The Problems with Using a Vanity Publisher, a Post from R. Clint Peters

I just got my daily request from my vanity publisher, telling me that they would happily convert my novels to Kindle e-books for a price.  I keep wondering why I signed the contract in the first place.  (Other than because I didn’t check the Better Business Bureau first.)

I have previously owned my own business.  I was successful until the business I owned became a footnote, and just wasn’t profitable.  But, I did learn something about owning a business, and I often wonder if owning a vanity publishing business requires the removal of half of the brain of the owner.

Was the business created to be only partially successful?  They will only market my products if I give them marketing money.  I could have the next great novel, capable of selling millions of copies, but they will not market it until I pay for that marketing.

The first problem with that idea is that the vanity house is missing out on a lot of revenue.  They almost always pay smaller royalties, so they are getting greater returns if they sell something.  But, they won’t even try to sell anything until I send that check to them.

The second problem is with my confidence in their ability to market my material.  Do they know how to market anything?  I doubt it.  If they are willing to allow profits to slip through their fingers, they know nothing about doing business.

For example, let’s say that my novel sells for $10.00, and they take $8.00 for their efforts.  They want me to pay $50.00 to market my book.  So far, they have actually made $00.00 off me, because I am not paying them anything.  If I paid them, they would need to sell 25 books for me to pay my marketing fees.  If they sold those 25 books, they would make $200.00.  OK, they don’t sell those 25 books because I won’t give them $50.  Now the big question:  How smart is the publisher, after all?

And if they are that stupid, do I really want to count on them to make me any money?

#RClintPeters