copies – can be a smart move. This approach ensures that stock is available for retailers to purchase without a major upfront investment. If demand grows, you can always print more, and if not, you’ve kept your outlay manageable. For authors exploring this option, you’ll likely need help with the production and design of the book to ensure the end product is as good as it can be and set-up and management of the crucial metadata to ensure that your title is visible and accessible to the book trade. Going one step further, you may be looking to maximise your book’s visibility in bookshops, in which case you’ll likely require additional support. In addition to seeking help to get the book created and visible to the trade, you might want to get your book edited, commission an initial print run of 500 copies (accessing a lower unit cost), actively market and sell the book to retailers as well as publish an ebook alongside to access the worldwide market.
Crucial to this approach to self- publishing is distribution. There’s no point producing a beautiful book if you have no idea how retailers will source it. You will require help from an organisation that has direct relationships with retailers like Gardners, Amazon and Waterstones alongside independent bookshops and a direct selling capability, as Troubador does. You will want to know that any order handling, stock management and invoicing to the trade is all being taken care of. If your goal is to establish yourself as an author and optimise sales potential, you will require comprehensive support. This includes everything discussed so far, plus you may opt for a dedicated marketing campaign at launch and a custom-built author website to help you showcase your work and build your brand.
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