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Avoid These 7 Costly Mistakes When Choosing a Publisher (And What to Do Instead)

August 5, 2025

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Jenn Foster

Blog | self publishing

Avoid These 7 Costly Mistakes When Choosing a Publisher (And What to Do Instead)


Hey there, it’s Jenn Foster with Elite Online Publishing! 🎉

If you’ve just written your book—or you’re in the trenches writing it—congratulations! But before you hit “publish” or sign that contract, I need to warn you… there are seven big mistakes authors make when choosing a publisher, and they can cost you dearly in rights, royalties, and reputation.

These mistakes come straight from years of working with authors who’ve been burned. Let’s dive in so you can avoid them and publish your book with confidence and success.

Mistake #1: Trying to Self-Publish All on Your Own

I get it—self-publishing sounds empowering. You want to keep all the rights and royalties. But doing everything yourself without experience? That’s where things fall apart.

Think: poor book cover design (hello, generic Amazon KDP templates), bad formatting, typos galore, and zero marketing. If you want to do it yourself, at least commit to learning the right way—watch tutorials, read blogs, take courses. Otherwise, bring in a trusted team like ours. We’ve got editors, designers, formatters, and marketers ready to support you.

Mistake #2: Signing Away Your Publishing Rights

Too many authors sign with traditional or indie publishers and unknowingly give up the rights to their own book.

Famous names like Jack Canfield only made $1 per book. Tim Ferriss? Just 30 cents. Why? Because the publishers took the lion’s share.

At Elite Online Publishing, you keep 100% of your rights and royalties. If your book becomes a movie or lands in Reese Witherspoon’s hands, you should be the one benefiting—not a publishing house.

Mistake #3: Choosing Speed Over Quality

You’ve finally finished your manuscript and want it out now. I get the excitement—but don’t rush.

Publishing isn’t just slapping your book on Amazon. You need a launch plan, polished formatting, killer design, and a marketing strategy. At Elite, our publishing timeline is usually 3 to 6 months, depending on your schedule and goals. Quality books take time—and it’s worth the wait.

Mistake #4: Skipping a Marketing Plan

No marketing = no book sales. Period.

If you think uploading your book to Amazon is enough, think again. Amazon won’t tell you who bought your book. You need landing pages, opt-ins, a call to action inside your book, and a CRM system to stay connected with your readers.

Whether it’s fiction or nonfiction, every author needs a strategic marketing plan and support team.

Mistake #5: Only Publishing a Print Version

Hardcovers are beautiful—we love them too! But if that’s all you offer, you’re leaving money on the table.

Your readers consume books in all kinds of ways: audiobooks, ebooks, paperbacks. You need to be everywhere. At Elite, we publish books in all four formats: hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook—so you never miss a reader.

Mistake #6: Only Considering the Upfront Cost

Don’t be fooled by low-cost publishers or big advance checks.

Sometimes, a $25,000 advance comes with strings attached—like mandatory marketing expenses or refund clauses if sales targets aren’t hit. And many hybrid publishers charge hidden fees for things like warehouse space or mandatory book purchases.

At Elite, our pricing is transparent. You pay for the services you need, and your royalties go straight to your bank account.

Mistake #7: Failing to Hit #1 Bestseller Status

Here’s the truth: being labeled a “#1 Hot New Release” doesn’t mean you’re a bestseller.

We’ve seen publishers fool authors with misleading screenshots. At Elite, we aim for true #1 Bestseller status in real Amazon categories—and we know how to get there through category selection, keywords, and launch strategy. You get the proof, the badge on your cover, and the bragging rights.

Bonus Mistake: No Amazon Author Page

Many authors skip this, or don’t claim their Amazon Author Page at all. Big mistake.

Your author page is gold for SEO. It should have a bio, headshot, and links to your website. At Elite, we make sure your page is set up, claimed, and optimized so you show up when people search for you or your book.

Final Thoughts: Pick the Right Publisher and Launch with Confidence

At Elite Online Publishing, we’re not here to take your rights or keep your royalties. We’re your publishing partner—from first draft to award-winning bestseller.

We only work with authors we vibe with. If we’d enjoy sitting down for coffee together and passing the “crazy eye test,” we’re likely a good fit.

👉 Ready to see if we’re a match?
 Click the link below to fill out the author submission form. Let’s see if we’re meant to launch your book into the world together.

Submit Your Author Application Now

Want your book to become a #1 international bestseller AND keep all your rights and royalties?

Let’s make it happen. 🚀

TIME STAMPS

Avoid These Common Author Pitfalls: 7 Costly Mistakes in Publishing – Jenn Foster

Here are the 7 core mistakes Jenn Foster calls out (plus a bonus final insight), with timestamps:

  • 00:34 – Mistake #1: Going It Alone on Self‑Publishing
     Skipping professional teams—cover, formatting, editing, marketing—often leads to amateurish results and poor sales.
  • 02:57 – Mistake #2: Signing Away Your Rights
     Traditional publishers may leave you making $0.30–$1 per book. Keep your copyrights and royalties instead.
  • 04:25 – Mistake #3: Speed Over Quality
     Rushing to publish often sacrifices cover, layout, or strategy—it’s smart to take months, not weeks.
  • 05:42 – Mistake #4: No Marketing Support
     Without landing pages, call‑to‑actions, or email capture, authors lose control of reader relationships and forever miss discoverability.
  • 07:04 – Mistake #5: Focusing Only on Print
     Ignoring formats like ebook and audiobook limits reach—different reader preferences demand multiple formats.
  • 08:56 – Mistake #6: Only Comparing Up‑Front Costs
     Beware advances or low pricing that hide clauses—real value comes from long‑term support and team effort.
  • 09:55 – Mistake #7: Not Hitting #1
     “Hot New Release” status ≠ bestseller. Strategic category and keyword selection is required to earn real bestseller status and promotional badges.
  • 11:54 – Mistake #8 (Bonus): No Online Author Presence
     If your Amazon author page isn’t claimed, optimized, and linked—it’s a huge missed opportunity for reader discovery and SEO.

Jenn wraps up with an invitation to apply to work with her team—only after passing the “crazy eye test” and confirming mutual vibe.

🔎 Why This Matters: Contextual Insights

Glasp hasn’t indexed direct highlights of this exact video, but similar expert sources reinforce several themes:

Why Each Mistake Hurts—and How to Dodge It

Mistake Why It Matters Your Defensive Move
Solo Publishing DIY often leads to low-quality output Hire a team: editor, designer, formatter, marketer
Signing Away Rights Losing long-term control or revenue Retain copyright and royalty rights
Speed Publishing Quick releases often look sloppy Aim for quality over speed
Lack of Marketing No direct reader tracking or engagement Build capture strategy (landing page, CRM)
Single Format Limits reach to only one type of reader Offer print, ebook, audiobook
Focusing Solely on Price Hidden costs, disclaimers, or poor ROI Read the fine print and evaluate full value
Bestseller Mislabeling “Hot new release” isn’t the same as bestseller Use strategy to hit #1 in relevant categories
No Author Presence Readers miss your platform, SEO opportunity Claim and optimize your Amazon Author Page

✅ In a nutshell: Don’t skip the pro team behind the scenes. Stay rights-minded, slow the rush, market smart, and diversify formats. That’s how you launch strong—and maybe even snag that #1 bestseller badge.