In this Book Marketing Q&A session, John Kremer answers questions on book marketing, online marketing, and book publishing. John answered questions on exclusive book distribution, selling online (especially if you're not selling via online bookstores), and how to market to old fictional genres.
What are the pros and cons of an EXCLUSIVE book distribution deal with a company like Small Press United? — Judah
Judah emailed me the question in more detail after the Q&A session. Here is my answer to his more detailed questions:
My concerns include that I've heard horror stories of books getting poor performance under exclusive distribution deals giving the publisher no recourse. Also, I’m unsure if SPU reaches the MBS marketplace or if their library and academic distribution is any good. I further need to pin down whether an SPU contract would prohibit distribution deals for other countries and continents (latest book has a global market).
As for your questions and concerns voiced above, you have to do your due diligence. Ask SPU client publishers what their experience has been about poor performance, whether SPU reaches the MBS market, if their library/academic distribution is good or not, and whether you can do deals in other countries.
Now, the first three concerns should be answered by other client publishers. Reading your actual contract should answer the international distribution question. If the contract is unclear, negotiate the contract to make it clear.
Hi, John. I'm frustrated with policies and revenues at many online booksellers. So, without abandoning them, I'm investigating several ways to sell, directly and mostly directly, audiobooks, signed books, downloaded ebooks, short stories, etc. — Dan
In my answer I described how you could sell direct on your website using Paypal links and buttons. Paypal allows payments direct via Paypal or via credit cards. It’s relatively easy to set up payments via Paypal. Of course, you can also use ecommerce websites like Shopify to set up payments and fulfillment as well.
But I’d also favor selling via Amazon and other online booksellers because they offer additional discovery possibilities. If you have a store only on your website, you have to push awareness of your website via ads, publicity, and other promotion.
How do you market to an odd genre? I have a series of political novels that deal with public policies, government reforms, etc. with a little romance? It is a cross between the movie, The American President, and the hit TV series The West Wing. The first book in the series is now on pre-order on Amazon Kindle. — Richard
In my answer I described how to target readers and book buyers via Amazon ads as well as how to target exposure for your book via other places where your potential readers congregate.
I also answered a question about marketing online when you hate social media.
The key tip is not to spend time on social media if you feel it is toxic, but still post to key social media that your audience likes to use. You can post to Facebook or Twitter or Pinterest without spending any time on those social media. Or, in some cases, you might have to spend a minute or two to make your post but you can then jump off that site and go about your happy business.
In addition, I gave some tips on getting on major TV shows, major podcasts, and major magazine websites. I also explained how you can brand your keyword (mine is book marketing) via social media and websites like BuyMeACoffee.com or Patreon.
If you like this Q&A, consider buying me a cup of coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/BookMarketing.
Or become an on-going patron of my work by going to https://www.patreon.com/bookmarketing.
Or choose to Venmo me at https://account.venmo.com/u/bookmarketingsuccess.
I also provided details on two key podcast and podcast guest listing services. I included a key tip on how to maximize your listings on those two websites. Check my podcast and me on Listen Notes and Matchmaker.fm:
Listen Notes: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/book-marketing-success-podcast-john-kremer-dCp2hqScloa - Note my 10 Elsewhere links on that profile.
Matchmaker.fm: https://www.matchmaker.fm/podcast/book-marketing-success-podcas-60d7a1 - Note my 10 Discover More links on that profile.
Book Marketing Q&A with John Kremer