The writer of the Book of Ecclesiastes said, “Of making many books there is no end” (Eccl. 12:12).

“Making them” is the first part of the journey. Selling and distributing your books is a major obstacle course, but it can be done with some planning, lots of prayer and much perseverance.

The only way to get people to buy your books is to make them aware they are available. Internet Marketing is a vast subject, but well worth researching because there are literally millions of buyers online at any one time.
The best way to learn how to succeed online is to learn from the experts. Patience, discipline and perseverance are the keys to succeeding online.

How to Effectively Market and Sell Your Product on the Internet
Available from Pilgrim Publications SA

How To Effectively Market and Sell Your Product On The Internet

Market Research

Identity your readers.  Are they young, old, rich, poor, educated, urban, rural, Christian?

Locate your readers.

Where do they congregate, shop, worship? What magazines, newspapers, literature do they read? What radio programmes do they listen to? Where will you find them on the internet? Are they computer-literate? Concentrate on these areas as you consider the best way to promote your book.

Pricing

When setting the retail price, it is important to take into consideration that bookshops normally require 35-40% discount, after which they add VAT. They do not take kindly to being undercut by the author.

Preparation of advertising material

• Catalogues – print in colour for distribution to bookshops.
• Extra cover copies – to use as advertisements, especially for bookshops. Keep in mind marketing agents do not carry loads of books into the bookshops, but sell from covers.
• Quick order forms.
• Posters.
• Collect testimonials and endorsements.
• Distribution.
• Christian bookshops.
• General bookshops.
• Specialty stores.
• Online bookstores (internet),
• Libraries.
• Non-traditional markets (places you don’t normally find books).
• Offer incentives.
• Consignment stock.
• Ask your friends to purchase their books from your outlets.
• Bookshops make books available, but rarely promote them.
  So … Advertise.
• Internet marketing.
• Web presence.
• Email lists, newsletters and ezines.
• Email to personal friends and contacts.
• Blogs.
• Social sites, e.g. Facebook.
• Press Releases.
• Newspapers and magazines.
• Local suburban papers.
• Radio and TV advertising and interviews.
• Book Reviews.
• Pre-Publication promotions.
• Special offers.
• Send review copies to magazines.
• Write magazine articles on topic of your book.
• Leaflets.
• Postal mailshots.
• Postcards – for “snail mail.”

Next time I’ll talk about online marketing in a little more detail and how to get noticed on the internet almost immediately.

Until then..

Let’s Reach Our Generation One Book at a Time!

Val

What On Earth Is Happening? Signs of the End Times
Now a Best Seller in the Amazon Kindle Store

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1.      Self-publishing

Self-publishing is where the author bypasses all the intermediaries, deals directly with the editor, cover artist, book designer and printer, and then handles the marketing and distribution.

If you self-publish you take a greater risk, but you also get to press sooner, keep control of your book, and make more money. You are required to invest time and money, but the rewards are greater.

Should you choose the self-publishing route, you need to make decisions about:

• The size of your book (physical size and number of pages)
• The cover design – use a good artist.
• Layout and typesetting – use a professional typesetter.
• Additional pages – e.g. Dedication, Foreword, Introduction, Prologue (if appropriate), Acknowledgements, Advertisements, Copyright notice, Autobiographical sketch, and Disclaimer (example below).
• Obtaining ISBN and barcode information
• Printing – select a good professional printer and request quotes on an initial print run.
• Marketing of the finished product – where, when and how.

2. Print-on-Demand Publishing

Get your book published in the USA for international distribution without incurring enormous printing and distribution costs. You pay for initial layout and design. They make your books available on Amazon.com and other online booksellers, print and distribute them as and when ordered – without further cost to you – and handle the sales. You keep worldwide rights and watch your postbox for royalty cheques.  It is also in your interests to do some marketing and point people to the sites where they may order your books. The more people know about your books, the faster they will sell.

Check out these “print on demand” companies.

• CreateSpace
• Booksurge.com Very highly recommended
• iUniverse
• Authorhouse

3. Formal Publisher

Finding a Publisher is not easy. Publishing is a business and the expected financial return is the bottom line for Publishers. Publishers carry all costs and authors usually receive royalties of around 10% of net receipts (i.e. what the publisher receives for books sold.)

It is estimated that publishers receive about two million book-length manuscripts every year, so unsolicited manuscripts have little or no chance of being well received. It is, therefore, important to do extensive research in order to find a publisher who is interested in your type of manuscript.

It is highly recommended that aspiring writers purchase the “Writers’ & Artists” Yearbook” for information on publishers and their submission requirements.

4. Literary Agents

Literary Agents are specialists who work for both the writer and the publisher. They assist writers to find interested publishers. They also protect publishers from being overwhelmed by unsuitable manuscripts, which is why many overseas publishers only accept work submitted by Literary Agents.

There are two types of Literary Agents. Some simply evaluate your book and return unsuitable work. Others offer editorial services and assist to bring books with potential to their final stage. You may expect to pay around 15% of your royalties for their services, plus administration costs.

Do you need a Literary Agent?

1. Do you have a thorough understanding of the publishing market and its dynamics?
2. Do you know who are the best publishers for your books and why?
3. Are you financially numerate and confident of being able to negotiate the best commercial deal available in current market conditions? Agents collect monies due, take their commission and pay the balance to you.
4. Are you confident of being able to understand fully and negotiate a publishing or other media contract? e.g. retention for author’s benefit of motion picture rights.
5. Do you enjoy the process of selling yourself and your work?
6. Do you want to spend your creative time on these activities?

Literary Agents are not easy to find, as they will only work with authors of books they consider to be saleable before they invest their time and money in a project.

Where do you start looking for a Literary Agent? The Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook is a good place to start. You may also join the South African Writers’ Circle for up-to-date information on local markets and agents. Address: Suite 522, Private Bag X4, Kloof, 3640.
Email: sawriters@webmail.co.za.
Web: www.sawc.co.za.

Well-known South African Literary Agent: Francis Bond.
Email: bondh@absamail.co.za.

Should you choose to use a Literary Agent, send a synopsis, your manuscript and a brief history of your background and achievements in writing. The Agent will evaluate your book and either accept it for submission to a publisher, suggest re-writes, or reject it. If accepted, it is usual to sign an agent/writer contract.

IMPORTANCE OF CONTRACTS

Whatever your choice of publishing route, make sure you have a valid, legal, written contract covering all details, financial and otherwise.

FINAL NOTE

The best Literary Agent of all is the Holy Spirit!

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and all your plans will succeed.”
– Proverbs 16:3

What On Earth Is Happening? Signs of the End Times
Now a Best Seller in the Amazon Kindle Store

Click here for more information
PLEASE JOIN MY MAILING LIST: Click here.
Or use the Newsletter signup box at the top of my blog.