Category Archives: Non-Traditional Sales

Ellen Feld – Niche Marketing Your Children’s Book

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On January 19th, 2012 Susan Violante and Victor R. Volkman spoke with award-winning children’s author, marketing expert, and entrepreneur Ellen Feld about how to target-market your children”s books. Her first book, Blackjack: Dreaming of a Morgan Horse, went on to win a coveted “Children’s Choices” award, co-sponsored by The International Reading Association and The Children’s Book Council.  The book was then picked up by an international toy company and packaged with a toy horse made to resemble Blackjack, the star of the series.  Blackjack continues to sell well and to date has sold over 30,000 copies.  Ellen shared her lessons learned and hard won experience with us on a variety of topics including:

  • on-line advertising: where/when it works/doesn’t work
  • Selling at regional events, shows, and other public venues outside the bookstore
  • Why you need to think in terms of a series
  • Importance of author selling/marketing, the personal touch
  • Book signings – what works, what to have at your booth
  • Finding and keeping an illustrator
  • Cultivating your reputation as an expert
  • The importance of professional help with your project.

Ellen Feld with Annie

Ellen Feld with Annie
Award-winning author Ellen Feld began writing about horses more than twenty years ago. Her first writing jobs were for horse magazines.  At first, she wrote for small, regional publications, but within a few short years her work began to appear regularly in large, national publications. Her articles have appeared in publications such as The Morgan Horse, Stable Management, Equestrian, Young Rider, Just About Horses, Horsemen’s Yankee Pedlar, Tri-State Horse, and The Appaloosa Journal.One day, back in 2001, while waiting for her next assignment to come in, Ellen wrote a short story about a Morgan Horse.  Several of her friends encouraged her to expand on the story and try writing a book.  That short story became the first chapter of “Blackjack: Dreaming of a Morgan Horse.”

Blackjack: Dreaming of a Morgan Horse

Blackjack: Dreaming of a Morgan Horse
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Barbara Techel – Selling Books Through School and Library Author Appearances

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On September 15th, 2011 Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman spoke with children’s author, publisher, and marketing guru Barbara Techel. She is the award-winning author of the Frankie the Walk ‘N Roll Dog book series. She has shared her story of hope and inspiration about her dachshund, Frankie, who is in a wheelchair, with thousands of children and adults since 2007. To date they have made over 300 appearances in Wisconsin and many more via Skype to classrooms across the US and Canada. Barbara is also a speaker and publisher. She appeared on our show to help all authors who may be having trouble getting started in speaking at schools and libraries some ideas and inspiration.  A few topics we covered include:

  • What to include in your presentation.
  • Types of presentations
  • Ideas for what fiction authors can speak about
  • Pitfalls to avoid in pitching classroom appearances
  • Appropriate length for various ages
  • Managing the sales appropriately
  • Where to speak: In-person and via Skype
  • What to charge for classroom appearances
  • Marketing your message and appearances to schools

Barbara Techel (and Frankie)

Barbara Techel (and Frankie)
Barbara and Frankie are avid volunteers as a therapy dog team. They routinely visit a local hospice community, hospital and senior assisted living facility, where they “walk their talk” about the inspirational nature of perseverance in the face of challenge.Since before her first book was published, Barbara has worked tirelessly to promote her books and the positive message they embody. She has garnered coverage for her story from local, regional and national media through these efforts, and continues to develop and refine her marketing message and approach. Class Act: Sell More Books Through School and Library Author Appearances is her first book about what she’s learned, but not likely her last.

Class Act: Sell More Books Through School and Library Author Appearances

Class Act: Sell More Books Through School and Library Author Appearances
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Brian Jud – Selling Outside the Bookstore to Increase Your Profits

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On April 21, 2011 Susan Violante and Alan E. Smith spoke with author, entrepreneur, and marketing guru Brian Jud.  He is the author of How to Make Real Money Selling Books and Beyond the Bookstore describing new ways to sell more books profitably to special-sales buyers. Susan Violante is an Assistant Editor at Reader Views and Alan E. Smith is host of the popular Unbreak Your Health podcast series.  Our hosts and guest covered a variety of topics related to breaking out of the bookstore and employing non-traditional sales areans to tap enormous potential markets:

  • What is the definition of special sales?
  • What are examples of non-traditional sales?
  • What are the benefits of selling to these segments?
  • How big is the market for non – bookstore sales?
  • Should publishers sell to non-bookstore markets instead of bookstores?
  • Can fiction be sold to non-bookstore markets, or are these only for non-fiction?

Brian Jud

Brian Jud
Brian Jud is a partner in Premium Book Company, selling books on a commission-only basis to buyers in non-bookstore markets. He also conducts the series of Masters of Book Marketing™ seminars and Book Marketing Monthly™ teleseminars. Brian is the author of the series of printed booklets with Proven Tips for Publishing Success. He is editor of the Book Marketing Matters special-sales newsletter, and creator of the Special-Sales Profit Center. He is the host of the television show, The Book Authority and author and narrator of the media training video, You’re On The Air.

How To Make Real Money Selling Books

How To Make Real Money Selling Books
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