I see how online, ebooks have taken off a bit and more people going with the self publishing option getting their hard works published. But realistically how are the odds that your self published book favors well compared to being published by a publisher?
people are “going with the self publishing option”
mostly because they can’t get published by a real publisher.
The goal of every self published author is to get picked up by a real publisher. Thats the big prize, which is also why the people who offer to “help” you self publish always keep a cut.
Unless you run self help seminars, operate a cult, address a niche market, or are a well known author already, your odds are virtually nil. I only include niche markets, because some books stores will stock local history if self published and the christian book store market (see operate a cult.)
Don’t confuse ebooks starting to sell with unknown ebooks selling. Even the dollar give aways from unknowns aren’t flying off the electric shelves.
If you’re established and relatively known in some way, you have a decent chance at doing well.
If you’re unknown, have no followers, and it’s your first book odds are you won’t sell too many copies unless you’re damn good at marketing and getting yourself out there.