Write a bestseller, control self publishing costs

Writing a bestseller … Learn how to control self publishing costs.

It’s a bestseller … or are you writing one now? Authors need to know how to market books, ensure quality and control self publishing costs too. There is no way to guarantee massive book sales. No one can promise that, but there are things authors can do to sell more books.

A bestseller novel: print on-demand, or not?

A novelist could consider print-on-demand services “POD” for soft cover books, not necessarily for hardcovers. Authors tend to use POD for small quantities, as the unit cost is high. There may be add-on costs if a title is not set-up properly. PODs, or distributors, can make a title available on a list. The list goes to bookstores. It is not likely that a new author can have massive distribution. It is harder for a new author to get into bookstores. When using a distributor, in-store distribution comes at a cost. The authors’ profit becomes less and less. There is a better path to having a profitable and better quality bestseller.

Process color and hardcover books to print on press.

We strongly advise using process color for a potential bestseller, as for a children’s book, cookbook, or photography book. They should be printed on press in process color. However, novels are most often printing in black and white. But, is it black ink or black toner? Wipe a moist finger across POD books that are simply output. If it is toner, it will smear. That won’t happen with a book printing with ink, and on a commercial printing press. The only way toner won’t smear is to seal it with varnish. But, that adds to the cost too.

Use Star Print Brokers to print high-quality books at a low unit cost.

An author might have a short run printed on press by a POD service. Star Print Brokers can likely give you twice as many high-quality books for a similar cost. We only print high-quality books in Asia, and at a low unit cost. Now that is the way to control self publishing costs. Sadly, the cost in the USA is too high these day, and the quality is not as good as with our select cadre of printers. We save you up to 70 percent over USA printers.

Marketing a potential bestseller.

Some POD providers and publishers offer marketing. But, they will spend only so much on marketing, particularly for an unproven author who does not yet have books that sell well, or has ever had a bestseller. The author is frequently told to blog, do social media, send press releases, get a website, etc.

Using Amazon to sell books.

Since authors to do much of marketing anyway, why not control revenue and increase profit? Print books on press with us. Then use Amazon to sell you books. Be aware that they sell at a deep discount. Also, they take about 15 percent. But, the title is potentially found in keyword searches. Amazon has tremendous traffic. The book gets found on Amazon, and the author can save even more by doing their fulfillment. It is optional, but a good way to start out on your way to becoming a bestseller.

Distribution.

If you use an on-demand service, do you actually get your book into brick-and-mortar bookstores, or just have access to those bookstores? We have a secret for you. If you have your own ISBN and barcode, you have access to brick-and-mortar bookstores. You are in the database already.

Do you already have a book that is selling well?

How much more can you make by printing 500 or 1,000 or 2,000 copies, instead of printing on-demand? Keep your profit! Print higher quality books with Star Print Brokers, and have your own author’s account at Amazon. If you are on the road to having a bestseller, why not keep more profit on every book? Never accept only royalties.

How to select the best retail price.

Visit a bookstore to evaluate competitive books and any bestseller in your genre and subject categories. Peruse books online to find similar books. Look for approximately the same page count, print quality, binding, and any book embellishments. Note the original retail price. Is it a bestseller? That means more books are being printed at a lower unit cost. The price can be found at the top of the barcode on the back cover. Most bookstores require a price in the barcode.

Verify the copyright or printing date on the copyright page. Keep in mind that a book that was printed years before will cost more if printed today. The unknown factor is quantity. How many books were printed? The unit cost, or cost per book, decreases when printing greater quantities. The more books you print, the lower the unit cost. Pricing a book on the high side, allows for a deep discount, and any other Amazon fees. The retail discounted price should be in line with similar books. But, authors should be careful not to price so high as to discourage buyers.

Learn more about copyrights at the United States Copyright Office.

Authors hope they are writing a bestseller. Here are a few more tips …

If it is a hardcover book, print it on press, not as a print-on-demand book. We never see well-bound POD hardcover books. A soft cover book is okay for POD or a very short run. But, unit costs and add-on fees are usually high. They add to the final cost. When a book is released, the hardcover is printed first. When that market is exhausted, then the author prints a soft cover version.

Start writing your potential bestseller today.

Better the odds of success with a superior printed book. That ensures quality, and by printing your book as author and self-publisher, you control self publishing costs by keeping more profit on every book sold. Control revenue and increase book sales profit.

We hope you are writing a bestseller now! Why not get a free, no-obligation quote today? We are happy to provide costs for several quantities or options for your potential bestseller!

Call (844) 603-1777 toll-free, or (425) 603-1777 in Bellevue, Washington since 1999.