Self-Publishing and Working With Book-Stores
To work or not to work with bookstores?
Dallas, TX – Gone are the days when the self-published author struggled to get their books into book stores. There have been a number of great self-published titles that have generated considerable sales figures and because of that, self-published authors (if they use the proper approach) can get their foot in the door.
If you want to give this a try, there are a number of things that have to be in place before visiting your local book store and asking them to stock your book.
First, have all the pertinent information for your book listed on a single sheet of paper including:
- Book title and subtitles if any
- A brief synopsis of what your book is about
- You book’s strongest selling points
- Page count
- ISBN (if you have one),
- Author’s name (don’t assume they will remember your name)
- Publisher’s name (whether you are self-publishing under a company name or simply under your own name),
- Wholesale price (what you will charge them for your book)
- Suggested retail price (do some research first)
- Quantity discounts
- Marketing and advertising suggestions
Second, have copies of your book with you (you’d be surprised how many first time, self-published authors fail to do this!) It’s also a very good idea to have some display items such as posters and signs that the book store owner can use to help people find your book.
Third, make sure you have a proper and effective sales pitched prepared. You don’t want to come across as a door-to-door salesman selling vacuum cleaners, but you do have to “sell” the book store owner (or manager) on your masterpiece including why they should dedicate precious shelf space for your book.
Next, offer to speak about your book (for free) in their store as a “get to know the author” type of event. This shows that you are actively involved in marketing your book and willing to so what you can to help generate sales.
Finally, make sure you have considerable knowledge of how self-publishing and wholesale and retail pricing works and offer your help in monitoring the sales at a particular store by checking in periodically with the store’s manager.
Typically, you’ll have more luck if your book is local. In other words, of interest to the particular group of people that frequent that store. Books about sight-seeing trips, local attractions, a history of the area, or an event that’s is well-known and unique to a local town or city can do quite well.
What about the big stores such as Barnes & Noble or Borders?
For the most part, the decisions regarding what books these retailers stock are not made at the local level. The exception would be when a particular book is often requested by those visiting the store.
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Phillip Crum is the Chief Idea Officer of Sir Speedy Walnut Hill located at 2414 Arbuckle Court Dallas, TX 75229, and is committed to the idea of helping small business owners do a better job of finding their next customer or client. Phillip can be reached at 214-213-7445, or via email.
Copyright © 2006-2010 Phillip Crum
