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This article originally appeared in the September 2017 Issue of the IBPA Independent Magazine.  Reprinted with Permission from IBPA.  For more information on the great work of the IBPA, visit http://www.ibpa-online.org/.

Finding a comprehensive publishing software solution can be nearly impossible—and often unnecessary. Most publishers employ piecemeal solutions that fit their segment and scale.

by Deb Vanasse

Imagine a software solution that would manage every facet of publishing—manuscript development, printing, distribution, invoicing. A solution that would provide a breakeven analysis for every book in every format while simultaneously tracking sales, calculating publisher compensation and author royalties, and generating payments.

On the wish list for publisher Dayna Anderson of Amberjack Publishing would be software that also incorporates word processing, e-mail, messaging, scheduling, to-do lists, marketing, social media, and customer relations management (CRM).

Taken together, that’s a good deal to ask, especially when publishing models vary according to market segment and scale. “Publishing is a unique business, from self-published authors to traditional houses and everything in between,” says Evelyn Zimmer of Zimbell House, a hybrid publisher. “To have a comprehensive system would be overkill for most.”

Based on her experience with enterprise systems in other corporate contexts, Zimmer also notes that they’re not as comprehensive as one might think. “Usually, the accounting side is burdensome to use; the time management side underdeveloped,” she says. And, especially for entry-level businesses, the price can be prohibitive.

Having managed several large publishing projects through his company Teaching That Makes Sense, author Steve Peha

suggests that finding a comprehensive publishing software solution is about as likely as bumping into a unicorn.

“The only professional area where there seem to be good end-to-end workflow systems is in tech, particularly software development,” he explains. “Essentially, what is needed in the publishing industry is what we have all over the tech industry—really good application program interfaces (APIs) for connecting different software together.” Ideally, this would be a universal, open-sourced interface with a standard data model specification designed and maintained by a nonprofit third party, he says.

The Hunt for Answers

For lack of a unicorn, publishers make do with piecemeal solutions. For some, these work well enough that they say they wouldn’t switch systems even if a comprehensive solution were to come on the market.

To acquire software that fits their segment and scale, publishers begin by weighing options against needs. For Becky Parker Geist, owner of ProAudio Voices, this process involves asking colleagues for their recommendations. Peg Conrad, vice president of publications at aha! Process, says she supplements word-of-mouth testimonials with research done online and through organizations such as IBPA.

Cost is a factor, but it can be offset by the efficiency software affords. “With these programs, our production team has instant knowledge of where each project is at any given moment and what needs to be done next,” says Zimmer of the software her company ultimately acquired. “This helps our team gain time by not having to have the conversations repeatedly.”

Even after a solution set is adopted, publishers look to improve it. “We are constantly reviewing our tools and procedures,” says Maggie Langrick, publisher and CEO at LifeTree Media.

Project Management

Though not comprehensive, end-to-end solutions, generic project management platforms are useful for tracking many aspects of publishing workflow. “I highly recommend looking into management software,” Anderson says. “Things fall through the cracks when everything is done through e-mail.”

For editing, marketing, production, and general workflow at Amberjack, Anderson relies on Basecamp. Although the platform requires toggling from editing to production to marketing and other functions, she notes that implementation has decreased inbox clutter and reduced the number of meetings companywide.

Aha! Process also uses Basecamp, customizing the program’s templates to address common tasks. Conrad lauds the fact that the platform allows multiple people to work a single to-do list, and she has found it to be cost-effective.

At author services company Night River Press, president Skeeter Buck notes that Basecamp fosters transparency and focuses team efforts around timelines. She also appreciates the fact that she can put her subscription on hold during slow periods.

At ProAudio Voices, Geist uses Asana, another project management platform. “It has especially helped in keeping track of my pipeline and the production process,” she says. “It also connects easily with Google Drive, which I use a lot.”

Geist has no complaints about cost—she uses the free version of Asana, setting up each aspect of the business as a project with set processes and tasks as opposed to treating each audiobook as a separate project.

Zimmer uses Insightly, which incorporates CRM with project management. “It’s a great program for managing the activities and steps involved in book production,” she says. “From onboarding a new author all the way through post-press marketing, Insightly allows the user to create activity sets for individual pipelines. At a glance, you can see where each project is in the production schedule.”

Task-Specific Solutions

To supplement project management solutions, publishers tap software resources that address specific workflow components. To manage submissions, Zimmer uses Submittable, with features for creating unique forms and auto responses within multiple categories. “It also allows our acquisitions staff the ability to vote and leave personal notes for each submission in one place,” she says.

Anderson uses Authors.me to handle submissions, crediting the program with helping her Amberjack team locate high-quality manuscripts while reducing inbox clutter. “Authors.me is cost-effective, especially for the analytics feature, as we can make more data-driven decisions,” she notes.

Familius also uses Authors.me to manage submissions. “Once books are acquired, we switch them over to Google Docs for calendaring and to manage production,” explains creative director David Miles. “Once ISBNs are assigned, we put them on BookOne for metadata management. What we love is that all three [platforms] provide an easy way for our disparate team to be on the same page and work together. They are among the cheaper options out there, yet we’re very pleased with their performance.”

To manage royalties, Familius and Amberjack use MetaComet. For publishers with smaller lists, Trackerbox consolidates e-book royalty accounting. Other publishers rely on Microsoft Excel for these tasks. “When it comes to managing metadata and royalties, we didn’t even look at other options,” Zimmer says.

Adoption Success

Adjusting to new software can be a challenge. But when a program matches a publisher’s segment and scale, the benefits prove well worth the effort.

“Every technology solution involves a learning curve, but it is worth it to educate yourself and your staff on its functions,” Langrick says. “You’ll be able to be better organized and more consistent, and you’ll collaborate better with remote workers as well as your authors and customers.”

Zimmer urges publishers to make sure they match programs to needs. “Bells and whistles are fun, but do they add value to your production line? Do your research and do the free trials. Put the software through a typical day in your office,” she says.

Miles encourages publishers to weigh the features of potential software acquisitions against costs. “Our team’s performance has been largely enhanced by its use of coordinating software,” he says. “However, be sure you don’t pay for more than you actually need. Monthly subscriptions can quickly add up and drain your bottom line. Be wise, be prudent, and only invest in features that you see contributing to your profitability.”

With 30 years of experience in the tech industry, Peha reminds fellow publishers that software is less about streamlining than about leveraging quality. “For the most part, we try to create new protocols to make the workflow between apps more consistent,” he says. “This usually involves how we notify each other about which projects are where in the process and how we communicate work to be done on hand-offs.”

He also notes the importance of matching programs to the people who’ll use them. “I’ve worked on way too many large projects over the years where tools were imposed on people,” he explains. “There’s too much friction, morale goes down, and quality suffers. If you want the best work, you’ve got to get the best people, and you’ve got to let them use the best tools. Those are always the tools they like to use best.”

In every aspect of their enterprise, independent publishers excel at adapting available resources to their needs. Software solutions are no exception. Lacking a comprehensive, end-to-end workflow suite, they adeptly integrate task-specific and project management solutions to improve workflow, ensure quality, and enhance the bottom line.

For more formal gatherings, Stanfill suggests that organizers maintain lists of potential participants and venues. In addition, they can advance their cause by making a point of welcoming newcomers. “Potential members should feel like they can show up even if they’re nervous about not knowing anyone,” she explains. ⦁

Co-founder of 49 Writers and founder of the author co-op Running Fox Books, Deb Vanasse is the author of 17 books. Among her most recent are Write Your Best Book, a practical guide to writing books that rise above the rest, and What Every Author Should Know, a comprehensive guide to book publishing and promotion, as well as Wealth Woman: Kate Carmack and the Klondike Race for Gold.

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