7 Outcome-Based Publishing Strategies for New Indie Authors
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” — Maya Angelou
Independently publishing your first book can feel enormous for a new indie author. From writing to editing, designing a cover, to marketing, the process has many moving parts that can quickly become overwhelming. Using Outcome-Based Management offers a way to break down this monumental project into smaller, achievable steps, helping you stay on track and reach your publishing goals.
Outcome-Based Management (OBM) focuses on setting clear, measurable outcomes and using data-driven decision-making to guide the process. In this second part of our writer’s guide series on OBM, we’ll see how OBM can be applied to each phase of independently publishing your first book.
1. Define Your Outcomes for Publishing Success
The first step in Outcome-Based Management is to clearly define your goals. These should be specific, measurable, and focused on results that matter.
Examples of Outcomes:
- Complete all edits by a set date (e.g., within three months).
- Publish the book on Amazon or another platform by the end of the year.
- Sell 500 copies within the first six months of launch.
- Build a mailing list of at least 1,000 potential readers before release.
By defining these outcomes up front, you have a clear vision of success. Each outcome should also be realistic based on your current resources, such as time, budget, and skills.
2. Break the Process into Measurable Milestones
Once you’ve defined your outcomes, the next step is to break the larger publishing process into smaller milestones. This creates a roadmap, ensuring that you achieve incremental successes along the way.
Examples of Milestones:
- Writing: Finish the final draft of your manuscript within two months.
- Editing: Complete the developmental edit in month three and line edits by month four.
- Book Cover Design: Have the book cover professionally designed and finalized by month five.
- Pre-Launch Marketing: Start building your author platform with weekly blog posts, email newsletters, and social media updates in the lead-up to publication (more on OBM for marketing in another writer’s guide).
- Launch Campaign: Begin promoting your book two months before launch, including pre-order campaigns, interviews, and other marketing strategies.
Tracking these milestones helps you stay on course and manage the complexity of the independent publishing process.
3. Allocate Resources Wisely
When independently publishing, you’ll need to allocate resources carefully. Resources include your time and money for professional services, such as editing, cover design, and marketing. Using OBM, you can set clear expectations for resource allocation and avoid overspending or underpreparing.
Tips for Resource Allocation:
- Budget for professional editing: Whether it’s developmental, line editing, or proofreading, this is crucial for a high-quality book. Allocate a budget for each stage.
- Cover Design: Hire a professional designer to ensure your book cover is visually compelling and market-ready. It’s often worth investing here, as the cover can heavily impact sales.
- Marketing Funds: Set aside a budget for targeted ads (e.g., Facebook, BookBub) and promotional activities to help generate early interest and drive sales.
By outlining your budget and setting limits, you ensure your resources are used effectively to meet your outcomes.
4. Implement an Outcome-Based Publishing & Marketing Plan
With clear outcomes and a solid resource allocation plan, it’s time to implement your publishing and marketing strategies. This involves executing the steps needed to reach each milestone, from editing and design to marketing and distribution (More on marketing in another part of this writer’s guide series).
Examples of a Publishing Plan:
- Formatting: Ensure your manuscript is properly formatted for print and ebook formats, using tools like Scrivener or hiring a professional formatter.
- Distribution Platforms: Decide on the best platforms for your book (Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, IngramSpark, etc.) and get your book uploaded and ready for release.
- Marketing Plan: Start early by building your mailing list and creating content that engages your audience. Consistently update readers on your progress and offer incentives like pre-order bonuses or exclusive content.
This implementation phase is critical to seeing your book reach its publication and marketing goals.
5. Monitor and Measure Progress
OBM requires regular monitoring of progress through performance metrics. You can ensure you’re on the right path by tracking how well you’re meeting your milestones. If you fall behind, early monitoring allows you to adjust your plan before it impacts your ultimate outcomes.
Examples of Progress Tracking:
- Weekly Word Counts: Track your writing progress using a tool like Pacemaker or Scrivener.
- Editing Timelines: Ensure you meet editing deadlines by regularly checking in with your editor and reviewing drafts.
- Marketing KPIs: Measure social media engagement, email subscriber growth, and pre-order numbers leading up to your book launch.
Keeping track of these key indicators helps you make timely adjustments to your strategy as needed.
6. Adapt and Adjust Your Plan
The beauty of Outcome-Based Management is its flexibility. If you’re not hitting your targets, it’s important to reassess and adjust your approach.
Examples of Adjustments:
- Writing Delays: If you’re behind on your manuscript, consider setting smaller daily word count goals or carving out additional writing time.
- Marketing: If your social media following isn’t growing as expected, adjust your content strategy by experimenting with different platforms or types of posts (videos, giveaways, etc.).
- Budget Constraints: If costs exceed your initial budget, look for ways to cut back in less critical areas or explore cost-effective marketing alternatives like partnerships with other indie authors.
Making adjustments ensures that you don’t lose momentum and can still achieve your key outcomes.
7. Evaluate & Celebrate Success Post-Publication
Once your book is published, evaluate your success based on the outcomes you initially set. Have you reached your sales goals? Did you meet your deadlines and stay within budget? Are readers engaging with your content?
Post-Publication Metrics:
- Book Sales: Track your sales across platforms like KDP or IngramSpark.
- Reader Engagement: Monitor reviews, social media interactions, and feedback from your mailing list.
- Financial Return: Compare your publishing costs to your book sales to evaluate your profitability.
Celebrating your successes and learning from challenges will help you improve with each subsequent book you publish.
Applying Outcome-Based Publishing
Applying Outcome-Based Management to independently publishing your first book can provide you with a structured, achievable path to success. Setting clear goals, tracking your progress, and adjusting as needed ensures you meet your writing and publishing objectives. With OBM, you manage the process of bringing your book to life and build a strong foundation for a thriving indie author career.
For more guidance on writing, publishing, and marketing your book, see other parts of this series, starting with Outcome-Based Management: 7 Steps to Writing Success. You might also like First Principles and the 5-Step Process for Book Publishing.
The path of writing is one filled with ceaseless learning and enhancement. You are not expected to tread this path solo. We’re thrilled to accompany you on this journey, offering support and motivation at every turn. Our objective is to deliver foundational knowledge and pragmatic guidance, enabling you to traverse the literary landscape with amplified confidence.
Don’t wait. Start today! How can we help? To let us know, please fill out our contact form. Happy writing!
If you have a draft you want to publish with the help of AI, read, Is Your Book Ready to Self-Publish? Lastly, for help writing a non-fiction book, read Write Your First Non-Fiction eBook: a 30-Day Workbook for Getting It Done.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on OBM
What’s the difference between OBM and traditional project management when publishing a book?
Outcome-Based Management focuses on achieving specific, measurable results (like book sales or reader engagement), rather than simply tracking tasks or activities. In OBM, the emphasis is on the outcomes—like meeting pre-order goals or hitting sales targets—while traditional project management may focus more on the step-by-step process, such as writing, editing, and publishing, without necessarily prioritizing the end impact.
How can I set realistic sales outcomes as a first-time indie author?
To set realistic sales outcomes, research your genre, understand typical sales for first-time indie authors, and consider factors like the size of your audience, the strength of your marketing efforts, and your budget for promotions. For example, aiming for 200-500 sales in your first few months is more realistic than thousands. Setting manageable goals will help you stay motivated and focused.
Can OBM help me manage my time effectively during the publishing process?
Yes, OBM can help you manage your time by breaking down the publishing process into smaller, manageable tasks with deadlines, such as completing a final draft, hiring an editor, or finalizing your book cover. By focusing on measurable outcomes and key milestones, you can allocate your time where needed most, preventing overwhelm or procrastination.
How do I adjust my marketing plan if I’m not meeting my pre-launch goals?
If you’re not meeting your pre-launch marketing goals (e.g., email list subscribers or social media engagement), consider trying new tactics like collaborating with other authors, offering incentives like free chapters or bonuses, running ads, or reaching out to influencers in your genre. OBM allows for flexibility, so don’t hesitate to adjust strategies if they’re not leading to the desired outcomes.
What kind of feedback should I collect post-launch to measure success?
Post-launch feedback can include reader reviews on platforms like Amazon or Goodreads, engagement on social media, responses to your email newsletters, and direct feedback from readers or beta readers. Gathering this data can help you assess how well you met your goals, how readers are responding to your book, and where you can improve for future projects.
