How to Self-Publish a Book in 2026 (Step-by-Step for First-Time Authors)

Have you written a book, or are you thinking about it but not sure what comes next?
Every year, more than a million people decide they want to become authors, and most get stuck between finishing the manuscript and the final self publishing process. In this video, BookBaby walks through our comprehensive self publishing services step-by-step, so first-time authors can confidently go from a Word document to a professionally printed, globally available book.

0:00 Self-Publishing a Book: What to Do Next (Start Here)
0:27 Finish Your Book Draft (Stop Editing While You Write)
0:45 Book Editing Explained: Developmental vs Copyediting vs Proofreading
1:06 Book Formatting & Layout: Turning a Manuscript into a Real Book
1:31 Book Cover Design Tips: The #1 Marketing Asset for Authors
2:12 Book Metadata & Keywords: How Readers Find Your Book on Amazon/Google
2:51 Book Printing Options: Paperback vs Hardcover + Print Quality
3:10 Book Distribution vs Direct Sales: Where to Sell Your Book
3:34 Book Marketing & Launch Plan: How to Actually Sell Copies
3:47 Self-Publishing Checklist Recap + Next Steps

If you want to publish a book without juggling multiple companies, BookBaby can help guide the process from start to finish. Our print on demand model ensures your book is always available without the need for large inventory.
Click the link below to get started or download the free steps to publishing a book guide, and subscribe for new videos to help you improve your manufacturing efficiency as an author and sell more books.


https://www.bookbaby.com/
https://www.bookbaby.com/free-guide/3-steps-to-self-publishing

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