Distribute Your Self-Published Book (Part 2)

Distribute Your Self-Published Book Online 8 Ways (Part 2)
Judy Cullins c. 2003 All Rights Reserved

If you are discouraged because traditional methods of book or
product distribution haven't brought you the profits you wanted,
think Internet distribution. This Online promotion method is
good for the long haul and costs you little time or money.With Online
distribution the self-published author or Web business site gets to keep
all the money.

Whether you have a Print on Demand (POD) book, traditionally
printed book, or an eBook, you can become your own distributor these
ways:

1. Distribute through two-step email promotion campaigns.

You don't need a Web site to sell products. Benefit from the
easy and preferred way to buy by three trillion in 2002.

First Step: Send a freebie to your different email lists. Think of
your email groups--customers, clients, ezine subscribers,
ePublishers, teleclass groups, and networkers. Offer to give
them a free answer to one question. Offer a free "Special Report,"
or an excerpt from your book. These give your relationship a good
start, because increased sales come from trust developed during
relationship marketing more than anything else.

Second Step: Follow up with your book sales letter . Each sales
message includes: headline to capture attention, background of problem,
where the potential buyer wants to be, benefits and features of how to get
there. Add testimonials and be sure they are credible and sincere.

Be sure to ask for the sale and include several easy ways to
buy: toll free number, fax or mail by an order form placed at the
end of the sales letter, or if you have a Web site, a link to where
they can buy with a secure provider.

2.Distribute through your own ezine.

Write your own ezine if you want to attract more credibility,
trust, and sales. Because your potential clients and customers
expect a lot of free information, include a lot of useful content
such as a feature article, editor's note, resources and tips. You'll
get to be well known as the "expert." In each ezine, add your sales
messages for your products or service. Keep your ezine regular-
once every two weeks or once a month to start. Keep it
short--a real challenge to many of us.

3.Distribute by submitting how-to free articles to top opt-in
ezines.

Online readers love free information. They subscribe to ezines
you can submit your well-written article to. After learning
acceptable article formats from a book coach, start subscribing
and submitting them. Collect 5-10 edited articles before you
send. Thousands, even 500,000-targeted potential buyers will
see your article with your signature file on it every time you
submit it.

Be sure your product is up on a Web site. Many Web
publishers will take your e or print book, sell it, and distribute it
for you for a commission of 60% or so. This is great for people
who do not have their own site.

4.Distribute through your signature file on every email you
send.

At the bottom of each email is a signature file. It should have
your name and title, your top benefit, a free offer, a link to where
your book is sold, your email and Web address, and your local
phone number. Everyone on the net accepts this subtle
promotion form. If you do not include it, you are passing up an
easy way to draw attention to your product.

5.Distribute through your own Web site.

Create your Web site with marketing pizzazz. Don't just be
creative and put up colorful graphics. Put up order pulling ad
copy that convinces your visitor to buy. Create a sales letter that
includes links to the buying page. Be sure your sales letter gives
enough information for your potential customer to decide to buy.
Make it long enough to include your customers' resistance, benefits
and features of your book or product, and multiple testimonials.
Ask a book or Web coach to guide you.

6. Distribute through someone else's Web site.

Other ePublishers want your books--both print and eBooks.
They want you to write a 100 word or less blurb (including
benefits and testimonials). They will sell, distribute, and keep
track of your sales, sending you a check every few weeks or so.
Most give you royalties of 30-50% depending on whether it is a
print or eBook.

7. Get an ISBN number.

When you put an ISBN number on your book, you are listed in
"Books-in-Print." Libraries, bookstores and Amazon.com ISBN
require it. You pay $225 for 10 or $800 for 100 today. For the money
and amount of work this is, you may do better by putting your money
and time into other Online venue, because you don't need an ISBN
number for that.

8. Distribute through a sales letter straight from your email.

Every time I want to promote my teleclasses, I send a sales
letter. The letter follows the free report I already sent a few
weeks ahead to the same egroup. You may already have your
ezine subscribers in a list. Collect all kinds of lists of emails to
include satisfied customers, teleclass participants, ePublishers, or
fellow networkers.

Send sales letters that promote your books, your classes, or
your service. Once I learned this follow-up method of staying in
touch with my target audience, sales rose from $75 a
month to $3000 a month in about a year. Each month, count
profits, not numbers of books sold! Internet authors get to keep
all the money!

After several years of research and submitting to traditional
publishing and distribution venues, I got discouraged and
decided to become an author's advocate. I turned to the Internet
2 1/2 years ago, and find that with a little delegation, a little study
with a knowledgeable coach, a little attention, and a little money,
my great-selling eleven eBooks earn enough for me to make half
my income each month.

I encourage you to try this kind, gentle, and easy way to get your print
or eBook into your audience's hand.