The Ink Tree Report March, 2005
Dear
author/publisher,
Wow! Last time I
wrote I was getting ready to take time off for my wedding and
honeymoon and now I've been married for over 3 weeks. Time sure does
fly!
So far, so good.
Married life is great! On with this
month's newsletter...
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Brought to
you by Ink Tree Ltd., your source of help for anything related to
publishing and
book marketing.
Visit us at
http://www.inktreemarketing.com
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Marketing,
Marketing, Marketing
Book Marketing Strategies for
Non-Returnable Book Sales
This article was selected from our free
article bank which you can find here:
http://www.inktreemarketing.com/selfpublishingarticles.htm
Want to
boost your book marketing plan, implement new book marketing
strategies and sell more books?
It may surprise you to know that book stores are not always your greatest source of book sales.
Most books should be available in bookstores,
and your publicity campaign is designed to create interest in your book and to drive buyers to the book stores.
However, you need to explore other options as well if you want to
sell more books. Your goal
is to make your book a “household name” – a topic of conversation at
water coolers and dinner tables everywhere.
Unfortunately, book store sales don’t necessarily mean your
books are “sold”. The books are bought on consignment and they might be returned
to you over and over again. That’s the sad reality of the book retail industry.
Your book’s fame, however, can help you to acquire non-returnable sales in the nontraditional market where a sale actually is a sale.
Where sales of 25,000 copies and more (with no returns) are not uncommon.
You must be considering these
kinds of sales while you are publishing your book and through the
development of your
book marketing plan.
Here are 19
Book
Marketing strategies that will help you acquire those sales
based on our experience working directly with large volume buyers.
These are the things the buyers are looking for when they select
books for catalogs, book clubs and display retail:
1. Write your book for a very broad market – nonfiction works best.
2. Write a book that people will be happy to give as a gift.
3. Add as many photos and illustrations as you can afford.
4. Keep the topic light – avoid heavy social commentaries, controversial topics, scientific theories and other “heavy” subjects.
5. Have your book professionally designed.
6. Have your book professionally edited.
7. Give your book a catchy name – avoid boring titles such as
How to Have a Happy, Fulfilling Life.
8. Make sure that the cover design is appealing, appears three dimensional and can compete with all of the major publishing houses. Hire a professional designer.
9. Sell the benefits of your book on the back cover. That is where you will sell buyers on the reasons why they just can’t live without your book.
10. Price the book competitively in your genre.
11. Make your book look like it is good value for the price – it’s all about perceived value in the minds of the buyers.
12. Don’t write for yourself – write for the end buyer. Fulfill a need for them or make them feel better.
13. Think of the corporate market when you are writing. Make a list of corporations that
would benefit from your book, and then contact them with a proposal.
14. Submit your book to the book clubs at least six months before you publish.
15. Find an agent who sells to the gift market.
16. Find an agent who sells foreign rights.
17. Find an agent who sells to the display market.
18. Don’t be afraid to offer large discounts on non-returnable sales.
19. Seek licensing agreements – they can be a great source of income for
little or no work on your part.
A professionally designed book opens many doors while an amateurish appearance closes many doors. It is vitally important that you invest in your book at the beginning to create sales in the long term. Plan
your publicity and
book marketing strategies before you print your books – printing is not the final expense in your
book marketing plan. It is the beginning. You can have the best book in the world, but if no one knows about it, no one will buy it.
Create a book that buyers just can’t resist -- and then create a
book
marketing plan that makes those buyers BUY.
© Copyright 2004 Ink Tree Ltd.
Ink Tree Ltd. helps authors publish, market and sell books.
We have all the tools you need to succeed in book publishing. Let us help you make your book a success. http://www.inktreemarketing.com
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Tips You Can
Use
If you
have a website for your book (which you should!), I have just
discovered a fantastic little free tool that helps you search
for keywords and monitors your site's ranking with Google. Here's
the link:
http://www.digitalpoint.com/
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Have You Heard?
If you're considering
publishing a cookbook,
we have a new site you should know about:
http://www.publishacookbook.com
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Mention My
Book!
Don’t forget to submit YOUR book! You'll
find instructions
at the end of this section.
==========================
From the Teacher's Desk
Jacquie McTaggart, Author
More Info:
www.theteachersdesk.com
"From the Teacher's
Desk is not a textbook, but rather a compendium of what I
learned throughout my career —by experience and by following in the
footsteps of those who traveled the teaching road with me. The book
is an easy read, includes numerous anecdotes, and a large dose of
humor. With the exception of political legislation, issues are
examined without pointing fingers and suggestions are offered
without preaching."
==========================
The One Question ~ What
Would Love Do?
Caroline McIntosh, Author
Available at:
http://www.whatwouldlovedo.info
108 pages of short stories show how this magical question
gives the perfect answer - EVERYTIME. A Magical Book of True Short
Stories That Reach Into Your Heart to Turn Your Light On! Stories
that Heal, Inspire and Empower You to Do the Same and Even More!
===========================
***The intention of our Mention My Book section is to give free
exposure to self
published books. Every bit of publicity counts! If you
want to submit your book for mention, please send an email with the
subject line “Mention My Book!” to us at:
info@inktreemarketing.com***
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Inspiration
"Far better is it to dare mighty
things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by
failure...than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy
much nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that
knows not victory nor defeat."
Theodore Roosevelt
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To your publishing success,
Joni Hamilton
VP Marketing
Ink Tree Ltd.
For more
information on Ink Tree and our services for authors and publishers,
visit us at:
http://www.inktreemarketing.com
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