How to Vet Author Services and Avoid Scams
Publishing your book is exciting. The indie publishing world is full of talented, trustworthy professionals who can help you polish, publish, and promote your book, but it also has its fair share of shady operators who promise the world and deliver heartbreak (and empty wallets).
I’ve never been scammed by an author service, but I have by a third-party ticket site. They disguised themselves as the official venue, hiding behind fine print and legal loopholes that made them seem legitimate. It was a frustrating reminder of how easy it is to get tricked by something that looks professional.
So how can you tell the difference between a legitimate author service and a scam? Let’s walk through what to look for before you sign on any dotted lines.
Resources to Help You Vet Others
Before you do anything else, run the company or individual through two key watchdogs for the publishing industry:
- ALLi’s Watchdog Desk: The Alliance of Independent Authors maintains a regularly updated Watchdog list that rates publishing services as Excellent, Recommended, Caution, or Watchdog Advisory.
- Writer Beware: A long-standing and respected site run by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association that tracks scams, questionable practices, and complaints against author services. Visit Writer Beware to search their archives or contact them with a concern.
These two resources alone can save you a ton of grief. If a service has a poor reputation with either, that’s a major red flag. To search for a specific service on Writer Beware, navigate to the blog and use the search function. As for ALLi, you can click on “View the Services Ratings Page” or the “See Our Contests Ratings” to search a company or individual and see if it’s on their watchdog desk.
You can also ask your author community. Indie authors are some of the most generous people around. If you’re considering a formatter, cover designer, marketer, or publisher, ask for experiences in Facebook author groups, on Threads, or in other writing communities.
If you don’t have an author network, you can also browse recent posts in reputable author Facebook groups like 20Booksto50K® or Self-Publishing Formula’s community to see what others are saying about specific services.
Look for patterns in the responses. After all, one negative comment might not mean much, but if you hear repeated issues about missed deadlines, surprise fees, or low-quality work, trust that pattern.
What to Check for
Even if you have others helping you vet, it’s a good idea to know what to look for.
Check their website
A legitimate business should have a website that looks professional and provides clarity. I do know some reputable editors who don’t have a website. So this isn’t necessarily a red flag, but if they don’t have a website, pause and do some more digging. As you review their site, ask,
- Is it clear what they do? Reputable services describe their offerings in detail, no vague “publishing help” or “marketing solutions” without examples.
- Are there real examples of past work? You should see a portfolio, testimonials, and/or client book covers.
- Do they link to real people? Google the names of those who provided testimonials or who authored books they claimed to have worked on and ensure that person is real, did write the book they claim, etc.
- Is contact information available? A website without an email address or form (just a “buy now” button) is a red flag.
- Does the individual or company have a presence anywhere else? Besides their website can you find the person or company on social media, in the news, as a guest blogger, mentioned on other sites, etc.? Google the company’s name or individual’s name plus the service they offer [example: for me, Katie Chambers editor]. If the only result is their website, then this could be a red flag. Legitimate service providers often are found in other directories, mentioned by colleagues, etc.
Check their social media
Social media can be revealing. Do note that some legitimate service providers aren’t on social media, and that’s fine. If they are, however, this is another avenue for vetting them. When you check their socials, look for:
- Consistency and longevity. Has this person or business been posting for a while, or did their account pop up last week? If it is new, that isn’t necessarily a red flag. They might be new to the business, and that’s fine. This is just one thing to look for.
- Engagement. Do they interact with followers and other industry professionals authentically or are there engagements just always sales pitches?
- Community connections. Legit service providers often tag or collaborate with other known names in publishing. If they don’t, this isn’t necessarily a red flag, but it is something to look for.
Don’t fall for scammy marketing
If something feels off, pause before paying. Pressure tactics (“this offer expires tonight!”) or overly emotional appeals (“we just love your book and want to publish it right away!”) are both manipulation techniques used by predatory companies. Be wary of anyone who guarantees bestseller status or charges a very high fee and accepts anyone—those are common hallmarks of vanity presses.
You can absolutely trust your gut, but back it up with research before committing.
Check their contract and payment terms
Before paying, always get a written contract or agreement that clearly outlines what’s included in the scope of work, the timeline, payment terms, refund policies, and who owns the rights to the final product.
If the contract lacks detail on exactly what you’re getting, when a payment is due, when the delivery date is, etc., then make sure that is added to the contract before you sign.
If you disagree with one of the terms or don’t understand it, speak up and ask. It’s in your best interest to understand the contract you’re agreeing to.
Want Vetted Recommendations?
If you’d rather skip the stress of vetting altogether, I’ve done the homework for you. My Next Steps in Publishing packet lists trusted, vetted service providers I personally recommend to my clients. It also gives you tips for each required step and optional step in your publishing journey (including how to DIY, what you should never DIY, what to look for when hiring someone, etc.). You can purchase it anytime, or if you’re one of my editing clients, it’s included free as part of your project package.
It’s my way of helping you move confidently from editing to publishing without getting burned by bad actors in the industry and without too much of a steep learning curve.
Conclusion
The self-publishing world is full of opportunities, but you need to protect your hard work and wallet. With a little research, community input, and trusted guidance, you can avoid publishing scams and find professionals who’ll help you shine your beacon brightly—safely and successfully.
