Want to boost your book marketing plan and sell more books? Surprisingly, book stores are not always your greatest source of book sales. Most authors and publishers do want their books to be available in all of the book stores, and rightly so. You want your book to be there, too, but you want to sell more books. You want your book to be a “household name” – a topic of … [Read more...]
Stop Book Returns
Industry statistics reveal that book returns can be 30% or more of sales. If you reduce or eliminate returns then you could increase your net sales and revenue by that same amount and your profits by even more. But, you say, you have no control over returns since Ingram and the bookstores return them at will without selling them. On the contrary, there are many things that … [Read more...]
Selling Books to Supermarkets and Drug Stores
There are tens of thousands of supermarkets and drug stores of all sizes around the country. Many of these sell books, booklets and videos. Some of the larger supermarket chain stores – such as Kroger -- actually have a bookstore, rather than a book section. The means of marketing to these two segments is similar, so they will be discussed together. In the past, most of the … [Read more...]
Sell More Books To Airport Stores
All major airports have at least one bookstore, surrounded by a captive audience of weary travelers looking for something to do to help pass time. What better way while away the hours than by reading a good book? Your book? Apparently many travelers seek that option because “a major store in a large airport will sell between $1 and $2 million of books each year” says Kathleen … [Read more...]
Negotiating Large Quantity Book Sales
Negotiating a large-quantity sale requires a little give and take on the part of all parties involved. It is a course of action in which both sides seek to fairly distribute the risk and reward. This process (Step Nine) begins at the conclusion of your presentation when you ask for the order. In today’s corporate world, professional executives seek a win-win result, setting … [Read more...]
Increasing Sales without Expanding Inventory
How can a new, one-book author-publisher reach quantity of scale? How can he or she increase sales? One way is to carry other books on the same subject, but you do not want to pay for them and a 40% discount is not enough. Instead, look for other books that compliment your book. Think: “If a person were to buy my book, shouldn’t they also buy this similar book?” Hopefully … [Read more...]
Imagine the Millions
Imagine an order for three million copies of a book or a tips booklet you wrote. Having trouble with that image? It might be that you're focusing on selling single copies, one at a time. It could be that you think there is some unattainable magic that happens somewhere in between the number one and the number million. Maybe you believe you don't know what the mechanics are for … [Read more...]
The Best Business Card You Ever Had
“Keep in mind Jim, this is the best business card you'll ever have.” That was my first lesson as a new publisher and it has served me well over the years. When my first book “Handbook to a Happier Life” came back from the printer, I called my friend Terri Lonier, author of the “Working Solo” series. Terri was the only successful small publisher I knew at the time. I was in a … [Read more...]
Sell More Books to Corporations
Publishers seeking sales in non-bookstore markets often think only in terms of selling to retail outlets such as discount stores, warehouse clubs, airport stores or gift shops. However, there is an often-overlooked segment made up of buyers that frequently purchase books in large quantities, pays in 30 days and does not require a distributor. This niche is comprised of … [Read more...]