Your Guide to Hiring Freelancers for Your Book

Your Guide to Hiring Freelancers for Your Book

📝 Smart Publishing Impact Series – Episode 27

So, you’re self-publishing your book. Amazing! That means you're not just the author, you're also the project manager. And unless you’ve got a full-service team like we offer at Smart Publishing, you’re going to need help.

That’s where freelancers come in. But not all freelancers—or platforms—are created equal.

This blog post is your real-talk guide to hiring the right people, avoiding scams, and setting your book up for success (without getting ripped off).

First: Self-Publishing Doesn’t Mean Do-It-All Yourself

Let’s be clear: even if you’re self-publishing, that doesn’t mean you should do everything on your own. You still need:

• An editor

• A cover designer

• A formatter

• Possibly a description writer, marketing help, and more

Books that look like they were made entirely in Canva (with AI-generated covers and typo-riddled pages) don’t build authority. They damage your credibility. And if you're writing a book to grow your brand, reach your audience, or change lives—you can’t afford that.

Best Platform for Hiring Freelancers: Fiverr

Skip the sketchy Facebook groups. Use a real platform with built-in systems for accountability and protection. My top recommendation: Fiverr.

Why Fiverr works:

• Built-in accountability (deadlines, delivery protection)

• Real reviews you can only leave if you paid for the service

• Portfolios so you can see exactly what you're getting

• Easy refunds if work isn’t delivered

Look for top-rated sellers with lots of 5-star reviews. Read the reviews. Look at their actual work. And when in doubt—message them first and ask questions.

What to Avoid

Beware of these red flags:

• AI-generated design work. You want Adobe Photoshop, not Midjourney.

• Generic Canva templates. They won’t make your book stand out.

• Freelancers who offer “everything.” Hire specialists for each task.

• Overpriced, under-informed category research. (We’ll get to that.)

• People who ghost or deliver sloppy, automated work.

I once hired a so-called “indexing specialist” who used a Microsoft Word tool incorrectly, ignored my revision requests, and returned a subpar product—three times. If I hadn’t known what to look for, that mess would have ended up in a published book.

Know Enough to Be Dangerous

You don’t have to master every publishing task—but you do need to know enough to recognize bad work.

Whether it’s formatting, cover design, or indexing, learn the basics so you can:

• Spot lazy AI work

• Catch errors before they go to print

• Protect your money and your message

Because when you don’t know what to look for, you’re vulnerable to people doing the bare minimum and cashing the check.

Hire for What You Need—Not Just Who’s Available

I recommend hiring a different freelancer for each task:

• Cover Designer – someone who ONLY designs covers

• Interior Formatter – someone who ONLY does layout and design

• Editor – someone who knows grammar, structure, and clarity

• Indexing (if needed) – hire an expert, and double-check their work

• Book Description Writer – someone with sales copy experience

• Social Media Graphics – optional, but nice to have

A jack-of-all-trades often delivers low-quality work across the board. Specialists = better results.

Please Don’t Pay for These Services

Let’s save your money, shall we?

• Uploading to KDP: I’ve seen people charge $150 to upload your files. Don’t fall for it. It takes 10 to 15 minutes. Learn it once and do it forever. I even created a KDP Upload Course for just $99.

• Category Research “Guarantees”: Some charge $1,500+ promising bestseller rankings. But if they don’t understand how to align keywords with categories, Amazon will switch them—and there goes your whole strategy.

Seriously, if you're aiming for bestseller status and need help picking categories, DM me on Facebook. I’ll help you for free.

Final Advice: Respect Your Book

Your book deserves the best. If you're going to publish it—make it excellent. Invest in real professionals. Learn the process. And don’t rush.

The goal is not just to finish the book. It’s to create something that builds trust, grows your impact, and looks as good as it reads.

If you need help? You know where to find us.

—Renee