Of Books, Bookstores, and Ego by Norma Gail

Is your goal to see your book in a bookstore? Today, Norma Gail shares her experience with bookstores and tips to help you gain better visibility for your book. -- Sandy

Gail: I had a hard time selling Girl Scout cookies. I longed to see my name on a bookstore shelf. However, bookstores may be more of an ego boost than smart marketing. Here are some of the lessons I have learned.

Getting my book published is the victory. Getting my book published by a traditional publisher was a victory. I reached my first goal and accomplished what God called me to do.

My book on a bookstore shelf does not guarantee sales. Having a book on the shelf at Barnes & Noble does not mean it will sell. Books written by well-known authors sell first. Large corporate stores remove books not on their sanctioned list. Even a “Local Author’s Table” does not mean the store will keep it in stock.

Beware of the pitfalls of large, corporately owned bookstores. It was easy to get local bookstores, even large chains like B&N and Hastings to order my book when it was “returnable”. It stoked my ego but not my book sales.

Books returned are not books returned. Bookstores do not mail the book back to the distributor for sales elsewhere. Stores rip the beautiful cover off and send it to the publisher to prove that they returned the book. The rest of the book is recycled.  

Returned books come out of your royalties. Returns come out of author’s royalties, translating into no royalty check. Discuss with your publisher if asking stores to stock your book is a worthwhile goal.

Placing books in a store on consignment gains visibility for your book without risk to the store and puts money in your pocket. Books sold on consignment do not count toward your sales numbers, but they put your book in front of consumers with no risk to the store. Many local booksellers will agree to a percentage arrangement, usually 70-30% where the store keeps 30% of the sale price. Some generous storeowners offer 80-20% splits. One store allowed me to do a book signing before Christmas and keep 100%. Consignment sales mean the money you earn goes into your pocket to offset other marketing expenses.

Choose locations for book signings with care. Friday night at Hastings appeals to customers renting cheap movies. A tearoom could literally eat up your profits by the amount of tea and scones consumed. Churches, book clubs, library author events, and craft shows may be a better place to get your book in the hands of readers.

Learn to evaluate the market for your book. Where and how to market your book is a complicated matter. Your publisher and marketing consultant are your best advisors.

As a Christian author, I meet my goal with each positive review and each comment that shows a life touched by what I wrote. The book is the Lord’s so let prayer, not ego drive the marketing.

© Copyright Norma Gail Thurston Holtman, February 23, 2016

Have you found bookstores to be a good source of sales? Are you published by a small publisher and must fight for shelf space?

~~~~~

Norma Gail is the author of the contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, and the New Mexico Christian Novelists. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 40 years. They have two adult children.

Connect with Norma:

Website: www.normagail.org

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Norma-Gail/e/B00ILHXBAK/

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbZIoC_JSE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNormaGail

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NormaGailwrites

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/normagailth/boards/ 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874459

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/norma-gail-thurston-holtman/42/71a/3b2

Book Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Land-My-Dreams-Norma-Gail/dp/1941103170

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas Bookstore: http://store.lpcbooks.com/product/land-of-my-dreams/

 Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/land-of-my-dreams-norma-gail/1119606864?ean=9781941103173

Marketing in the Marketplace: Location, Location, Location by Elaine Marie Cooper

Bookstore booksignings - they are part of the "writer" job description. But, sometimes, they can seem like a waste of time when it comes to sales. Today, author Elaine Marie Cooper gives us a a tip that can enhance our enjoyment and success. -- Sandy

Elaine: Experts say that, when it comes to buying real estate, location means everything.

In my experience as an author, I’ve formed a similar philosophy: Your physical location within the store is a part of your selling success.

The first time I noticed this connection was during Christmas shopping season in 2013. Customers had flooded the small shop in which I’d set up my book display. The holiday was mere days away and shoppers appeared desperate to find gifts.

Anxious to promote my newly released historical, Fields of the Fatherless, I saw an opportunity when the line of customers waiting to check out wound its way next to the table where I displayed my book.

Engaging each customer with a smile, a free bookmark and a few well-timed words about my novel, I sold several books to those waiting to make purchases.

The next Christmas, I was blessed to be scheduled for a book signing at a national chain of large bookstores. I was delighted when the buyer told me he’d ordered 50 copies for me to sell. Delighted—and a bit nervous.

What if I only sell a few? I asked my husband to pray with me that the Lord would bless this book event. I took a deep breath, and entered the Taj Mahal of bookstores.

Inside, I met the manager who set my table up in what seemed like a practical location, just to the right of the main door. Because the store was huge, I stood and greeted customers, offering free bookmarks. I sold several books, but not as many as I’d hoped.

I suggested a change of location to the store manager. “How about along that crowded checkout line, where the customers have to stand and wait?” He was dubious, but agreed with my idea.

“Happy Holidays!” I said to each customer. My greeting was highlighted with a smile as I pitched a short statement about my book. If they looked away, I kept on grinning and spoke to the next one in line.

“Would you like a bookmark? It’s free.” If they read it and seemed at all interested, I gave my brief pitch again. “You can look at my book if you like.”

As they flipped through the pages, several seemed engaged in the story. “If you’d like to purchase it today, I can sign it for you.”

Frequently, the customers smiled and bought a signed copy. I gave away lots of bookmarks—and sold many books.

Two hours later, the manager’s jaw dropped as I handed him a small handful of leftovers. “This is great!” he said. “I never thought that location would work!”

I was ecstatic. Between the Lord and location, my book sales were a success.

Perhaps selling 43 books would seem like a paltry sum to a writer like Francine Rivers. But for this lesser-known author, it felt like a million.

Do you have tips for us from your bookstore experiences? 

~~~~~~ 

 

Elaine Marie Cooper is the author of Bethany’s Calendar (nonfiction memoir) and Fields of the Fatherless (historical fiction). Her work has appeared in numerous periodicals and anthologies, including Prayer Connect, Splickety Prime and Fighting Fear -Winning the War at Home When Your Soldier Leaves For Battle by Edie Melson. www.elainemariecooper.com