Options for Selling Your Hardcopy Books
About 2 min read
There are several options for selling your hardcopy books. You can sell your books online through Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com, and other online bookstores. You can also try to get your books in national bookstores, as well as in local independent bookstores. Finally, you can sell your books thorough back-of-the-room sales after giving a talk or presentation.
Questions you may have include:
- How do you sell through online bookstores?
- How do you get books into regular bookstores?
- How do you sell individual copies yourself?
This lesson will answer those questions.
Online bookstores
Amazon.com is the number online bookstore for selling hardcopy books. You can get your book listed by publishing through their CreateSpace program or by participating in their Amazon Advantage consignment program. You can also get listed if your book is distributed by another publisher.
When you publish through IngramSpark, they distribute to a number of online stores, including Amazon. Going through Nook Publishing will get your book directly on the Barnes & Noble website. Likewise, by publishing through Lulu.com, your book will be listed in their online store.
Regular bookstores
It is very difficult for an independent author or self-publisher to get books on the shelves in national bookstore chains. Going through IngramSpark distribution can get books in those stores, provided it is a hot topic or title. In fact, most indie authors don’t count on national chains.
However, your can get your book in small or independent bookstores through personally contacting the owner, through giving a talk at the store, or selling on consignment.
Back-of-room sales
You can sell individual copies of your book by giving a talk at a bookstore, library, or club meeting. You could also do a book reading, giving a sample of your book.
Then, after your talk, you can sell autographed copies of your books from a table at the back of the room where you spoke.
At the very least, this may be a good way to get more interest in your book.
Summary
You can sell your hardcopy books online through Amazon.com and other online bookstores, local independent bookstores, and thorough back-of-the-room sales after giving a talk or presentation.
Try every possible outlet
Resources and references
Websites
Questions and comments
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