Are You Ready For The Marketplace?

Amy Collins

Over 3,000,000 books were published last year

The Life of Your Book: Editing Designing Packaging (Titling & Pricing) Market research Distribution plan Fully executable distribution and marketing plan 3 months before launch Fully executable distribution and marketing plan 12 months after launch

Rules as of Today Hardcovers no longer are the standard for “serious” books. POD has become more acceptable to bookstores, but if bookstores are your main focus, you still need to print some and offer them through traditional distribution or fulfillment company. Digital Printing has improved in quality and you do NOT need to print thousands of books. There are even fewer print and online reviewers of consequence but… Reviews are still KEY. Most libraries and major book chains need professional reviews before they will consider a small press title in any real quantity. Libraries and bookstores are not necessarily the best way to get to readers anymore. (Most books are not sold in bookstores.) eBooks have taken a much bigger portion of book sales. There are MORE readers now than there were a year ago THANKS to eBook readers.

Forget What You Know Newspapers & reviewers WILL review paperback books Reviewers and bloggers will review POD books Bookstores will stock POD books Most of your friends will not buy or review your book Libraries and bookstores cannot afford nor do they want expensive books by unknown authors Books will not “sell themselves” Your book is not the exception

What You Need to Ask First: Who needs or wants your book? Why will they buy it? How will they hear about it? Where will they find it? What makes your book different? Where does it belong? What are you prepared to do to get it there? When are you going to do what?

What You Need to Ask Next: What stores are right for your book? What books are on that store’s shelves? How many books like yours do they sell? Why do they need yours if they already have some like yours?

How Big Box, Airport, Supermarkets and Discount Stores Choose Books Wholesalers Buyers Jobbers Pocket Fees

How to Convince Them to Buy Your Book Who are the buyers? How are they judged? Where do they buy their books from? What criteria do the decision makers use to decide on a book?

Keep In Mind Perhaps stores are not the best place to sell your book. No one needs your book - They have to want it A proper attitude, polite tone, and a desire to be helpful will get you MUCH further than your belief that your book will be a big seller….

Please get in touch if you have any questions! Amy Collins New Shelves Books 614 Fifth Ave Troy, NY X301 Phone NewShelvesBooks Skype Website Twitter Facebook