Archive for the ‘Distribution’ Category
Where Do I Sell My Books? How do I tell the world my message?
December 8th, 2009 by J A Heinlein
Is your Marketing Strategy: New & Improved…Tried & True… or Old & Tired…?
Recently, Christian Retailing featured an article on “Self-publishing”. It outlined new developments and statistics and included highlighting some “big brand name” publishers who have become involved in self-publishing. And, predictably, it quoted some quite overused and outdated arguments against. But, one quote that stood out to me was a quote from a respected industry agent (and friend) regarding sales and distribution,
“I think the chances of those books actually having a very effective distribution channel [into retail bookstores] are very slim.”– RG, Christian Retailing Dec 7, ‘09
First of all, I have to respond by saying, that I highly respect the very essential role of agents in the publishing process. But, that said, it must also be understood that good agents are good at selling books to publishers. But, even good agents don’t generally participate in the actual selling process into the “real marketplace”.
And, that statement also caused to me to reflect on an industry “trend shift” that is not readily perceived and often overlooked.
Books are sold in bookstores right? Well, about half of them are…
“52% of books are not sold in bookstores. They are merchandised [directly] via mail order, online, in discount or warehouse stores, through book clubs, in nontraditional retail outlets, etc.” “The worldwide book market is almost $90 billion, and every year [more than] half of those sales are made in non-bookstore markets such as museums, schools, libraries, warehouse clubs, catalogs, book clubs, book fairs, and to corporations, among many other markets.” – http://BookStatistics.com, Para Publishing – http://bit.ly/14nOAF
Bookstores are now “a sales channel” and, are now not “the only channel” for book sales. And, selling books to the “traditional retail channels” is likely not the most profitable way to sell books – especially for a smaller publisher or new authors. For most, the required “sales hoops” that must be jumped through are simply insurmountable. This includes high discounts, expensive marketing and merchandising programs, and a high percentage of returns. And, all of that is done for a very short “selling window” – usually 3-6 months.
Another whole discussion involves the very definition of “what is a published book?”–it’s many forms and formats that are now available–and the related new emerging sales channels.
So where/how do I sell my books?
The most basic and fundamental objective of marketing is connecting with the right audience–that is introducing a product, solution, or service to those that are most likely to benefit.
Developing a productive author platform that engages and develops relationship with the intended audience is essential.
The good news is that there are now many ways to connect to your best audience – that is to directly access your intended niche market - and common interest affinity groups.
The Online Trend: Building an “Author Brand” with Social Media Marketing
Develop a Social Media/ “Web 2.0″ strategy for building & expanding author platform on established associations, identity, and audience.
- Develop integration process for EVERYTHING – create a sales “funnel”
- Drive target audience to a specific direction/destination – author website and ecommerce page(s).
- Use all web 2.0/social media priority “standards”: Facebook, Twitter, Blogging, Youtube, LinkedIn, and bookmarking sites such as Digg.
Purpose Objective: build a following – a “Tribe”
“A tribe is any group of people, large or small, who are connected to one another, a leader, and an idea. For millions of years, humans have been seeking out tribes, be they religious, ethnic, economic, political, or even musical (think of the Deadheads). It’s our nature.” “Now the Internet has eliminated the barriers of geography, cost, and time. – Seth Godin, Tribes
“If you are an author, your tribe members are your readers—or, at least, that’s potentially true. The only question is whether or not you will become the tribe’s leader and equip them to communicate with you and with one another.” – Michael Hyatt, CEO-Thomas Nelson
Recommended reading:
Beyond the Bookstore: How to Sell More Books Profitably to Non-Bookstore Markets (9781594290022): Brian Jud
Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us (9781591842330): Seth Godin
Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust (9780470743089): Chris Brogan, Julien Smith
Related Links
- Are you a trust agent? Do you need to be? (myventurepad.com)
- The Power of Tribes on Blog Talk Radio (theimuniversity.com)
- Julien Smith – Social Capital and the New Tribe (andreavascellari.com)
- Reach Matters – Even In Social Media (socialmediatoday.com)
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Bethany Press Launches BelieversPress to Give Author’s Faith a Voice
November 2nd, 2009 by Nick CiskeFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Publishing Model for Authors:
Bethany Press Launches BelieversPress to Give Author’s Faith a Voice
Bloomington, MN – Authors face an enormous challenge; a one in thousands chance of getting their manuscript published by major Christian publishers. Until now, the industry has only offered authors royalty and self-publishing models. Rejected authors are often left to fend for themselves. Some talented authors will give up. Others will try to solo-navigate the shifting currents of self/subsidy publishing and find themselves limited by the one-size-fits-all approach of these services.
BelieversPress, a new venture just launched by Bethany Press, offers multiple publishing tracks for authors where they control the process.
1. Royalty Publishing
In collaboration with ECPA, BelieversPress critiques and edits author proposals prior to posting on the ChristianManuscriptSubmissions.com website enabling agents and publishers to sort and filter for high quality submissions. Each of these proposals features a BelieversPress badge.
2. Independent Publishing
At BelieversPress, professional authors who pursue independent publishing can now access
- Coaching and editorial services from Jeff Gerke, (longtime editor for the CBA industry, former editor at NavPress) and Barb Lilland Editorial Services (former senior editor, Bethany House Publishing)
- Cover design from The DesignWorks Group and Dugan Design Group
- Publicity services from B&B Media (clients include Charles Stanley, John C. Maxwell, Chuck Swindoll, Tim LaHaye, Melody Carlson, Bruce Wilkinson)
- Marketing tools from Heinlein Publishing Services (Publishing Professional, 20+ Years: including executive positions with United Methodist Publishing House, Thomas Nelson, and Word Publishing)
- Printing from Bethany Press (producer of almost 30% of the best-selling Christian paperbacks)
- Sales and distribution through STL Distribution (the largest exclusively Christian distributor in North America).
Authors interested in submitting to agents and small publishers can receive mentoring, editorial, and proposal evaluation from D.C. Jacobson (Don Jacobson’s group, former President of Multnomah Publishers) and The Writing Spa (Mary DeMuth) at BelieversPress.
BelieversPress counsels authors that if they cannot sell their books via platforms such as speaking, established ministries, or direct to readers through venues such as blogging, the internet, articles, etc. then they should not self-publish.
Agents and publishers can offer their authors a trustworthy team to help them to publish both their out-of-print books and unpublished manuscripts, further building their readership with the ability to sell directly through the author’s website, the BelieversPress E-store, and to the trade through STL Distribution. Or, they can refer authors needing mentoring and further development to trusted professionals who can help them hone their skill and platform before re-submitting.
BelieversPress authors can:
- Engage an elite team of the best talent in Christian publishing to take their manuscript from good to great!
- Benefit from experienced professionals in marketing, publicity, and sales who help them get their message heard
- Connect with authors who have traveled the path before them
- Take control of your publishing future – there are no packages and no royalty schemes
- Bring unpublished titles and out-of-print books to their readers
- Print with the company that produces 30% of Christian best-sellers
- Make a difference – a portion of their dollars are used to fund ministry
Contact BelieversPress:
6820 West 115th Street • Bloomington, MN 55438
(800) 341-4192 • www.believerspress.com • info@believerspress.com
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Interview with Publishing Titans Jane Friedman and Larry Kirshbaum
August 13th, 2009 by Nick CiskeA candid and varied look at publishing’s past and future from the former CEOs of two of the largest publishers (HarperCollins and TimeWarner respectively). Well worth a watch!
Some highlights:
Larry Kirshbaum:
More and more authors are finding that even if they are published by a brand name big publisher they still have to an awful lot of the work themselves.
You have to come with your own publicity ideas, and often your own publicist, you have to do your own marketing, you have to go out and meet bookstores.
We used to look down on [vanity publishing] … now the dividing line … is getting blurrier and blurrier…
Jane Friedman:
… I’m very bullish on self-publishing today …
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Check stock level and sales at Ingram
July 29th, 2009 by Nick CiskeCall (615) 213-6803
Have your ISBN, and something to write with ready.
Make sure you enter the 13 digit version of your ISBN (starts with 978 or 979)
The system will repeat what you entered, hit “1″ if you entered it correctly.
Make sure this is correct or the information you get will be wrong!
At the next prompt, hit “3″ to get all the data available.
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Getting your self-published book on (local) store shelves
July 9th, 2009 by Nick CiskeJosie Leavitt, owner of an independent bookstore and blogger for Publishers Weekly, posted some helpful tips on getting local independent bookstores to carry your book:
As the owner of an independent bookstore, I get approached at least twice a week by self-published authors asking me to sell their books. The world of self-published books has changed a great deal since we’ve been open.
I’ve amassed a list of what I’d like to see happen to make this growing area of bookselling as beneficial as possible for both parties. I’ve had some great success with self-published books. So if you’re an author, don’t despair, you can almost always get your book on the shelf. One thing I’ve changed is that now I’ll take one copy of any self-published book on consignment. This involves no risk on my part and it allows your book to spend some time on the shelf. Just know that shelf space is at a premium. If after three months, the book hasn’t sold, it may wind up in the back room until there’s more room on the shelf.
One cardinal rule: if you want me to carry your book and you live locally, you should make an effort to shop at my store.
Do: Make your book look as professional as possible.
Don’t: Have a spiral wire binding (unless it’s a church cookbook), laminated pages or folders.Do: Send an email with details about your book. I love emails; I can’t misplace them and I can quickly refer to it when I need to. And they give me an easy way to contact you.
Don’t: Come to the store unannounced and expect me to drop what I’m doing to review your book. There’s nothing that puts me off more than this. Respect my time and I’ll be much more disposed to look favorably on your book.Do: Call to follow up on the email you sent. This reminds to review the email if I’ve missed it.
Don’t: Be hurt if I don’t remember your book right away. We see lots of books. My lack of memory means nothing, other than I just don’t remember. It’s not a condemnation of your book.Do: Try to leave a reader’s copy if you want me to carry a novel. I do try to read them and if I like the book, I’ll happily take several copies.
Don’t: Get mad at me for asking for a copy to read. I know it’s expensive to have extra books; if you can’t have a copy for me to read, then maybe an excerpt would be good. I can’t just have things on the shelf I know nothing about. So give me so info that can help me sell your book.Do: Try to price your book within the market ranges. I know picture books can be expensive to print, but a $25 paperback picture book will be hard to sell.
Don’t: Not listen to your local bookseller’s advice. No one knows the market better than your local indie. Listen to their hesitations about carrying the book. See what you can do to modify the price. We had one self-published book that was really overpriced; we recommended a different printer and she got a much better price. As a consequence of the lower price we were really able to sell the book. I think by the time the print run ran out, we’d sold over 200.Do: Think regionally. You’re much more likely to get your book placed if it’s got something to do local region. We’ve had good results with a book about boxers in Vermont.
Don’t: Expect a Vermont bookstore to carry a book about California ponies….Read the rest at Publisher’s Weekly
BelieversPress distribution customers: Booksellers can order your book from Ingram or STL Distribution on a returnable basis. They may prefer this to a consignment arrangement.
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CIP, PCIP, PCN, EPCN, and LCCN — What are they and do I need them?
June 17th, 2009 by Nick CiskeCIP
A Cataloging in Publication record (aka CIP data) is a bibliographic record prepared by the Library of Congress for a book that has not yet been published. When the book is published, the publisher includes the CIP data on the copyright page thereby facilitating book processing for libraries and book dealers.
Publishers who have published the works of fewer than three different authors are ineligible. Self-publishers (i.e. authors and editors who pay for or subsidize publication of their own works; who often do not publish the works of more than three different authors; and whose works are rarely widely acquired by the nation’s libraries) are ineligible. Publishers ineligible for the CIP program may be eligible for the Preassigned Control Number Program (PCN).
Source: http://cip.loc.gov/
PCIP
Publishers Cataloging In Publication data is a CIP block prepared by the publisher. It contains the same information as one created by the Library of Congress, but is created by a friendly librarian or paid CIP creation service. It is not recommended that you try to create this data yourself by looking at similar titles. You’ll need a PCN in order to get a complete PCIP block.
PCN (aka EPCN)
A Library of Congress catalog card number (LCCN) is a unique identification number that the Library of Congress assigns to the catalog record created for each book in its cataloged collections. Librarians use it to locate a specific Library of Congress catalog record in the national databases and to order catalog cards from the Library of Congress or from commercial suppliers. The Library of Congress assigns this number while the book is being cataloged. Under certain circumstances, however, a card number can be assigned before the book is published through the Preassigned Card Number Program.
Only U.S. book publishers are eligible to participate in the PCN program. These publishers must list a U.S. place of publication on the title page or copyright page of their books and maintain an editorial office in the U.S. capable of answering substantive bibliographic questions.
Source: http://pcn.loc.gov/
See also: PCN Eligigibly Requirements and the PCN Frequently Asked Questions
The Gist
The Library of Congress (LOC) has two programs it uses to catalog forthcoming books most likely to be widely acquired by U.S. libraries. Widely is the operative word there–if your book is of limited interest to most libraries, aquiring a PCN is of limited value.
The CIP program is for large publishers. The LOC assigns an LCCN and generates a CIP block which is printed on the copyright page. (It’s that big block of numbers and short sentences that looks like a card catalog from your grade school days.)
A PCIP costs money but will make it more likely that a library order your book (as books lacking any CIP data require the library to create it in order to shelve the book).
The EPCN program was created to serve self/independent publishers by pre-assigning them a LCCN (or Pre-Assinged Control Number: PCN). This number is printed on the copyright page (to enable Libraries to look the book up), but the CIP data is not.
Both the CIP and EPCN programs require the publisher to submit free copies of the book for the LOC collection.
The Bottom Line
- Most self-published books don’t qualify for the CIP program.
- Whether you apply for a PCN or not is up to you as the self-publisher/author.
- There’s little cost (a few books and shipping) to apply for a PCN.
- Paying to have a PCIP created will cost around $50-$100.
- Even without a PCN or PCIP, libraries may still order your book if they really want it, but it’s unlikely.
- Most libraries will gladly accept a book donation regardless of whether it has a CIP or PCN. Whether they shelve it or sell it is another matter entirely.
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Author Profile – Tom Shetler
May 21st, 2009 by Sara RosenbergName: Tom Shetler
Title: Can We Know?
Why I wrote my book: I wrote my book out of a deep concern for the growing secularism in our society and its impact, particularly on young people. With the loss of Christian influence in our society we are experiencing a number of serious personal and social problems. Can We Know? was written to convince an open minded reader that God exists and that the Christian gospel is true.
Much of the unbelief in the modern world is based on the view that agnosticism is the only option to a rational person. Agnosticism says that no one knows or can know the answers to the biggest questions of life such as the existence of God, life after death, or even what is ultimately right and wrong. This moral and spiritual uncertainty has done a great deal of damage and must be confronted. Can We Know? shows the reader how they can truly know the God who loves them so deeply that He gave His Son so that they could be restored to a real relationship with Him.
About me and my book: My sophomore year in college I attended a Campus Crusade retreat and the speaker presented the historical evidence for the resurrection. It was the message I needed to convince me that the gospel was true, and I immediately gave my life to Jesus. After college and a number of years working as an engineer, God led me to prepare for full-time ministry.
I came to what is now Bethany College of Missions in 1979, met my wife Susan, and we set off on the adventure of serving Jesus. Almost from the time I became a Christian in college, I have wanted to write a book on apologetics. Primarily because I believe there are a lot of young men and women just like me, who would like to believe, but who need to be shown that Christianity is really true. I joined the Bethany faculty in 1991 and have had the privilege of teaching apologetics to several generations of Bethany students. Teaching the subject only increased my desire to write a book, particularly because I didn’t see anyone dealing with the agnostic problem and the subsequent growth of postmodernism.
Favorite part of working with BelieversPress/Bethany Press: I have been around Bethany Press for many years. The emphasis on excellence and quality has never wavered, and there was no one else that I would want to print and bind my book. What I appreciated the most about working with BelieversPress was the way they helped me navigate through the process. I had a pretty good cover design for the book, but they suggested we do the cover in MatteKote. That suggestion alone made a big difference in the look of my cover. It went from being a nice cover to an outstanding cover. In addition, Sara and the staff of BelieversPress helped in paper selection, font choice and typesetting. I felt that BelieversPress really cared about me and my book.
Tip to share with others: For anyone considering self-publishing, I would encourage you to, right at the beginning of the process, develop a plan for how you will market your book. You will save yourself many days, weeks, or months of no or few sales. There are several good books available to help you plan a marketing strategy, so create a plan as soon as you can.
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