This is the 3rd and last segment of the sample class (lesson #2) from my online Book Promotion Course. If you\u2019ve just \u201ctuned in,\u201d read the December 2nd and 3rd blog entries to get the entire lecture. <\/p>\n
Classes consist of email lectures once a week for a 6 or 8 week period and, each week, there\u2019s an assignment. This sampling represents just one class from just one of the 4 courses we offer through Matilija Press. All courses are taught by me, Patricia Fry. <\/p>\n
The courses include, Book Promotion Course, Article-Writing Course, Book Proposal Workshop and Self-Publishing Workshop. <\/p>\n
\u201cGraduates\u201d from the Book Promotion Course <\/strong>will have a larger arsenal of book promotion ideas, tools and skills and a greater understanding of the book promotion process and what is expected of them if tthey hope to succeed as an author.<\/p>\n Those taking the Article-Writing Course <\/strong>will learn how to create a business from article writing or simply use this skill and knowledge to promote their book.<\/p>\n After following the lesson plans throughout the Book Proposal Workshop<\/strong>, hopeful authors will have a complete book proposal to start showing around to agents and publishers. <\/p>\n Those who take the appropriate steps in the Self-Publishing Course <\/strong>seriously, will be prepared to start their own publishing company and produce a book by the end of the course. <\/p>\n Learn more about all of the courses offered through Matilija Press by visiting http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/courses.htm<\/a> Questions? Contact me at PLFry620@yahoo.com. <\/p>\n Here is the last part of the sample Book Promotion Class (Class #2).<\/p>\n 6: Identify and approach appropriate wholesalers\/distributors. Not all of you are free to work with wholesalers and distributors because you are in a publishing agreement. Those of you who have self-published (established your own publishing company) can contact the two major wholesalers, Ingram and Baker and Taylor and appropriate distributors for assistance in distributing your book. But a wholesaler or distributor does little good for you if you are not out there promoting your book yourself. <\/p>\n If you have signed with a traditional publisher, he will arrange for distribution. If you have gone with a POD self-publishing company (you paid to have your book produced), hopefully, they have made some sort of distribution arrangement for your book.<\/p>\n Understanding Wholesalers and Distributors Distributors have sales reps out there showing your book around to booksellers. Most distributors either specialize in certain topics or genres or they are regional\u2014they distribute books just in specific areas of the U.S. <\/p>\n Many authors are led to believe that a distributor is the answer to all of their promotional prayers. In today\u2019s fiercely competitive publishing climate, a connection to a good distributor is definitely a plus, but it is only a piece of the vast promotional puzzle.<\/p>\n If you want to get your book into bookstores and\/or other retail stores, choose one or more distributors related to the subject or genre of your book. Then create a demand for your book and the distributors can more easily place it in bookstores and libraries.<\/p>\n A distributor wants to know your promotional plans. They like authors with more than one book in the pipeline. The reasons why they will reject your book are similar to the reasons a bookstore manager might give\u2014it has the wrong binding, you have no promotional plan or the subject matter is inappropriate.<\/p>\n To locate distributors, go to http:\/\/www.pma-online.org\/distribute.cfm<\/a> (This is the Independent Book Publishers Association free online directory of distributors and wholesalers). You\u2019ll also find distributors listed at http:\/\/www.bookmarket.com\/distributors.htm<\/a> and http:\/\/www.parapublishing.com<\/a>. I also list distributors and wholesalers and their contact information in my book, \u201cThe Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book.\u201d http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/rightway.html<\/a> <\/p>\n Assignment: <\/p>\n 1.\tCreate or update your mailing list. (I do not need to see this, but I\u2019d love a report of the number of names on your list.) This is the 3rd and last segment of the sample class (lesson #2) from my online Book Promotion Course. If you\u2019ve just \u201ctuned in,\u201d read the December 2nd and 3rd blog entries to get the entire lecture. Classes consist of email lectures once a week for a 6 or 8 week period and, each week, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\nA wholesaler makes your book available to retail stores and libraries. There are two major wholesalers of books in the US; Baker and Taylor, and Ingram and about a dozen additional wholesalers that specialize. To locate a wholesaler or distributor that specializes in your topic or genre, do an internet search using keywords: \u201cwholesaler\u201d (or distributor) and your genre or topic. <\/p>\n
\n2.\tStart designing or redesigning your website following the suggestions in this lecture. (Send me your website address, if you\u2019d like for me to see it.)
\n3.\tBegin establishing a list of review opportunities. (I would like to see this list.)
\n4.\tResearch wholesalers and distributors (where appropriate). Those of you who are locked into publishing contracts with publishing companies may not be at liberty to deal with wholesalers and distributors on your own. Discuss the possibilities with your publishing house representative. (Those of you with books not yet published, it is too early to worry about doing this.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"