Smart Self-Publishing Lessons From Streaming Services

Streaming services like Netflix, HBO, Hulu, and Peacock have changed the way we watch (and how producers create) movies and shows. On-demand content has become better and more fluid as the competition grows. And the tech-savvy experts have noticed that some of the tactics used by streaming services, the studios behind them, and even the people who watch them every day can be directly applied to self-publishing. With more writers self-publishing and competing for attention, here are some smart lessons from streaming services that writers can use to their advantage.

5 Self-Publishing Lessons From Streaming Services That Will Help Your Book Succeed

Create your own timeline. Before the advent of streaming services, TV shows were on a standard yearly schedule of production and airing. Summer was for reruns, and pilots premiered in autumn. Now, new shows drop all the time — and viewers can watch the shows on their own schedules.

A flexible timeline is also one of the best benefits of self-publishing: You make your own schedule. The amount of time it takes to self-publish will be different for everyone, but since you’re in charge of production (and when it releases), you are in complete command of the speed at which you work. And you won’t have to squeeze your book into the crowded calendar of a traditional publishing house, which could take a year. You can get your writing into the hands of readers when you’re ready — and much more quickly — when you self-publish.

Premiere your book at the most opportune time. Since streaming services can drop new shows whenever they want, rather than waiting for the typical fall “new season” slots that once dominated TV, they often release shows around the time of year that coincides thematically with the story. From a marketing perspective, this is a simple but effective idea — and one you can definitely steal when it comes to self-publishing.

When you self-publish, you get to choose when your book debuts. Publishing a horror novel? A Halloween release can get your readers hyped up and ready to be scared! A beach read? The summer months are calling your name. A historical novel tied to a real event? Release your book around the anniversary of that…