PUBLISHED NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021 by Brian Jud, Book Marketing Consultant — Here are a few techniques build consensus among diverse perspectives to close book sales. When you sell a few hundred books to a prospective customer, the decision is usually made quickly, by one or two people. You might close the sale with a handshake and …

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 by Brian Jud, Book Marketing Consultant — Below are tips to help you prepare to ask for—and get—an order for your books. Have you ever bargained with a potential employer for a job offer? If so, you already know the basics of negotiating a large, nonreturnable book order since there are many …

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022 by Crishna CD Murray, Author & CEO of Twin Attic Publishing House Inc. — How Shopify has made placing books for sale, tracking inventory, and creating royalty reports so easy. This past year-plus of the pandemic has been a struggle for my publishing company and me. I remember sitting at my desk, …

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 Erin Wright, USA Today bestselling author — 10 concepts that you need to accept and implement into your publishing strategy to succeed as a wide author. It seems like every day authors are inundated with stories of the latest Amazon shenanigans: Page reads being stripped. Accounts being shuttered. Stern letters filled with …

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 by Karen Pavlicin, Publisher, Elva Resa Publishing — Communicate what’s special about your book to help sales reps and buyers better understand your market so they can make informed buying decisions. An effective sales packet communicates what’s special about your book and helps sales reps and buyers better understand your market so …

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021 by Deb Vanasse, Reporter, IBPA Independent magazine — By understanding the anatomy of distribution sales meetings, publishers—even those who handle their own distribution—can improve the discoverability and reach of their lists. Article Synopsis: Sales meetings give publishers an opportunity to present new titles and get feedback from the distributor. A compelling presentation, …

PUBLISHED JULY/AUGUST 2021 by Mel Corrigan, Business and Visibility Director, Scribe Publishing Company — It’s time to develop a relationship with your neighborhood Barnes & Noble store manager. For many small, independent publishers, attaining national distribution can be a big win. But every book in a given catalog might not have national appeal or garner …

PUBLISHED MAY/JUNE 2021 by Elly Blue, Marketing and Editorial Director, Microcosm Publishing & Distribution — Case Study: How a bunch of small publishers worked together to support each other and try to get their books into readers’ hands. During the summer of 2020, my friend Rachel Bell and I were on the phone bemoaning the …

PUBLISHED MAY/JUNE 2021 by Richard-Anthony Lena, President, Brattle Publishing Group — Four small steps that may lead to special sales opportunities for your books. Synopsis: It’s difficult to sell direct to consumer if you don’t know who your primary customer is, so you first must identify them. Seek out sources that will help you learn …

PUBLISHED MARCH/APRIL 2021 by Amanda Gawthorpe, Senior Editor, Blue Ink Press — By adhering to professional publishing standards you can win a place on the shelves of independent bookstores. On the surface, independent publishers and independent bookstores should be a match made in heaven. Both are the proverbial underdogs, trying to survive in an industry …