Support for Indie Authors discussion
Marketing Tactics
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How many copies to bring?
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Ahmed wrote: "I have gotten myself into the artist alley of a convention to sell my book. I'm planning to sell paperbacks, hardcovers, as well as tote bags and book marks.I have never done anything like this, ..."
As I'm not certain of how large a crowd such event might bring, I couldn't suggest a number of books to bring.
A word of caution: When I attended a local event where there were about 75 authors that attended in a public mall to sell and sign books and talk about their craft, I ended up with five books stolen as I talked to patrons who stopped to ask questions and look through my books. I sold seven. Losing nearly as many as I sold left me discouraged. Maybe next time I should hire a body guard! LOL!
It truly depends on the size of the crowd, but 20-30 is a good start.Business cards with your latest book and engraved pens with your contact information is good for marketing. I also like to bring a bowl of candy for the table - always seems to be a hit!
Congrats and best of luck to you!!
I'd bring at least 15-20 copies per day. You can always save the extras for your next event, but you'll kick yourself if you sell out before the con ends!Also, most artists at these kind of events give away bookmarks for free.
Good luck!! :D
Have at least enough to pay for the price of renting the space and then probably 10-20 on top of what will pay back the booth fee. Keep a box with you under the table with a single copy on the table for people to look at, makes it easier to notice if someone tries walking off with a copy. When you sell one, pull it from under the table. Have the extras in your car trunk, preferably with a friend who can run out and get more if you run out.As for the bookmark, put your "business card" on the back and give those away for free.
I'm in a somewhat similar situation with a signing for my literary fantasy scheduled at the local B&N. The store has ordered 25 copies and I've got a 4 hour slot on a Saturday. I think that I can sell 25 books, but this being my first signing ever, any thoughts on how to approach shoppers at the store? I don't plan to simply sit at the table waiting for people to ask about the book, but instead plan to try to engage folks without being too pushy. Does this seem like the right approach?
The controlled store environment makes theft less of an issue than a convention.
Peter wrote: "I'm in a somewhat similar situation with a signing for my literary fantasy scheduled at the local B&N. The store has ordered 25 copies and I've got a 4 hour slot on a Saturday. I think that I can s..."Have bookmarks to hand out. Set up your table to be a nice display, but try not to overdo it with colors. Go with neutral set up. A lot of authors in the area tend to overdo their decorations and that in itself will send people away. Maybe have something interactive. For parents there with kids who want to talk to you, they'll love if they can stay busy and chat. That will help increase sales.
I haven't been lucky enough to do a B&N signing yet. I have done some comic con signings. And I will either dress like my character or have my helper there in costume from my book. That tends to pull people in.
Definitely standing and using your body language to show that your open to conversation is the way to go. :)
Peter wrote: "I'm in a somewhat similar situation with a signing for my literary fantasy scheduled at the local B&N. The store has ordered 25 copies and I've got a 4 hour slot on a Saturday. I think that I can s..."Hello Peter. I've seen it done (I've not done this myself) where authors raffle off one of their books at the event to the patrons.
Peter wrote: "I'm in a somewhat similar situation with a signing for my literary fantasy scheduled at the local B&N. The store has ordered 25 copies and I've got a 4 hour slot on a Saturday. I think that I can s..."I echo what others have said about handing out bookmarks from your table. I've found having something you can ask that makes people stop and think helps tremendously. I ask, "Do you know anyone who likes to read fantasy books?" Many people will at least pause and answer. If they say yes, I ask if I can tell them about our book.
I have a friend that creates a scavenger hunt when he does B&N book signings. It includes things like finding a certain title in the travel section. He always finishes the hunt with, "What does [this character] reference on page ____ of [his book]?" Then he offers a small prize or entry into a drawing for a cool prize for the completed scavenger hunt.
Good luck on the signing!
Thanks for the tips everyone! Signing 10 days hence; I'll let you all know how it went. And good luck getting your own books out there!!
The signing for my book went reasonably well - I was able to sell 25 books in a few hours to an audience of random store shoppers who didn't know me, my book or even my genre (fantasy). After this experience, a couple of thoughts that may (or may not) align with everyone else's experience...Perhaps the biggest challenge for signings or readings is a venue’s reluctance to host you and/or the monetary cost to rent space. Bookstores are often disinclined to support unknown authors with unproven ability to draw customers since such events can be a distracting nuisance to staff and customers. You’ll need to convince bookstore managers that you’ll sell enough books to make it worth their while without disrupting the store’s normal business activities. Some stores will never agree to host you, so focus on more friendly venues. Conversely, conventions or book fairs may be quite welcoming to neophyte authors, but costs for tables and booths can range from several hundred to several thousand dollars. You’ll need to consider whether the exposure is worth it.
Other overarching factors influencing the success of these promotional tactics include whether your event is a signing or a reading; are you a relatively unknown writer or a bestseller; what kind of venue is hosting your event; and how to leverage advertising in support of your event.
If your event is a signing (i.e. no reading), assume that customers are keen on going about their business and aren’t necessarily eager to spend time learning about anything that’s not a bestseller. Therefore, be approachable and ready to engage with potential readers. In a busy bookstore, if possible, don’t just sit behind the table and wait for the world to approach you. Instead stand in front of the table (thereby removing a physical and psychological barrier) and invite folks to give you a few seconds of their time to introduce your work to them. However, do it gently; no one likes a pest. If someone expresses no interest in you or your book, back off. Try to strike the right balance between overbearing salesmanship and passivity and also accept the inherent awkwardness of trying to interest total strangers in your work. After all, why the hell should anyone buy it? You’ll need to articulate a cogent reason at the signing.
In addition - really important - don’t invite family and friends along for moral support. They already know about the book and seeing you surrounded by a phalanx of family well-wishers will inhibit communication with your real audience: potential readers who don’t know you or your work from a hole in the ground.
I have never done anything like this, so I wanted to ask what's a good number of copies of paperbacks and hardcovers, as well as the bags, to bring with me?