Self Publishing - Page 3 - Writers Forum

wmd · 06-25-2007, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Moore

Of the 108k in sales, here are the rankings:
Wal-Mart 47,671
Costco 17,291
Target 16,341
Sam’s 14,108
Waldenbooks 4,888
B&N 4,140
Borders 3,993
Amazon 320

The amazon number is a little surprising, but I figured that online sales of new books didnt match up to real life book stores.

The Wal Mart numbers are what really surprise me... I am going to have to get friendly with one of their buyers.

Joe Moore · 06-25-2007, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmd

The amazon number is a little surprising, but I figured that online sales of new books didnt match up to real life book stores.

The Wal Mart numbers are what really surprise me... I am going to have to get friendly with one of their buyers.

I was suprised by the superstore numbers as well. But more and more, that's the future. Wal Mart, Sams's and Costco stores have HUGE buying power. They're digging into the chains and killing the indies. But the numbers in this example are not out of line. I've seen it with other writers. Amazon has a high profile name but doesn't come close to even the sales numbers in the chains. For instance, let's say your book ranks around 10,000 on Amazon. That equates to about one sale a week. If you're ranked between 75-100, that's about 250 sales a week. Not much to brag about.

Mike C · 06-26-2007, 12:23 AM

In an article last year the buyer from one of the big supermaket chains was named by the Guardian (I think) as 'the most powerful woman in [British] publishing'. I assume it's the same for the walmart buyer in the US. Supermarkets discount books like they do beans, pile-em up and sell-em cheap, and if your book doesn't get on Tescos shelves, it doesn't make the UK best-seller lists.

I'm also suprised about Amazon, but I can see it. I buy from Amazon if I want a specific title. I browse book stores. I buy one title at a time from Amazon. Last time i was in a book store I came out with 8 books. All impulse buys!

Joe Moore · 06-26-2007, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

I buy one title at a time from Amazon. Last time i was in a book store I came out with 8 books. All impulse buys!

Mike, I'm the same way. I will order a specific book from Amazon if I know what it is--usually to do research. But it does not compare to the shopping experience in a Borders or Books A Million store. In super stores like Sam's Club, books compete with frozen food and stereos. But millions of buyers walk past the book table in Wal Mart and that's what the publishers want. Huge amounts of traffic. Truck loads of orders rather than case loads.

Mike C · 06-26-2007, 05:52 AM

Amazon also comes into it's own for out of print books, I often buy second-hand (my 'to be read' pile will kill somebody one day, when it becomes unstable and falls on somebody). Also for American titles that don't make it over here.

Amedeus · 06-26-2007, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmd

Amedeus... I think you are focusing too much on what is and what isn't self publishing. The differences are obvious.

There is a lot to be said about self publishing and much of it you will have to research. We could be here all year talking about the details, but here are some important things to remember....

First "Self Publishing companies".... I find that term funny because it is almost an oxymoron... There are printers that sell services to authors. Everything they offer is al a cart and everything has a price tag. Many times the things they offer are either a waste of money (getting your book listed on amazon.com) or with a little footwork you can do it yourself cheaper (writing a press release and mailing it to relevant publications).

There are printers that I feel are legit and straightfoward with what they offer.. lulu.com, xlibris, and a few others... there are also a lot that only care about getting more money from the writer. Do your homework before using any of them.

A self published book is something that needs a very specific market... a cult following... and you have to do ALL the selling and marketing yourself. That is the hard part... Stuffing envelopes and mailing copies is nothing... marketing is what is going to get you the orders.

Again.. there is a lot that can be discussed on this topic... and it seems that you need to keep asking the right questions so you know what you are jumping into before you "sign up with a self publishing company"

I think my book may have the possibility to sell in more volumes than I could handle hand shipping out myslef though. So in this case would a slef publishing company not be what I should be looking at? Should I be looking at getting a deal with a publisher? Also that idea of having the company write and send out a press release for you sounds beneficial.

Amedeus · 06-26-2007, 12:27 PM

I found one interesting site... www.arborbooks.com are they legit? they say they can find you an agent and get your book reviewed and stuff. Do they ship the books for you? Thanks for the info.

Joe Moore · 06-26-2007, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amedeus

I think my book may have the possibility to sell in more volumes than I could handle hand shipping out myslef though. So in this case would a slef publishing company not be what I should be looking at? Should I be looking at getting a deal with a publisher? Also that idea of having the company write and send out a press release for you sounds beneficial.

Amedeus,

In most case, securing the services of a professional literary agent is your best bet. Because agents know the marketplace, they can submit your manuscript to the appropriate publisher and negotiate a contract for you that is in your best interest. Once a contract is signed and your book is placed into the pipeline for eventual publication, the publisher will assign a staff publicist to handle a lot of your marketing needs including press releases, requests for blurbs, issuing advance copies to the media for reviews, support collateral such as the creation of marketing data sheets, posters, brochures, etc. Most publishers will utilize their art departments to create the collateral material. You'll find this is usually stated in your contract or their marketing plan for your book.

Self published writers usually have to take on many of these chores along with advertising, marketing and promotion—a lot of which is handed by a traditional publisher at little or no cost to you.

For instance, our publisher has taken out a number of full page color ads in publications such as Publishers Weekly and Library Journal promoting our books at a cost that would be prohibitive to my co-author and I if we tried to do it ourselves. That would include the professional creation of the ad, negotiating the ad placement, and funding it.

So unless your book falls into a few select categories that have been discussed on a number of threads here, your best choice is to pursue the traditional route of contracting an agent and letting them try to find a publisher for your work. Good luck.

Mike C · 06-26-2007, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amedeus

I think my book may have the possibility to sell in more volumes than I could handle hand shipping out myslef though.

I think, considering you don't seem to have a clue how to go about selling your book, that you're in cloud-cuckoo land, away with the fairies. Seriously.

And equally seriously, if you think the book's that good, follow Joe's advice. Get an agent, go the 'trad' route, let the agent sell it while you concentrate on writing the next epic.

wmd · 06-26-2007, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike C

Last time i was in a book store I came out with 8 books. All impulse buys!

This is why I love to go to the bookstore... Especially stores that have clearance shelves. I can go in with no intention to buy a book, spend four hours in there, and come out with a dozen titles.

You cant do that online.

wmd · 06-26-2007, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amedeus

I think my book may have the possibility to sell in more volumes than I could handle hand shipping out myslef though.

I think every writer thinks this... the realistic ones will realize that sales might not always be what they want.

Quote:

So in this case would a slef publishing company not be what I should be looking at? Should I be looking at getting a deal with a publisher? Also that idea of having the company write and send out a press release for you sounds beneficial.

If the first statement is true (and I mean really true, be honest with yourself) than find an agent. They will sell your book for a hell of a lot more than you can sell it for.

Mike C · 06-27-2007, 10:52 AM

I'm curious how many books 'more volumes than I could handle' is. 10 a day? 50? 100?

If I was selling 100 books a day I could probably afford to pay someone to slip the books into jiffy bags and stick address labels on for me.

The further this thread goes, the less credible it gets.

Mike C · 06-27-2007, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amedeus

I found one interesting site... www.arborbooks.com are they legit?

No, they're not. P&E says:

Arbor Books Inc.: Conflict of interest. Not recommended. A self-publisher that also features ghostwriting and agenting services.

Amedeus · 06-27-2007, 12:29 PM

Im not in cuckoo land loser! Im just trying to find the best route to publish my book. But thanks to all the other people who are helping. Anybody have any suggestions of companies like arobrbooks that will find an agent for you?

sixlivesdown · 06-27-2007, 12:32 PM

If you're going the agent route...
http://www.agentquery.com/
Writer's Market (Book)
Guide to Literary Agents (Book)
The above 2 are US-specific, I know there's UK ones but I can't think what the titles are.

Also...
http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/pubagent.htm