Sales Channel Management : Find The Best Places To Sell Your Book – Episode #029

my book, Reptiles on Caffeine, is published, however it is not selling because no one knows about it. so i am looking for ways to market it. i stumbled upon your site while looking for ways to do this on a shoe string budget. i was very impressed with your site, & will be visiting often. thanks....brooke musterman

Hello from the U.S. I fell upon one of your videos on youtube and have been to your site daily ever since. Thank you for your insight into this world. I am a newcommer to the book writing arena but have written for many year for personal enjoyment.
As of today, I have a manuscript being edited involving a children's book idea I had some time ago. So far she is thrilled with the concept and charactors. So far I have aproximately 25 titles that I plan on writing and have completed 5.
My concern is 2 fold: I have been speaking to a self published author locally who has invested several thousands of dollars into bringing the book into reality. I do not have that kind of financial ability. However, I do not wish to proceed through a publishing company either because I do not want to sign over the rights to the book. I feel my series of books can go beyond the pages and grow into a line of toys, cartoons and clothing line. What are your thoughts? Sorry for being so long winded. I understand if this takes you longer than 8 minutes to answer...lol
Again, thank you for your insight.

Thanks for another great episode, Dale.

To me, distribution is the hardest part of publishing. I have tried both the do-it-yourself, self-publishing route (for my first book) and I now go through an established publisher.

Here is a dilemma I hope you can help me sort out when going through an established publisher...

The publisher has an established relationship with their distributor(s) (sometimes an exclusive relationship); the distributor, in turn, has an established relationship with retailers.

As you said, distributors usually distribute mainly through bookstores. Yet I think there is a great market for my book at other places: for example, at Airports, in gift shops, in English as a Second Language Centers, Doctors' waiting rooms, etc.

How do I get my book into these places without upsetting the relationships between publisher-distributor-retailer? For example, do I simply write to these "non-traditional" retailers myself? Even if I can persuade them to display my book, I don't have access to the stock; and I don't have the facilities to track sales, issue invoices, etc. How do I get the stock to the Airport, Gift Shops, and other places that are outside my distributor's usual channels?

Dale, this topic has been the one which I'm most apprehensive about. Selling: where and HOW to sell in a way that I'm inviting in and maintaining relationships with readers, audiences, proprietors, presenters, etc.? In other words, how to not get rejected by the target market, key individuals, etc.....

Any tips on this? Deep thanks for your continued guidance ~ Joyce

Traditionally, do you pay the distributor up front, or do they just take a portion of the profits as the books are sold?

It's so amazing that this episode came up today, because that's exactly what I've been doing this week. I've been identifying alternative sales channels for my book, and making creative alliances. Excellent!

Thanks Christine. Glad to know that this Episode of GetPublishedTV.com really helped

I know you are shooting for an 8 minute show, but I think you are doing a good job, even with sometimes missing that mark.

If you don't have someone in the room with you, perhaps you might get an inexpensive, large-faced traditional clock to set just out of camera shot. Use red, yellow and green markers to color the face. Yellow would, of course, be the visual signal that you need to begin winding down and red being the wrap-it-up now area. This would be a passive visual aid.

Continue the good work. Perhaps offer some advise on maintaining your focus as you write and hold another job.

Great thoughts Robin. Yes I will talk to the guys and come up with a better solution. I really like your idea of the colors. Think that would be very helpful :-)

For tech publications, trade or professional associations are VERY good, but ONLY if their publications Czar or committee accepts your work. Getting to the right PERSON can be difficult, and a gratis copy of the book is a must.

I wrote a book re inventory management, and have a deal where a noted inventory management software house ships a free copy with every 10-user software suite... and about 70% come back for at least 9 more copies!

loving the episode Dale. the information you give is just great. THANKYOU

Thanks Jillian, Please keeping supporting the show by leaving your comments :-)

Can't wait to see the book I write in a bookstore. That must be an awesome feeling.

yeh seeing your book in a bookstore is the greatest feeling. we'll get you there soon Connor

very interesting episode Dale. Thank you for your insights