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Nine Kinds of Sales Opportunities

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Thu Nov 6, 2014

A key challenge to growing your publishing firm is to find new paths to greater revenue by building upon your core strengths without making a radical shift in the way you currently do business.         

There are ways in which you can build a steady flow of revenue and profits to help your business reach significant long-term value – as you expand your comfort zone. Here are nine strategies for increasing your sales, revenue and profits using existing (or sometimes new) content in current markets, growth markets and new, “Frontier” markets.

Marketing strategies for mature markets - these strategies provide opportunities to hit short-term sales targets:

1) Targeted marketing. Different groups of people can profit in unique ways from using your content. Communicate directly with buyers to remind or inform them of how well the information in your book can benefit them in some way.

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The Distribution Landscape: What You Need To Know

by Laura Dawson
Bowker | Wed Nov 5, 2014

On Wednesday, November 12, at 1 p.m. Eastern, DCL and Bowker present "The Distribution Landscape: What You Need To Know", a webinar directed at self-published authors. Laura Dawson of Bowker will conduct a Q&A session with Mark Coker, CEO of Smashwords. Topics that we’ll cover include:

  • Overall market conditions
  • Retailer health
  • New distribution models
  • Pros and cons of exclusivity
  • Amazon vs Hachette – what does this mean for authors?
  • Distribution tools that work well for authors
  • Direct or distributor?

You can find more information about the webinar, and register for it, here.

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FAQs about ISBNs

by Laura Dawson
Bowker | Fri Oct 24, 2014

At Bowker, we sell ISBNs. So we get a lot of questions about them. We've collected the ones that seem to be most useful to folks calling or emailing us.

Is Bowker the only place I can get an ISBN?

Bowker is the US ISBN Registration Agency. Each country has its own ISBN Registration Agency, as part of the ISBN standard ratified by ISO. If you are in the US, your ISBNs come from Bowker.

I just got my ISBN. Now what do I do?

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The Measure of Marketing

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Wed Oct 15, 2014

The metrics that publishing companies use most often to track performance include financial measures such as changes in sales and revenue. But viewed in isolation, these may have little connection to your long-term commercial success.

The question most publishers periodically ask themselves is, “Did I achieve the goals that I set?” The numbers are easy to measure and compare -- you either reached your sales objectives or you did not.

Due to this perceived simplicity, publishers stop there and recalculate their objectives for the next period. The problem with this process is it measures something you cannot control -- sales and revenue. If you could control them, then reaching goals would be a given. But you can only influence the attainment of those metrics by the actions you take.

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Self-Publishing Continues to Grow in U.S., Says Bowker

by Laura Dawson
Bowker | Wed Oct 8, 2014

A new analysis of U.S. ISBN data by ProQuest affiliate Bowker reveals that the number of self-published titles in 2013 increased to more than 458,564, up 17 percent over 2012 and 437 percent over 2008. Print titles were up a very strong 29 percent over 2012, indicating the format’s continuing relevance to self-publishers. While self-publishing continues to grow, the pace appears to be normalizing after several explosive years.

Read Bowker’s report on self-publishing here: http://bit.ly/selfpub13

“Our general conclusion is that self-publishing is beginning to mature. While it continues to be a force to reckon with, it is evolving from a frantic, wild-west style space to a more serious business,” said Beat Barblan, Bowker Director of Identifier Services. “The market is stabilizing as the trend of self-publisher as business-owner, rather than writer only, continues.”

The analysis also shows:

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The “-ize” Have It

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Thu Oct 2, 2014

Too many independent publishers use the Christopher Columbus method of planning. They do not know where they are going. When they get there they do not know where they are. And when they return, they do not know where they have been. This is not a good way to run a business. You can avoid this situation by writing a strategic, functional plan to market your books. For a view of a new planning formula, look through these “ize.”

Recognize. A basic premise for successful marketing is to find a need and fill it. You do this by researching three major areas. First, discover what product opportunities exist. Second, learn the demographics and psychographics of your prospective customers. Finally, determine your potential market’s size, growth and competitive status.

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Shelf Unbound Competition for Indie-Publishers Expands with Prize for Best Sports Book

by Bowker Publishe...
Bowker | Fri Sep 26, 2014

Book review ezine Shelf Unbound’s Writing Competition for Best Independently Published Book now includes a prize for sports-related works. In addition to best overall winner, the competition will present the Pete Delohery Award for Best Sports Book, which carries $1,000 cash prize. The winner, selected by the editors of Shelf Unbound, will be featured along with the winners and finalists of the larger competition in Shelf Unbound’s December/January 2015 issue, which is read by 125,000 book lovers in 65 countries. Entries are being accepted now through October 1.

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Marketing Strategy Rules

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Tue Sep 23, 2014

Did you ever think about taking a long trip? If so, you probably thought about how you would get to your destination, perhaps traveling by car, plane, train or bus. Then you planned where to stay each night, what to pack and how much it would all cost. Finally you made a checklist so you didn’t forget to do anything and spend your money wisely.

 

That is the same process used to plan your book-marketing activities. First you think about what you are going to do, analyzing alternatives. Once you choose those that will maximize results, you write a plan as a reminder to perform each action in the proper sequence, at the right time and within your budget.

 

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Entice People to Respond to Your Direct Mail Campaigns

by Brian Jud
Bowker | Fri Sep 19, 2014

Direct mail is a targeted marketing weapon that that can help you sell more books, test new titles, and generate sales leads. When you have a finite, identifiable group of people who are potential customers for your books, direct mail may be the most effective and efficient marketing tool you can use to reach them. It gives you control of the timing, delivery and content of your promotion, a predetermined fixed cost and the means to forecast and measure the return on your marketing investment.

The foundation of direct marketing is to get people to act – to place an order for your book or to request more information about your consulting or speaking services. There are several basic propositions you can use by themselves or in various combinations overcome the recipient’s inertia.

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Kindle Unlimited, Scribd or Oyster: Which Reader Subscription Service is Best for Self-Published Authors?

by Carla King
Bowker | Tue Sep 16, 2014

Amazon’s new Kindle Unlimited e-book reader subscription program caused a real commotion in the publishing industry last month. But how will this “Netflix for books” model affect the self-publishing industry? Is Kindle Unlimited the best, or should self-publishers join the Scribd or Oyster programs instead? How do you get in? Read on for a comparison of these top three reader subscription programs and best recommendations for self-publishers who are looking to add these channels to their revenue streams.

AMAZON KINDLE UNLIMITED

Amazon requires that self-publishers join their exclusive KDP Select program to be included in Unlimited. If you’re already using KDP Select, or you’ve decided that joining the program may give your book launch a boost, then go for it! It’s only temporary.

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