Tag Archive | book selling

How To Get Libraries To Buy Your Book

Rebecca Langley lays out a specific list of to-do tasks to try and get your book into libraries. It’s not for the marketing faint of heart, but if you can get in, libraries are all over this country.

Getting into your local library is probably easier than what she describes. Knowing your librarians and finding out what they might be looking for for their patrons is helpful. Just ask. Rebecca is right, it’s all about getting patrons in the door.

She doesn’t mention audio books. Having your book as an audio book is also another plus. Findaway voices is a new service that puts your audio book on multiple formats (including audible).

And look at that list of reviewers (Library Journal, Kirkus, PW, Booklist…) early in your writing process. Many free reviews require the book 3 months before publication. You can send them an ARC (advanced reader copy), so that is helpful. But you’ll have to plan ahead. I know once your book is done, you really want to get it out, but getting your book reviewed by a few of these companies can go a long way in selling more books. I know I wish I had done this for a couple of my books.

And speaking of reviews, you’ll want a decent number (10-20+?) of reviews on Amazon before you do any marketing. Librarians look at Amazon too.

Best of luck!

Stay safe!
Christine

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Library books have a longer shelf life than in bookstores, and they get more action, because there’s no financial risk for the inquisitive reader.

Source: How To Get Libraries To Buy Your Book

CKBooks Publishing
Where Publishing Dreams Become Reality

Book Promotion: Do This, Not That – October 2016

Oct19

Amy Collins gives us some good advice about planning ahead related to book marketing and sales, not something I am particularly good at. I also want to add, it has been my experience that libraries also tend to budget quite a bit ahead, so if you want to offer a writing program, or “How I Self-Published My First Book” workshop, or a book reading/sale, you would want to contact libraries now. Many will be planning for next year about now.

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Amy’s post:

October already? How the heck did THAT happen? Another month of great marketing and sales successes to be had. Let’s get started with this month’s three tidbits of book promotion experience:

Source: Book Promotion: Do This, Not That – October 2016 – The Book Designer

B&N to Sell Self-Published Books In Stores – Sort Of

Aug29

Interesting news from book business and Thad Mcilroy. I also know a print book author that got her book in a local (Wisconsin) B & N store, I think primarily because of a supportive store manager. She had to show the manager her book promotion plan and she let her do a reading and stock her book – Tween/YA fantasy fiction. For others, it might not be as easy going (per the article). Slowly, slowly, they are learning that self-published authors are an asset.

In its latest effort to reclaim lost territory from Amazon, Barnes & Noble will sell self-published books, in print, in its stores.

Source: B&N to Sell Self-Published Books In Stores

CKBooks Publishing
Where Publishing Dreams Become Reality

How Book Selling Really Works – Updated for 2016 | BooksGoSocial Book Marketing Blog

Jun24

Laurence O’Bryan writes about some realities about book publishing – he has made some good points, especially at the end when he says, “Don’t underestimate the amount of work you will need to do to make your Alice-like dreams come true. I read again and again about writers whose fourth, tenth or fourteenth book hit the big time. Think about how many years those writers invested in their craft and in nurturing their readers.”

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If you’re a new author, traditionally or independently published, one of the problems that you face is that you may not understand how book selling really works. The publishing world in 2016 is similar to a Mad Hatter’s tea party.…

How Book Selling Really Works – Updated for 2016 | BooksGoSocial Book Marketing Blog

CKBooks Publishing
Where Publishing Dreams Become Reality

Disturbing Changes to Kindle Unlimited

Nov3

Wow! This post by Mark Coker of Smashwords lets all us indie authors on some very disturbing news – basically the devaluation of an already inexpensive way to read your book.

Amazon is decreasing the fee needed for readers to get into their book subscription service: Kindle Unlimited. Now in India, it has cut the cost of this service from $9.99 to $3! with hints of doing the same in other countries.

Read Marks post and see how some readers are responding. It is sad but not to surprising. And Mark gives us all a way to change this. Please read on!

Source: Smashwords

Promote your book(s) on Smashwords “Read an Ebook Week”

Mar1

I wanted to make sure everyone knows about Smashwords’ ebook promotion called “Read an Ebook Week.”

The event is happening from March 2 – 8th and allows you to offer your ebook from 25 – 75% off or FREE! It’s a great way to work with Smashwords and other indie authors to promote each other. Go to: http://www.smashwords.com/dashboard/sitewidePromo to sign yourself up. If you’re not selling on Smashwords, it’s not hard to set yourself up on the site. Once you’ve signed up, Mark Coker, the owner of Smashwords, will send you an email with lots of helpful links for the event.

Set yourself up then put notices on facebook, twitter, your website…
See you there!

Terry Cordingley: Day 15: Selling Books at Fairs and Festivals

Sep4

Now is about the time to start signing up for those fairs and festivals that frequently occur in the fall. Terry Cordingley has some ideas about the subject that I thought you might like. I have found that craft fairs can be fairly profitable affair for a book seller. You are frequently the only person selling books so it’s a nice place to stand out.

I think it’s handy to have a smart phone with a credit card swiper at these sales – the folks at these sales have only have so much cash and they are much more likely to buy your book(s) if they can use credit. I use the free paypal swiper. Make sure it works for your smart phone before you got to the sale. I had to change phones to get mine to work. I should have had the swiper with me when I bought the phone but I didn’t. Live and learn.

Anyway, sign up and go to any fair or festival you can get to. It’s a great way to get your name out locally.

Terry Cordingley: Day 15: Selling Books at Fairs and Festivals. Thanks for the reminder, Terry!

[She Self-Publishes] 7 Common Questions About ISBNs – She Writes

Apr17

compliments of Wikipedia

Some details about the illusive ISBN! Thank you Emily Suess and She Writes. (What a great last name!) Just an FYI, you have to purchase the barcode (those black lines below the ISBN) separately.

[She Self-Publishes] 7 Common Questions About ISBNs – She Writes.