At Greenleaf, which is a hybrid publisher, we spend a lot of time answering questions about how we’re different than a vanity press. And yes, there are big differences. It is critical to know how to spot those differences to make sure you avoid the vanity press scams and find a hybrid publishing house that is a good fit for you.

What is a vanity press?

A vanity or “subsidy” press requires payment from the author to publish their book, but there are no restrictions on what a vanity press will publish.

The term “vanity press” is derived from the idea—true or not—that an author who uses such a service is publishing solely out of vanity because traditional publishing houses wouldn’t consider their work to be commercially viable.

Vanity presses do not invest resources into adding value to an author’s work. They don’t provide the high-quality production, editorial work, marketing, and distribution services you’d get from a team of industry experts at a traditional or hybrid publishing house.

Vanity presses will publish almost all of the submissions they receive, unlike a traditional publishing house or a hybrid publisher, which select only a few, quality submissions to put into production. Vanity presses accept almost everything so that they can profit off of the author’s desire to be published, without doing anything to assist the author in developing their manuscript into a polished book. As a result, many engage in deceptive practices.

Usually, in the end, authors can’t get their money back by the time they realize it’s a scam.

What is a hybrid press?

At first glance, it may be hard to distinguish a hybrid publishing house from a vanity press because authors pay money up front in both business models. However, unlike a vanity press, hybrid publishers—the good ones, at least—have a staff of publishing professionals and experts that improve the quality of your book in all respects.

Hybrid publishers provide:

· professional editorial services,

· production services (including art and design),

· marketing services, and

· sales services.

Unlike a vanity press, a good hybrid publisher will also be committed to getting the books into the hands of readers. That’s why some hybrid publishers, such as Greenleaf, even offer author branding services.

So, authors get a lot for their money at hybrid publishing houses, which they wouldn’t get at a vanity press that would print their book, no questions asked, and with no quality control.

How do I know if hybrid publishing is right for me?

Self-publishing is not for everyone. So if you’re a writer whose only interest is to write books, then you might want someone else to handle the editorial, design, and marketing work. At hybrid publishing houses, these professionals are used to working as a team on book launches. If you're willing to put money down for access to their expertise, hybrid publication might be perfect for you.

You might also want more of a voice than you’d be afforded by a traditional publisher, where design and marketing efforts often move forward without author input. Hybrid publishing hits the sweet spot between the freedom of self-publishing and the structure of traditional publishing.

In addition to maintaing creative control over the process, you also keep a bigger share of royalties at a hybrid publishing house than a traditional publisher, making the money you pay up front an investment in a high-quality, professionally produced book.

What should you look for in a hybrid publisher?

To find a quality hybrid publisher, look for these qualities:

· A mission and vision for its publishing program. Make sure their selection criteria have some rhyme or reason beyond just “the author was willing to pay us.”

· A vetting process for submissions. At Greenleaf, we have a submission process and weekly submission meeting. We only consider submissions with potential in many respects. Marketing, editorial, sales, and other team members weigh in on submissions and whether they are marketable and have a future, which is beneficial for both the author and Greenleaf.

· Its own imprint(s) and ISBNs. This way, a publisher can’t hide their back catalog from future authors.

· A catalog of works that upholds industry standards. Ask to see a hybrid publisher’s books. They should look like publications from any of the Big 5 traditional publishers.

· Editorial, design, and production quality. The publisher should not cut corners on editorial or design work. If their books have awful covers and typo-ridden copy, then beware!

· Distribution services. A hybrid publisher needs to actively work to place your book with retailers., and they should demonstrate respectable sales.

· A higher-than-standard royalty rate. If you, the author, are going to invest in the publication of your book, you should be getting a bigger cut of the proceeds than a traditionally published author would.

How can you spot a vanity press before it’s too late?

For both vanity and hybrid publishers, the advice is the same: always perform due diligence by researching publishing companies! Here is how you can find out whether you’re looking at a vanity press or a credible publishing house before it’s too late:

· Order some of the publisher’s books.

· Contact some of their past authors to see if they’re happy.

· Have a knowledgeable person look over the contract.

· Make sure the publisher distributes through at least one wholesaler, like Ingram.

· Be wary of excessive flattery, even if you are actually wonderful.

Keep in mind is that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Overall, it’s all about research! If you know how to identify a vanity press, you can protect yourself from predatory publishing scams.

Then you can put your efforts toward finding a publishing house whose experts can deftly carry your work through the publication process and into the hands of readers.

Do you think hybrid publishing might be right for you? Visit greenleafbookgroup.com/submissions to send your manuscript to our team publishing professionals.