I need a bit of HELP ! :?:

I took my books National about 8 months ago, did 2 big shows, they average about $2500.00 for 4 days, the vendor rental, gas, hotel and meals. And I don't buy anything. One was great and one was terrible, no foot traffic, I can't afford to do them much longer and these books are my dream. <b>Questions?</b>

<u>What gets you to buy? What takes you to a blog? You buy from a quilt shop or internet?</u>

I need your input, PLEASE. thank you :shock:

i buy from where ever. If it looks good and helpful i buy. I would suggest going internet. it is the cheepest way to sell something. you could also talk to admin about how to get a banner at the bottom of the posts where there are different ads. just a suggestion. I would also do coupons or deals on your books. that is a huge thing for me. I don't pay full price for anything i don't have to. and if i have to pay full price I have to really think about the purchase because we are on a limited budget.

At quilt shows, you're competing with every "quilty" vendor there is...and it's hard to sell a novel when the vendor next to you has fabrics! I know I gravitate to the fabrics everytime!
Go outside of the box, and take your booth to non-traditional venues...gun shows, car shows, county fairs, flea markets...where you are not set up next to the "other guys", but instead are offering something unique and different than the other vendors that are set up. I know I did my best sales when I made and sold beadwork at the kinds of shows I listed above. It gives the ladies that are tagging along with their husbands something to look at, and you get "guilt and/or revenge sales"....the guys buy stuff for their guns or car collections, and either buy the ladies something that interests them, or the ladies buy it because their man bought something he didn't need! ;)
It also tends to be less expensive to set up at these kinds of shows! :)

The NEW and UNUSUAL gets ME to buy. Demos help with a new gadget, the "buzz" helps too.

I agree with Charlee. Attend some non-traditional venues. One example: We have a Buffalo Rifle competition every year on Father's Day weekend on our ranch. This year there were 631 shooters and their families plus lots of spectators. There is a "vendor's row" where anyone can set up a booth and there is no charge. So if you come and don't sell anything, you are only out your travel expenses. There are a lot of shooting related booths, but the jewelry & craft booths do quite well because some of us can only look at gun related things for so long!!! Again, as Charlee said, if you have to compete for my dollars against fabric, the fabric will win every time!

I agree, go to the Fair! We live in a very rural area and I think the booth rental is about $10. I would think that the hardest part is getting a bunch of the first books sold, the others will "sell themselves".

Talk to your friends acrosss the country and offer them something to set up booths and sell for you. There is no need to attend each sale yourself. If you do go the route of getting others to sell for you, make sure to sign all copies, just a thought!

I just don't buy books. I get them from my library or get a free pattern from the net. I think books are hard to sell now. Spending $20-$24...I'd rather buy fabric with that.

What kind of books are you selling?

I posted recently that, at a recent car show I was "dragged to," I brought my hand-crank Singer, a table and chair, and proceeded to quilt while my "other" looked at cars for hours. More than one woman stopped by to chat and, be inspired - they all wanted to bring some hand work to the next car show. I remember thinking that I could have established my own car show quilt guild! So, I agree. Go to another type of event. Good luck!

contact your local library and other libraries in your area. Put on a trunk show with a book signing. I would definitely be interested in attending something like that. I know our library is always looking for programs to appeal to different groups.

i'm very particular about what books i buy and the price that goes along with them.

if its just a book of patterns, odds are i will not buy the book unless its around $10 and i have to like or want to make at least 2 of the quilts in the book.

if the book teaches a concept that applies to quilt making beyond the patterns in the book - i'm willing to pay more around $20.

when i do buy books it has always been thru amazon because they seem to have the best price.

A free pattern would peek my interest if it was something unique that could draw me to the others in the book.

Quilt books? Books are easy to find at a discount online that you have to find a way to get the shopper to want to make an impulse buy. At a vendor booth, I would want to see sample quilts or blocks made from some of the books. Something that would motivate me to make one. Call surrounding guilds and offer to come to put on a free program for their meeting. Guilds love free programs! You can have the books for sale at the meetings.

I would try the fairs, ect, too.

I have to agree about doing programs at a quilt meeting. Our guild has a speaker nearly every month. A lot of them do a program covering a technique they have written a book about and always have them available for purchase.

What kind of books have you written.

Glancing thru your website, I would suggest you go outside the quilting population. Are they stories that would appeal to doll collectors or toy buyers (Remember how popular the American Girl series was? It wasn't just a book or a doll, it was the collection). If the stories are geared toward more adult readers, I would check with local mom and pops - leave the books and a finished sample - things sell good on those counters, and once you have built a clientele list, they will spread the word. Send some to work or school with friends...I know a girl who started out a small craft business and this is how she did it...and now she has an office and 'mass production"....good luck.

There is a book I have heard of, but never read called Guerrilla Marketing. Could be just what you need, bet you can find it at the library or one of the online discount places. It is about finding and utilizing unusual places to market your products, good luck!!

Get your blog linked on a lot of other blogs for a start. Do you sell wholesale to local shops, not just quilt shops, but book and gift shops, too? Is there a local group of small business owners you can join? Craft organizations? For instance, the local farm stand in my town also sells works by local artisans. Is there something in your books that you could do as a tutorial on your blog to get more traffic? It would help to give suggestions if we knew more about the type of books!

Edit: I went to your website and really like the idea of the books...but is there any place that you show the quilt patterns featured in each book? I mean, like pictures of the quilts? I just don't see any. Thanks.

I would definitely read those books! I just had no idea about them until this thread. Didn't even think about looking them up until I read responses that said I've checked your site and saw the books. We definitely need to get those books out into the main stream. I would read ALL of them if I had easy access!

The books look great! I agree with all of the above comments... shows, libraries, etc. A strong on-line presence is PERTINENT in this age! It is the only way to connect people that you aren't geographically close to... which expands your market by tons.

Can I give you some critical feedback on the website? >ducking from flying tomatoes<
There are some spelling errors that catch my attention...
and (IMHO) the "ladies" in the book descriptions need to have less " " " around them; or none at all.
Can you also 'prettify' (speaking of spelling errors!) the website? I know.. it's all money... but a nice website and easy navigation mean a lot.
Also giving another description of you, your business, your goal-of sorts- in laymans terms near the top of both the blog and the website would help... I had to scroll down and read the descriptions to kind of understand what the books were about.

I wish you the very best!!! I hope you can find something that works for you... you've obviously poured your heart and soul into these books and I hope you can receive that investment back... by selling LOTS!

I agree with this wholeheartedly. I think you need to be clearer about what you're selling, and the top part of your website is the first place people look. If I hadn't read your request for help, I wouldn't bother scrolling down for information.

You might check with your local chamber of commerce or other business organizations to see if there's some marketing training available for you - I know our local community college has adult ed classes for entrepreneurs. Also, there is an organization called SCORE that may be able to help you with business mentoring.

I buy new quilt books all of the time for a new technique or for skill building. I have preferred authors and I have new authors. All books are great and I always remember what I have seen in them so that when a new project comes up I know just where to find them. Mostly I buy at my LQS.
I like to support my LQS(s).

Word of mouth is huge!
How about hitting various local quilt shops and guilds. Offer a few free books that they can raffle at meetings and see if you can get your name, web site and books into their shops and into quilters hands.

I go to the internet for ideas, but always buy my fabric from a store. As far as books are concerned, I'll buy them usually online, but I have to see patterns and colors that I like on the inside before I ever buy. Best of luck to you!

Go to quilt guild meeting with a program and show the quilts. Also go to shops with the quilts and books and have a program at the shops. Go to book stores. Get a book company to back you. Get them in libruaries.

Do you have a website where I can look at your books to see if I am interested in buying?

After reading the board responses and looking at your website, I have several suggestions, too. How about marketing a kit that goes with the book? Or at least showing the quilt from the book online? Perhaps letting online viewers read a bit of the book like they do with a "Kindle" sample. (Is there a kindle version of the book?) You need to make the book descriptions more intriquing so that adult readers will want to buy the book. What makes these books different than the Elm Creek series? What gets me to buy something is it's "uniqueness." A new technique; a new design; an interesting and riveting story - something that's not already out there. Also, I agree with the person who said you need to do some proofreading of your site.

I don't have any advertising advice but I just bought one of your books after reading your post. I was disappointed to read that having paid with PayPal I might have to wait 24 hours for the download. Probably a good thing since I'm elbow deep in making raspberry jam.

I totally agree with Charlee, you must go to other venues. Hook up with local Garden Clubs, they have plant sales, etc. The local farmers markets are hot venues right now for everything and there's always a crowd buying fresh local products. So think outside the box!
Kind Regards,
MaryAnna

I have some questions and suggestions for you:

Are these books self-published or did you get a publisher?

If the latter, what is your publisher doing to help promote your books?

Your advertising doesn't really say WHAT these books are - are they fiction? non-fiction? Is it about women and their relationships and lives and quilting is in the background? Do you use these characters to illustrate or teach quilting? I have to work too hard to figure that out from your website.

A sample chapter would go a really long way to helping me (and probably others) decide if these books are our cup of tea.

If you are self-publishing, having an affiliate program would likely help you - you can then get other people promoting your books and they would get a small portion of the sale price.

Also, the fact that there are 9 books in the series (so far) (and that's impressive!) is kind of scary - espeically if each volume is over 10 dollars -- that's a 100 dollar "investment" for someone to read all the books. lf you are selling hardcopy and these are hardcover or trade paper type books I suppose that price is justified, but remember you are competing with paperbacks that sell for significantly less.

I also didn't notice if you included a page count for the books - this is typically done.

Have you tried marketing on Facebook and Twitter? Do your books have crossover interest in other markets besides quilting?

"Guerrilla Marketing" involves activating your fan base to help spread the word and get your product known.

I've had an independent band and record label for over 10 years. marketing can be a full-time job.

If your books were instructional quilting books, I'd suggest that you hold workshops at various quilt guilds, and make the book part of the workshop (a few of our guild presenters did that and I picked up some nice books that way).

Feel free to PM me to talk more about marketing.

Didn't have to wait for download. It was in my inbox right after I wrote the above.

OK, I took another, more careful look at your website. I'm slightly less confused, and I'm starting to think that you have a short story and a pattern in each book - is this right?

The fact that I have to ask you this question means that your web copy does not explain WHAT you are selling, nor WHY I would be interested in purchasing it.

If these are quilt patterns, you really [i]really[i] need an illustration of the finished quilt somewhere in the product description.

I believe this is a unique product - something that I've never seen before: a story and quilt pattern bundled together. That could be an angle to get publicity in a variety of venues. You should have

(a) a press release that goes absolutely everywhere.
(b) write one or more articles about these items and submit them for publication to every quilting magazine (I am not sure you can do that all at once - you'll have to research submission guidelines)
(c) a marketing plan (probably this should be "a" and be done first. Decide if you are going to sell wholesale to retailers (and figure out which retailers) or retail? That will tell you what markets to go after.

I'm with you on this. I don't want to pay so much for a book that has only one pattern that interests me. I have so many free patterns from the internet that I had to buy another 2" ring binder today to hold my latest print outs. I spend more time surfing quilt sites than I do quilting right now.

I would also do coupons or deals on your books. I don't pay full price for anything I don't have to. I absolutely don't know of anything I've paid full price for related to quilting in years except perhaps fabric for an emergency baby quilt. I recently bought eleven (11) Quilting Mystery Novels by another authur (one title of 11: "Delectable Mountains")for $35.00; regular price on eash was $7.99. These were 2nd hand, already read; however, when you look at half.com and Connecting Threads, they both have books at 40% or more off on a regular basis - new and used. In this economy, I can tell you everyone is looking for the most for their money. Anything you can do to make a really good deal on either small groups of your books (like 1st, 2nd & 3rd books for $18 + media mail shipping; or something similar) or a total price for all books in a series with a really deep discount. Sorry this is so long, I just want you to do well and not be discouraged. Many folks have given you some really good suggestions. Make yourself a goal list to try them out and take one day at a time; this to shall pass. Best wishes, Josi

What I love in quilt books is when they make a quilt in one set of colors/prints then another set of colors/prints. If I don't like one set of colors I might like the other set. But I wouldn't buy the book if I couldn't imagine it in colors/prints I like. So if you can, either through computer trickery, or by sewing another quilt, make copies of your quilts in other colors/fabric prints. I hope this makes since.

Hope that you can post a blog about your book. Would love to see it. I buy what interests me. Because I am a single mom. It really has to catch me.
And I agree with Charlee. The Car shows, gun shows or maybe swaps meets. Your book should be able to sell on its own.
But around fabrics. My guess is a quilter or beginner, has to walk away from all those pretty fabrics. She may never find again. Not sure I would have the self control for that.

Some great suggestions here, 'specially Charlee's.

I worked in the book trade for many years...selling books is a thing many would like to do but is very hard graft and the margins tight. I note you self-publish...this is not a negative, but have you thought of submitting your manuscript/s to a publishing house?

If you prefer to not go through a publisher, perhaps approach a book marketing agency, they will show your books when doing sell ins to booksellers and library suppliers. This is an excellent way to sell multiple copies and to get repeat business and possibly public lending rights (not sure how that works in the USA). An agent will of course expect a commission, but if the sales volume is there it could work to your advantage.

Anyway...looks like you now have plenty of food for thought. All the best with your endeavour.

i would have to agree with all of the above and i would also suggest your local or in the area quilt guilds offer to do a free program and then bring your books for sale, maybe offer a discount if they buy today..i personally would love to see what you are selling...

I buy from wherever I find reasonably priced stuff, ebay/fabric wharehouse/shop/internet sites and this morning got some doggy fabric from a car boot sale [lots of sellers with stallstables usually on a field.
sadly here there is little choice so do buy from US but the postage is exhorbitant ,so have to get a lot at a time to make it worthwhile.