Distribute Your Self-published Book - Part 2

By Author: Judy Cullins
Total Articles: 45
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Distribute Your Self-Published Book - Part 2
Judy Cullins ©2005 All Rights Reserved.

Where is your book now? With a distributor? In a book store? Or, did it already die an early death after a few months?

New self-published authors often believe they need a distributor to sell a lot of books. They want to use Ingram or Baker & Taylor because they think they need to get their book into the "brick and mortar" bookstores like Barnes and Noble.

Authors go through many hoops and snags to accomplish this--what I call the "traditional publishing nightmare" of inefficiency and lack of support for authors. Usually the author only gets around 15% royalties. So many hoops, some give up. So many authors I speak with who have gone this route still have hundreds, even thousands of unsold copies littering up storage space. Talk about discouragement.

Part one is available at article-69@bookcoaching.com.

Whether you have a Print on Demand (POD) book, traditionally printed book, or an eBook (eDocument), you can become your own distributor these Online ways:

2. Distribute ...
... through your own ezine.

Write your own ezine if you want to attract more credibility, trust, and sales. Because your potential clients and customers expect a lot of free information, include useful content such as a feature article, editor's note, resources, and tips. You'll get to be well known as the "expert" in your field. In each ezine, add your sales messages for your products or service. Keep your ezine regular-once every two weeks or once a month to start. Keep it short--a real challenge to many of us.

3. Distribute by submitting how-to free articles to top opt-in ezines.

Online readers love free information. They subscribe to ezines to which you can submit your well-written article. After learning acceptable article formats from a bookcoach, start subscribing and submitting them. Collect 5-10 edited articles before you send. After you subscribe you can start submitting your articles to each ezine who has a thousand or more subscribers. These potential buyers will see your article with your sales-powered signature file on it every time you submit it, leading them to your Web site.

Be sure your product is up on a Web site. Many Web publishers will take your e or print book, sell it, and distribute it for you for a commission of 60% or so. This is great for people who do not have their own site.

4. Distribute through your signature file on every email you send.

Be sure to include at the bottom of each email or article submitted your signature file. Include your name and title, your top benefit, a free offer, a link to where your book is sold, your email and Web address, and your local phone number. Aim for seven lines or less. Everyone on the net accepts this subtle promotion form. If you do not include it, you are passing up an easy way to draw attention to your book.

5. Distribute through your own Web site.

Create your Web site with marketing pizzazz. Don't call the Web Master until you have your plan, the home page sales copy and other sales copy right. Some Web people are good with colorful graphics and whirling things, but these don't sell your book. Be sure your sales letter gives enough information for your potential customer to decide to buy. Ask a book or copywriting coach to guide you.

6. Distribute through someone else's Web site.

Other ePublishers want your books--both print and eBooks. They want you to write a 100 word or less blurb (including benefits and testimonials). They will sell, distribute, and keep track of your sales, sending you a check every few weeks or so. Most give you royalties of 30-50% depending on whether it is a print or eBook. For more information on where these sites are contact a bookcoach.

7. Get an ISBN number.

When you put an ISBN number on your book you are listed in "Books-in-Print." Libraries, bookstores, and Amazon.com require ISBN. You pay $225 for 10 or $800 for 100 today. Another path to take is to contact a publisher who works with authors who will put in time to promote their books. I recommend www.yowbooks.com. Marshall is taking three of my titles to Amazon and more.

For the money and amount of work this can be, you may do better by putting your money and time into other Online venues, because you don't need an ISBN number when you sell from your own Web site.

8. Distribute through a sales letter straight from your email.

Every time I want to promote my books or teleclasses, I send a sales letter. You may already have your ezine subscribers in a list. Collect all kinds of lists of emails to include satisfied customers, teleclass participants, ePublishers, or fellow networkers.

Send sales letters that promote your books, your classes, or your service. Once I learned this follow-up method of staying in touch with my target audience, sales rose from $75 a month to $3000 a month in only eight months--much more the following years. Each month, count profits, not numbers of books sold. Internet marketing authors get to keep all the money!

After several years of research and submitting to traditional publishing and distribution venues, I got discouraged and decided to become an author's advocate. When I turned to the Internet four years ago, I found that with a little delegation, a little study with a knowledgeable coach, a little attention, and a little money, my top-selling 10 eBooks earn enough for me to make one-half of my income each month.

I encourage you to try this kind, gentle, and easy way to get your print or eBook into your audience's hand.

About the author:

Judy Cullins, 20-year Book and Internet Marketing Coach works with small business people who want to make a difference in people's lives, build their credibility and clients, and make a consistent life-long income. Author of 10 eBooks including Write your eBook or Other Short Book Fast, Ten Non-Techie Ways to Market Your Book Online, The Fast and Cheap Way to Explode Your Targeted Web Traffic, and Power Writing for Web Sites That Sell, she offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines, "The BookCoach Says...," "Business Tip of the Month," blog Q & A at http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtmland over 170 free articles.
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Email her at Judy@bookcoaching.com
Phone: 619/466-0622 -- Orders: 866/200-9743