PUBLISHED MARCH/APRIL 2020 by Deb Vanasse, Reporter, IBPA Independent magazine — Don’t overlook prepublication marketing in your book publishing plan. Article Synopsis: Build the buzz of your book prior to launch by generating preorders and garnering reviews from advanced reader copies. Use genre-specific data from platforms like Bookbub and Goodreads in your marketing plan. Write …

PUBLISHED JAN/FEB 2020 by Deb Vanasse, Reporter, IBPA Independent magazine — Opportunities abound for independent publishers to partner with libraries if they take the time to learn the process. Article Synopsis: While libraries differ in policies, budgets, and acquisition procedures, they all have shared interests with indie publishers. Publishers should find out which community goals …

PUBLISHED NOV/DEC 2019 by Deb Vanasse, Reporter, IBPA Independent magazine — Publishers need to make the most of recent innovations while keeping an eye on emerging technologies to remain competitive. Article Synopsis: Publishers may see an expansion of cloud-based, internet-ready authoring systems. E-book and audiobook technologies have not been fully tapped into and continue to …

PUBLISHED SEPT/OCT 2019 by Deb Vanasse, Reporter, IBPA Independent magazine — Knowing what to expect from distribution and what to expect when making the switch improves both the experience and the bottom line. Even as the market consolidates, options for independent publishers are within reach. What Do Distributors Do? As it applies to publishing, this …

PUBLISHED JULY/AUGUST 2019 by Deb Vanasse, Reporter, IBPA Independent magazine — Increasingly, consumers recognize the climate threats posed by shrinking forests and ecologically destructive practices. By making environmentally friendly choices, publishers can help mitigate these problems while also building goodwill and protecting their supply chain. After all, print publishing depends on trees, so it only …

PUBLISHED MAY/JUNE 2019 by Deb Vanasse, Reporter, IBPA Independent magazine — Indies are well-positioned to evaluate potential acquisitions of licenses, out-of-print titles, and even entire companies. Speak with publishers about acquisitions, and they’ll tell you about the new authors they’ve signed. But why limit acquisitions to unpublished manuscripts? By acquiring licenses, out-of-print titles, and even …

PUBLISHED MARCH/APRIL 2019 by Deb Vanasse, Reporter, IBPA Independent magazine – Marketing a book can be complicated, time-consuming, and expensive. Authors and publishers should join forces to implement a plan that works. If ever there was a time when authors could simply write books and cede all sales-related responsibilities to publishers, that era is no …

PUBLISHED JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 by Deb Vanasse, Reporter, IBPA Independent magazine — Publishers need to stay agile, building into their planning ways to maneuver around potential threats while also steering their companies toward new opportunities and growth. In an industry where change is the only constant, publishers need to stay ahead of the curve. But faced …

PUBLISHED NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 by Deb Vanasse, Reporter, IBPA Independent magazine — Blockchain technology is new, and many are predicting that it will bring genuine disruption to the publishing industry in the coming years. Proponents liken the emergence of blockchain to the advent of the public internet, creating a new paradigm for doing business. No longer …

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018 by Deb Vanasse, Reporter, IBPA Independent magazine — For many indie publishers, full-service distribution is attractive. But to benefit from it, you need a growing platform, a commitment to marketing, and sufficient cash flow. “If only we had better distribution.” Among new and emerging publishers, it’s a common lament. Without full-service distribution, …