March 2005
Books -- the best marketing tools
by Nancy
Cleary
Do you have a book in you? I bet you do. I bet you could take your experiences and how you developed your expertise and organize a collection of stories, examples, and insights which could educate, entertain and inspire. What about your clients - do they have books they want to publish? How would you like to be your client's solution to seeing their book in print?
A book can be the most powerful marketing tool you, and your clients, can use to brand and expand your business and it's really not too difficult, or expensive, to publish when done properly.
3-Options
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Produce a powerful book proposal and retain a literary agent or, research publishers to pitch your title, both of which could take up to a year for consideration and then a year to produce once accepted;
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Self-publish by paying for publishing services; or
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create your own publishing entity and go right to the source, Lightning Source, to print and distribute. Chances are, if you aren't already well-known, an agent will not take you on, and a publishing house will not consider you. While there are many online publishing companies most of them utilize the services of the same print-on-demand company which you can work with directly if you know the steps.
By purchasing your own ISBN log (a set of 10 International Standard Book Numbers can be purchased for $225 at www.Bowker.com) you can create your own publishing identity and keep total control, and all the profit. A creative, respectable name for your independent press will give you more prestige than using a pay-to-publish company and also opens the opportunity for publishing other books for yourself, or others. All of the other details to make your publishing identity and your book meet industry standards including getting a LCCN (Library of Congress Catalog Number), purchasing bar codes, copyright, and Books in Print registration, are available by request from helpmepublish@wymacpublishing.com.
There are a couple of items which will cost money but will ensure a quality product. Have the book professionally edited and indexed if possible. Consult with a graphic designer about your book cover as well as the interior layout. Choose a designer who understands the printing process and has experience in book layout. Be sure they are willing to work with you and your printer until the job is complete.
The Rest is Easy with These Useful Resources
Once you have your book prepared, the next step is to sign up with Lightning Source, Inc. (LSI) at www.LightningSource.com for distribution. LSI will place your book in all major online retailers (Amazon, Barnes and Noble.com, Books a Million.com) as well as make it available for book stores to order through Ingram and for libraries to order through Baker & Taylor.
You can place orders with LSI as you need books, and for only $1.50 per order they can provide all of your book's order fulfillment. While the books printed on demand through LSI may cost slightly more than other digital printers, the ease of ordering and access to all reports makes up for the difference.
For more information on publishing visit www.ParaPublishing.com - Dan Poynter's books are the best in publishing education. Publishers Marketing Association, PMA-online.org, gives you inside access to a community of independent publishers so you are "in the know." The PMA newsletter is well worth the membership fee and belonging to this organization adds to your credentials.
About the Author:
For assistance in all aspects of Self-Publishing & Branding visit http://www.WyMacPublishing.com. "Be Your Own Publisher: An Insider's Guide & Consulting Package for Writers, Entrepreneurs, Inventors, Coaches, and Anyone Who Wants To Self Publish" combines publishing know-how with branding and marketing savvy. Nancy Cleary assists you step by step through the process of creating and branding a publishing entity and designing, producing, distributing and marketing self-published books successfully.