Sell to Bookstores
Sell to Bookstores
Do you want to sell to bookstores? Perhaps this is your dream, and just imagine how you would feel when you see your book displayed in shop windows.
It wasn’t easy in the past to get a bookstore to buy your self-published book. There used to be a stigma associated with such books because the stereotype was that self-published books meant poor content or poor quality.
The self-publishing landscape has changed. Indie authors have upped their game.
Today, indie authors compete with authors who have published their books through traditional publishing channels.
How to do it?
How do you go about selling your book to independent bookstores?
You might be very successful in publishing on the Amazon platform. I certainly recommend Amazon when starting out. Learn this platform and how to market your books within that ecosystem.
Even if your book sells very well on Amazon this won’t guarantee that your book will be taken up by an independent bookseller.
Amazon
Amazon is a bookstore’s competitor. Remember this.
- Amazon is a bookstore’s biggest competitor.
- Amazon doesn’t give the bookshops a trade discount
- Amazon doesn’t have a returns policy
- Amazon sells direct to the consumer – there is no middle person.
IngramSpark
If you want to get your book into bookstores use the IngramSpark platform.
IngramSpark is set up to promote to bookstores. If you have published a print book using the IngramSpark platform you will already be in the IngramSpark database.
With IngramSpark you can organise a generous trade discount for booksellers. In addition, you can agree to have a returns policy.
Being able to offer attractive terms booksellers are more likely to buy your book.
IngramSpark has been in the book industry for a long time and it is well respected. It’s a reliable resource for booksellers when they want to acquire books.
Using a reputable distributor like IngramSpark is convenient to bookstores. The easier, you make it for them to buy your books the more likely they be willing to give your book a try.
Your book can be available in bookstores.
However, you’ll still have to do the hard yards, the leg work, the cold calling, the email marketing and other promotions to let bookstores know about your book.
Author and Coach