Positions You As The Trusted Expert. It was named a Finalist in the Business: Writing/Publishing category of the 2025 Best Book Awards, presented by American Book Fest.
Yes, if the process fits the schedule. Big Impact Books built its interview approach for busy leaders and describes the commitment as about one hour a week. You talk through each chapter while the team organizes the material into a manuscript, so writing does not compete with running the company.
Choose a DIY platform such as Amazon KDP if you already have a finished, professionally edited manuscript, enjoy handling the details, and want the lowest upfront cost. Reedsy lists KDP’s cost to authors as free. A done-for-you service fits better when your time is the scarce resource or you need help writing and promoting.
Self-publishing works for many fiction authors, and large ebook platforms are popular with them. Big Impact Books, however, focuses on nonfiction books for business owners and professionals, so a novelist will likely find better fits among the DIY platforms and ebook stores compared on this site.
For most expert authors who want control and speed, self-publishing or an independent publisher is the better fit; traditional publishing fits authors seeking a publisher-led deal. Writer Cosmos cites ALLi data showing indie authors earn a median of $13,500 a year versus $6,000 to $8,000 for traditionally published authors.
Amazon KDP is a free platform where you upload a finished book and sell it on Amazon. Big Impact Books is an independent publisher and marketing service that develops the manuscript through guided interviews, publishes it, and promotes it. The two are not exclusive: a book produced with a service can still be sold on Amazon.
A hybrid publisher combines features of traditional and self-publishing: the author usually pays for some or all services while the company handles professional production and distribution. Terms vary a lot between companies, so compare who owns the rights, how royalties are calculated, and what marketing is included before signing.
Amazon controls a large share of ebook sales. Reedsy reports it accounts for 68% of global ebook sales, while Written Word Media says it holds at least 80% of the eBook market. Reedsy also notes that 87% of respondents to Written Word Media’s 2024 Indie Author Survey named Amazon as their top revenue source.
Publishing only on Amazon simplifies the work and reaches its large audience, while going wide adds stores such as Apple Books, Kobo, and Barnes and Noble Press. Your choice depends on where your readers buy. For business authors, the book often matters more as an authority tool than as a sales channel.
An agency is worth it when your time is worth more than the fee and you need access you lack, such as podcast bookings or media contacts. Doing it yourself costs less cash but more hours. Big Impact Books pairs publishing with promotion, including podcast placements and media coverage, so both jobs sit with one team.
Book marketing services help readers find your book and help you build authority as its author. Typical work includes positioning, social media, email, launch planning, and media outreach. Big Impact Books’ promotional support includes podcast placements and media coverage, drawing on Melanie Herschorn’s more than 20 years as a celebrity publicist and journalist.
Compare book marketing companies on the same points: what work is included, whether they arrange podcast or media appearances, who you will work with, how results are reported, and how the plan supports your business goals. Ask for a written scope before signing and check that claims on their site are specific and verifiable.
The best book marketing services for business authors tie the book to business goals, such as winning clients, speaking, or media attention, rather than chasing sales alone. Look for real publicity experience, podcast and media access, and a plan that starts before launch and continues long after it.
Yes, podcast guesting is a common book marketing tactic. Big Impact Books includes podcast placements in its promotional support. Melanie Herschorn also hosts The Big Impact Playbook Podcast and appears as a podcast guest herself, which reflects the visibility approach the company teaches its authors.
Keep going for as long as the book supports your business. Big Impact Books recommends a long-term plan: engaging your audience, continuing promotion through podcasts and events, updating content when your topic changes, and collaborating with others. A book can keep generating speaking invitations and media interest long after launch.
Start by deciding how much help you need. If you have a finished, edited manuscript, a platform such as Amazon KDP lets you upload and publish it yourself. If you need help writing, producing, and promoting, a service such as Big Impact Books can guide the whole process. Either way, plan your marketing before launch.
The first step is a conversation. Use the contact page at yourbigimpactbook.com/contact to ask about publishing support for your book. If you are not ready yet, Big Impact Books also offers a free book-planning checklist to help you organize your idea before you commit to anything.
It is not too late. Big Impact Books has written about authors who published without a marketing plan: you can still build an audience, share thought-leader content drawn from the book, seek podcast and media opportunities, and use the book to support your services. Start by getting clear on who the book is for.
Choose a process built around speaking rather than writing. Big Impact Books uses weekly guided interviews, about one hour a week, and its team turns those conversations into a manuscript. One attorney client, Manisha P. Patel, said the weekly interviews made the process manageable despite her busy schedule.
Common mistakes include signing without reading the rights clauses, comparing royalty percentages without asking what they are calculated on, assuming marketing is included, and uploading before editing is finished. Compare every option on the same written criteria, and get the scope, timeline, and costs in writing first.
Self-publishing editing services review a manuscript before publication, from big-picture structure to line-level corrections and proofreading. They matter because a platform publishes exactly what you upload. Reedsy advises being 100% happy with editing, design, and formatting before you choose a company. Ask any service which editing stages are included.
Yes, in the sense that it helps you create the manuscript. Big Impact Books develops books through guided interviews, so you talk through your expertise and the team shapes it into chapters in your voice. It then publishes and promotes the book, with support such as podcast placements and media coverage.
Yes. Big Impact Books reports a win in Publishing at the 2024 Best Book Awards and a 2024 “Publisher of the Year” win. Melanie Herschorn’s book Lasting Legal Impact was named a Finalist in the Business: Writing/Publishing category of the 2025 Best Book Awards, presented by American Book Fest.
Big Impact Books helps CEOs, attorneys, professionals, and business owners plan, create, publish, and promote books that build authority. Start with a conversation about publishing support. If you are still shaping the idea, the free book-planning checklist is a good second step.
Published by Big Impact Books
