sell « Robin Writes

I read a blog this morning that talked about book sales numbers, and what was needed for a traditional publisher to even take a second look. That number was 20K. Twenty thousand books sold, for a self-pubbed book, in order to be noticed. That’s a lot of books.

To date, I’ve sold over 100 copies of REDUCED; that’s in about six weeks’ time. Yes, I own a bookstore, and that certainly helps, but books have also been sold through Amazon. That’s not counting E-books – I’m estimating around 50 of those, plus the freebies/promos at around 700.

The average self-pubbed book sells maybe 100 copies. Total. Over months, or years.

Why? Because authors are, typically, bad at selling. As a self-pubbed author, you have to sell yourself, your image, your persona, AND your book. It takes time. Having industry connections doesn’t hurt either. And yes, I have a few. Not many, but a few. However, those 100 copies have been sold through ONE bookstore.

So how do you sell books? Let alone 20K of them?

Maybe, in the future, I’ll be able to answer that specific question, but for now, here are some ideas/tips on how to sell your book:

Create yourself

Start at the beginning. Introduce yourself online. It’s the easiest and cheapest way to connect to people, to potential readers. Blog, use Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, LibraryThing, whatever is cheap and easy. Have a website – an author website, at least, where you can showcase your work, link your blog, put up pictures, and SELL YOUR BOOKS! It’s simple to set up a PayPal account to accept payments, right there on your website.

Ask for interviews, send press releases. SOMEone is going to take you up on it, SOMEone is going to help you get the word out. You may not see results right away, you may not see them at all – but SOMEone is going to hear about your book, and tell someone else, and people are going to buy your book. Then read it. Then review it.

Speaking of, ask for reviews too! Use them on your website, ask that readers post to your venue of choice: Goodreads, LibraryThing, Amazon, etc.

Be consistent – with blurbs, author photos, taglines, usernames. Readers will connect those dots. Brand yourself, and your book.

Bookstores

Bookstores are difficult to break into. Most want established, or famous, authors on their shelves. It helps if you know some bookstore owners, but it’s no guarantee. I know a dozen of them – yet only 2-3 have invited me to sign. For now.

Send a review copy to your local stores. If they see it, in their hands, and look at it, they might take a chance on you. You could have a signing and sell a few books – or a dozen. Or none. But at least you’re out there, getting known, spreading the word.

Join groups

Meetups, writers’ groups, book clubs, volunteer organizations. All of these are places to meet people, talk to people, and mention your book. Be creative, and always carry your card. Oh, and a box of books! You can even get a nifty credit card reader for your phone.

I’m sure there are more ways to sell books – again, be creative! What are some ways that YOU have found effective?

Shhh – no one ever talks about sales figures!

At least, best I can figure out – unless they’re phenomenal, of course! But I’m doing okay, really. Sure, I ordered some myself, but didn’t go overboard. I know some authors who ordered 1000 of their own books. Yes, THOUSAND. Or even some who paid $10,000 for copies, and that’s a LOT of copies. What the heck do they do with them all?

Most self-published books sell fewer than 100 copies. Yep, it’s true. Family, friends, an occasional stranger. I’ve been lucky. And I own a bookstore. But I still didn’t go overboard.

So how do you sell your books? Promote, promote, promote. Just like in the last few posts here, paste that puppy everywhere you can do so. (No doubt some of you who are reading this are thinking, “Sheesh, enough already, we’re sick of seeing that damn book!”) That’s okay. So far, no one has accused me of spamming – I’m trying not to overload any one site or blog or email list.

Besides the online stuff, you have to put yourself out there. Call, visit, email bookstores, cafes, bars, clubs, any venue you can think of that might have a table for you. Heck, park yourself at Starbucks with your laptop and a stack of your books! I always recommend that authors carry around a box of their books in the trunk of their cars – you never know when a conversation might turn your book and BINGO! You have a sale!

I know one author who not only carts around a box of books, but a table, table covering, and stand-up posters. She sets up at malls, street fairs, wherever there are a lot of people. Be creative!

It’s not enough to sell books – you have to get people to read and review them. Talk up your book, get people excited! Yes, I know it’s the opposite of a solitary writer persona, but try to stretch yourself a little. Give away a few copies in exchange for a review or leave one at your local bookstore. You might have to go with a consignment deal, but that’s not so bad: you make a couple bucks and get more exposure. And exposure is good, at least in the case of selling books!