| Did you know that 52% of all books are not | | | | your message shop, then offer the outlet |
| sold in bookstores? This is just the tip of | | | | eight or ten copies on consignment to get the |
| the iceberg! If you want to take your | | | | ball rolling.Premiums. Most corporations have |
| business to another level, there are many | | | | huge marketing budgets for creating goodwill |
| other venues for selling books and tapes. | | | | and turning prospects into clients or |
| Let's do some "out of the box" thinking and | | | | customers. A book is the ideal goodwill |
| explore these avenues:Catalogs. There are | | | | builder because people value books; they |
| more than 15,000 consumer and | | | | don't throw them away. Apply "LinkThink" and |
| business-to-business catalogs that cover | | | | look for the tie-in. Do you have a guide on |
| every imaginable subject. Find the ones that | | | | personal finance that you could sell to a |
| already have your customer base and convince | | | | bank or investment brokerage? Could your |
| them about the value of carrying your book. | | | | health-oriented book interest a |
| You can do this online or via the library, | | | | pharmaceutical company or hospital?Libraries. |
| which will have various directories. Catalogs | | | | This is an overlooked and undervalued sales |
| have three wonderful advantages: they never | | | | outlet. Libraries must have books, so why not |
| return books; they pay promptly; and they | | | | yours? Contact branches in your local area. |
| order month after month, year after year.Gift | | | | People who check out books read the author |
| shops. Many readers of this article have | | | | bios . . . and may be in a position to |
| books that would do well in the gift market. | | | | recommend or hire you. Additionally, we've |
| To appeal here your price point should be | | | | sold tons of books to individuals because |
| under $10, the cover bright and beguiling, | | | | they first discovered our titles in the |
| and the book a good impulse item. To locate | | | | library. People call to order our Complete |
| wholesalers and distributors that specialize | | | | Guide to Self-Publishing because they've worn |
| in servicing such stores, research in | | | | out the library copy!The list could go on and |
| Literary Market Place (LMP).Nontraditional | | | | on: merchandising your books on the Internet |
| retail outlets. Some stores sell books as | | | | (both on your site and on others), using |
| sidelines, items that complement their other | | | | direct mail, including an order flyer in |
| merchandise. Gourmet shops, Sporting goods | | | | everything you mail out, etc. The point is to |
| stores, home improvement establishments, and | | | | expand your thinking about opportunities for |
| children's shops are good examples. Think | | | | book sales. |
| about where people who could benefit from | | | | |