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Copywriting TipsDistribute Your Self-Published Book - Part 1
by:
Judy Cullins
Judy Cullins ©2005 All Rights Reserved.
Where is your book now? With a distributor? In a book store? Or, did it already die an early death after a few months?
New self-published authors often believe they need a distributor to sell a lot of books. They want to use Ingram or Baker & Taylor because they think they need to get their book into the "brick and mortar" bookstores like Barnes and Noble.
Authors go through many an hoops and snags to accomplish this--what I call the "traditional business enterprise nightmare" of unskillfulness
and lack of keep for authors. Ordinarily the author only gets about 15% royalties. So many an hoops, several give up. So many an authors I speak with have gone this way still have hundreds, even as thousands of unsold copies littering up storage space. Talk simply about discouragement.
Distributors Can be Dangerous to Your Book's Health and Your Notecase
One author wrote, illustrated, and marketed six beautiful children's books. Her books were well received and reviewed. For several time, the profits rolled in until her distributor went bankrupt, owing her $160,000. After she stopped up
crying, she distinct to take her books on the road —to local fairs and talks wherever
she could keep all the profits.
Distributors take quite a chunk of money from the author's profits too. They charge the author for storage, and once
books are returned, the author loses those sales, and has to pay the distributor too. Authors lose from the bookstores because they pay late or are unreliable. Several authors wait way on the far side
90 days. In fact, many an simply don't get paid. Writers are not always nice at collections either. These middlemen not only take most
of the author's profits, they cause more stress too.
How Can Self-Published Authors Distribute?
Self-published books include: print books (perfect bound, comb bound, print on demand or print quantity needed, or stapled), eBooks, printable eDocuments sent over Email through Word, or eBooks, the electronic version only to be see via computers.
Local Distribution.
For each venue, do sure to include ordering information such as your Web site URL, institution address, toll-free 800 number, local phone number, and an order page to fill out for fax or phone orders.
1.Distribute through the Press.
-Create a "Power Press Release" (include tips or how-to's)
-Get a Feature Story from the Media
-Write a how-to article and submit
2. Distribute through a local Radio and TV Talk Show as a guest speaker. Give your own teleclass, or guest speak for another person's teleclasses.
In simply a phone call away you can reach 100's of folk interested in your book's topic. Teleclasses are for anyone, handily
detected
at your house office--with email backup.
Guests call a pre-arranged conference number and participate as you would-be in any seminar. In addition to specific tips given on the call, to get folk to sign up for my ezine or visit my Web site, I give each a bonus report related to the topic. The host may email these out for you.
Next time you visit a Web site that offers information you need, check out the links for teleclasses.
When a guest speaker with else experts related to my fields, my books sales go way up as well as new clients increasing three-fold. These sales do up over half my income.
Getting on radio talk shows helps authors sell books. Be sure to give the producer a list of questions to ask you, copies of your book for the staff, and agreement you can mention you Web site or else URL wherever
your books are sold.
3. Distribute at local talks to groups. Sell your print books at the back of the room. Take a writing board
and capture everyone's email at the talk. These folk become your dedicated sales force and tell others. Word of mouth takes up to one or two years, so be patient for results. Check your library for Clubs who need speakers.
Develop a two-sided flyer with testimonials, your book cover, excerpts, and an ordering coupon. Take books and flyers with you everywhere. Offer to all you meet, even as your dentist!
If you are discouraged because traditional methods of book or product distribution haven’t brought you the profits you wanted, think Net
distribution. This Online promotion know-how
is nice for the long haul and price you little time or money. With Online distribution self-published authors or Web site businesses get to keep all the money.
Whether you have a Print on Demand (POD) book, traditionally written
book, or an eBook (eDocument), you can become your own distributor these Online ways:
1. Distribute through two-step email promotion campaigns.
You don't need a Web site to sell books. Benefit from the easy and preferred way to buy books-- email. They number more than three trillion today.
First Step: Send a freebee to your several email lists. Think of your email groups--customers, clients, ezine subscribers, ePublishers, teleclass groups, and networkers. Offer to give them a free answer to one question. Offer a free "Special Report," or an excerpt from your book. These give your Online relationship a nice start, because augmented sales move from trust developed during relationship marketing more than thing
else.
Second Step: Follow up with your book sales letter. Each sales message includes: headline to capture attention, background of problem, wherever
the potential customer wants to be, benefits and features of how to get there. Add testimonials and be sure they are credible and sincere.
Be sure to ask for the sale and include several easy route to buy: toll free number, fax or mail by an order form placed at the end of the sales letter, or if you have a Web site, a link to wherever
they can buy with a secure provider.
I encourage you to try this kind, gentle, and easy way to get your print or eBook into your audience's hand.
Part two is accessible at article-70@bookcoaching.com.
Just simply about the author:
Judy Cullins, 20-year Book and Net
Marketing Coach works with small business folk who want to do a difference in people's lives, build their quality
and clients, and do a consistent life-long income. Author of 10 eBooks including Write your eBook or Else Short Book Fast, Ten Non-Techie Route to Market Your Book Online, The Fast and Cheap Way to Explode Your Targeted Web Traffic, and Power Writing for Web Sites That Sell, she offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines, "The BookCoach Says...," "Business Tip of the Month," journal
Q & A at http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtmland over 170 free articles.
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Email her at Judy@bookcoaching.com
Phone: 619/466-0622 -- Orders: 866/200-9743
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