Boost Your Book's Credibility: Why Every Self-Published Author Should Aim for Awards

In an ocean of books available on Amazon, self-published authors often face the challenge of standing out amidst thousands of books. One of the most effective ways to gain recognition and credibility is by winning a book award. But why are book awards so crucial for independent authors?

• Credibility & Recognition: Winning a book award instantly elevates the status of a book. It acts as a seal of approval, indicating that the book has been vetted and recognized by professionals in the industry.
• Marketing & Promotion: An award badge on a book cover can significantly influence potential readers. It's a mark of quality that can sway purchasing decisions and increase sales.
• Networking Opportunities: Many book awards offer winners the chance to connect with industry professionals, including agents, publishers, and other authors.
• Financial Incentives: Some awards come with cash prizes, which can help fund an author's future projects or marketing efforts.
• Feedback: Even if an author doesn't win, some contests provide feedback, offering valuable insights into how the book is perceived by professionals.
• Broadened Horizons: Winning a book award can lead to other opportunities, such as speaking engagements, interviews, and even film or television adaptations.
• eBookFairs.com Awards: Every book fair on eBookFairs.com also gives out awards. Authors can earn 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place, and everyone receives badges indicating their book's performance in the fair. This adds another layer of recognition and validation for participating authors.

Given the myriad benefits, where can self-published authors submit their works? Here are ten notable book award websites gleaned from the articles:

• Dan Poynter’s Legacy eBook Award: Specifically for eBooks, this award honors the legacy of Dan Poynter, a pioneer in self-publishing.
• The Benjamin Franklin Book Awards (IBPA): Organized by the Independent Book Publishers Association, this award has been honoring excellence in books for over 31 years.
• The Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards: Open to indie presses, university presses, and self-published authors, this award spans almost every category and genre.
• The Writers Digest Self-Published Book Award: Open to all self-published authors, this award offers a grand prize of $8,000.
• The National Indie Excellence Awards: Catering to niche genres, this award is open to self-published authors, small to mid-sized presses, and universities.
• Axiom Business Book Awards: For books on business topics, this award is open to both traditional and self-published books.
• The Eric Hoffer Award: With 19 categories, this award is also open to chapbooks, offering a smaller entry fee for them.
• Next Generation Indie Book Awards: With over 70 categories, the top 70 winning books get reviewed by a literary agent.
• The Best Indie Book Award: Exclusively for self-published or independently published books, this award focuses on writing quality.
• The IndieReader Discovery Awards: A significant award that offers connections to the industry, winners get coverage in major publications like The Huffington Post and Publishers Weekly.

But what if you don’t have the time to submit to book awards? After all, most self-published authors have one or more other jobs and a busy life in general. We thought you would never ask! You can hire someone to submit to book awards for you. At eBookFairs we highly recommend Book Award Pro. The team over there will do the heavy lifting for you to find the right opportunities for your book. If you find yourself feeling too busy to take care of submitting for awards, they are a great option!

Book awards offer a plethora of benefits for self-published authors, from credibility and recognition to networking and financial incentives. By submitting to awards, authors not only increase their chances of success but also contribute to the rich tapestry of independent publishing. So, to all the self-published authors out there: take the leap, submit your book, and who knows? You might just earn the recognition your work deserves.