I have learned that there are many ways to sell your books.
Yes, there are the usual places like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. However,
let me share some unusual places to sell your book that doesn’t have to have
much effort.
1. How
about a beauty shop like a hair salon? Yes, I tried it and sold over 25 books
right out of one location. I took time to talk to the owner who happened to be
the lady that also did my haircuts. She said she would be glad to do it and
seemed excited to have a book for sale that was by one of her clients. I found out
from the other staff that she talked to every client that came in about my
book. She was my best salesperson for several weeks.
2. A
winery is an excellent place to have your books. This set-up would mean you
will need to give the winery a pretty high percentage of the sales. I give 40%.
I still make more than what it costs me to publish the book, and the book is
getting out there. You can leave only a couple of books at a time, and tell the
winery you will get more books to them as needed. You should also agree to sell
on consignment. That way the winery never puts out any money to you unless they
sell a book. They really like this approach. I have sold over 50 books just in my
home area wineries.
3. Gift shops also love this consignment, and 40% profit idea. I went
to the Oregon coast and went to a tourist area that had door to door gift
shops. I was able to get my books in three of those stores, and I sold out at
all three of them.
4. Your
local independent bookstores are an ideal place to have a signing and books
sale. I have found the local bookstores love to have an area author do a
signing at their store.
5. One
of the most unusual places that I have sold many books is at my different
doctor’s offices. I have and still am selling books at my dentist’s office. (A
couple each week.) I also sold a good
number at my chiropractor’s office.
6. I
also suggest you check out florists shops. They have a section in their store
that has gifts.
If you just take a little time brain storming, I am sure you
can think of some other great places to sell your books. Never think a shop
won’t do it. All they can say is no. But if you give them the right
encouragement like the 40% profit, and having your books on consignment, you
should be able to form a great list of outlets to give your book exposure.
Good hunting!
Guest Blogger Bio
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Doug Bolton holds an
AA degree in Psychology, BS degree in Education, and has extensive training in
counseling from Western Oregon University. He is a freelance writer who has be
published on the Rest Ministries Web site, in magazines like The Christian
Journal, and in newsletters like Prime Times. His latest book Signs
of Hope: For the Weak Days, will be coming out soon. Doug was also a
runner-up in the MARsocial Author of the Year Awards.
Blog: www.dailysignsofhope.com
Author site: www.dougbolton.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/heavenencounter
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dougbolton
Book:
Very interesting methods to sell a book. Well done.
ReplyDeleteI love your article. I sold my books in children's boutiques shops and in children's sections of department stores. You are so right when you say think outside the box. I friend of mine sold her books at the airport bookstore and a whole foods market. I am going to dentists offices with my next book, 4 Fairies in the Land of Nothing. It is how the ordinary fairies became the tooth fairies. I think the dentists will love it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting, Kathryn and Carla! :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed these ideas, too. I wrote 3 mid-grade chapter books called The River Bottom Ranch Stories - a horse was point of view character in 2 of them, I sold them steady at my 'feed store' where I bought grain for the herd :)
ReplyDeleteOh, awesome, Caryl! I will have to figure out some creative ways to sell my romances. ;)
ReplyDelete