Learn How to Reach the Library Book Market

By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

You spot a new book that looks interesting. Where do you turn to get that book? Some of you are thinking Amazon—and yes Amazon would have some information about the book. Yet on Amazon to actually get the book in your hands, you have to buy that book and spend money.  Often the first place I look is not to buy the book but to explore my local library. Can I get the book there? Can I get the audiobook through my library? Can I get the book through interlibrary loan? Often the answer is yes.

I have a branch of my local public library about three blocks from my house. As I've learned to use their online catalog, I can often reserve books from home, then get an email they are ready for me to pick up and go get these books. If I don't find the book in their catalog, then I can use interlibrary loan to locate the book and get it. Or sometimes I will make a book purchase suggestion. For example, last week in my email I saw a book where the title caught my interest. I searched for the audiobook version on Overdrive but did not find it.  I returned to my local library and filled out a form to make a suggestion on a book. Later that day, I got an email from the library they were ordering the audiobook version through Overdrive and it should be available later that day. A few hours later, I searched for this audiobook, found it, checked it out and downloaded it to my phone—all without leaving my home.

Hopefully through these stories you are seeing the value and diversity for book lovers to be using your local library. Last week I did a 45-minute online class about libraries with Amy Collins. Here's some facts Amy pointed out:

* Over 57% of Millenials have been in a library or on their library website in the last month

* 71% of Americans have used a library in the last year

* The American Library annual budget for materials and books is just over 2.8 BILLION Dollars.

If you don't know Amy,  she is the most trusted and experienced teacher in our industry and teaches hundreds of classes each year on how to get your books INTO libraries. There is no special trick to getting your book approved and purchased by libraries. But there ARE things you have to know and do to make this amazing side of the book business work for you. Amy Collins is the founder of Bestseller  Builders and president of New Shelves Books. Collins is a recommended sales consultant for some of the largest book and library retailers and wholesalers in the publishing industry. She is a USA TODAY and WALL STREET JOURNAL bestselling author and in the last 20 years, Amy and her team have sold over 40 Million books into the bookstore, library, and Chain store market for small and mid-sized publishers. She is a columnist for and a board member of several publishing organizations and a trusted teacher in the world of independent publishers.

With over 10,000 libraries in North America alone, this wonderful opportunity to learn exactly HOW to sell into thousands of libraries is a wonderful opportunity. Amy recorded her workshop and includes a handout and valuable information. You can access it right away at:

https://www.newshelves.com/Whalin

Do you use your local library? Are you selling your books into libraries? Let me know in the comments below.

Tweetable:


Are you reaching the library market with your books? Get insights and a free workshop from a respected expert. (ClickToTweet)

Sell More Books Through Social Media

I’ve lost track of the number of authors who have told me that they’ve heard that social media is great for book sales, but the time they spend on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest feels like a complete and total waste.

“I put in lots of hours but it makes no difference with my sales,” they complain to me.

Using social media for book sales is tricky, for sure. Do it the wrong way, and you’re wasting precious time you could be spending writing your next book.

But do it the right way, and you can see those sales start rolling.

Still . . . what’s the wrong way to use social media for book marketing and what’s the right way?

You could spend hours researching that subject on the Internet and get so many conflicting – and wrong – opinions that you’re even more confused (and have wasted even more time).

But help is finally here.

My friend and colleague Sandra Beckwith of Build Book Buzz has talked an expert in social media marketing for authors into spilling the beans and sharing the trade secrets she uses when working with her author clients. They’re collaborating on a training webinar for authors that will teach you “How to Sell More Books With Social Media.”

Date:  This Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Time: 7 pm ET/6 pm CT/5 pm MT/4 pm PT (calculate for your time zone)
Place: Webinar – 1 hour includes participant Q & A
Replay: Everyone who registers will get a replay link

Use this affiliate link to learn more detail.

By the end of the webinar, you will know (among other things):

• The secret behind successful Facebook ads
• How to evaluate online book promotion opportunities
• How to identify and find your best readers online
• Popular social media activities that are a waste of time
• How to use your time online to get sales results

Sandra tells me there’s a limited number of seats available, so register now so you don’t miss out. Here’s my affiliate link to register.

I know it will be a great session – Sandra’s training events never disappoint! I’ll watch for you on the webinar on Wednesday!

Tweetable:

Attend this March 30th event to sell more books through social media. (ClickToTweet)

Get WordPress Help & Much More

Are you frustrated with working with Web people who take too long to build your website?

Would you like to take back control, and run things yourself?

My friend Christina Hills (who teaches non-techie people how to build their websites without a webmaster) just had a great webinar showing how you can (and should) have a life without a webmaster. Yes, even us non-techies can do this.

The feedback on the call was just amazing, she has just decided to do another LIVE webinar.

Don't miss this chance to join Christina, a WordPress expert to learn how!

————- Webinar Info ———————

Event: Fire Your Webmaster & Create Your Site in WordPress
Date: Wednesday February 20th
Time: 3:00pm Eastern /12:00pm Pacific
Duration: 75 -90 minutes
(You can listen by phone or computer)
To get registered for the webinar, go here.

—————————————————-

Christina has taught hundreds of non-techie people how to easily build their websites themselves in the Website Creation Workshop.

You can build virtually any kind of website you want with WordPress.

Here are some examples of the kinds of websites that people can build:

-Coaching/Consulting Websites
-Personal Passion Websites
-General Business Presence Websites
-Ecommerce Store Websites
-Sales Letter Websites
-Squeeze Page Websites
-Membership Websites
-Hybrid Blog + Static Page Websites
- and Straight up Blogging Websites

This call will have visuals with lots of pictures for you to follow along during the call.

So many entrepreneurs already learned from Christina how to be in charge of their websites. Join the webinar and learn it yourself.

Act On These Offers

Here's two resources that you should know about. If you don't take action on them, they will disappear.

First, PR Newswire is holding a free webinar with three top business editors who are discussing the kinds of stories that catch their attention and the best ways to contact them. Here’s the editors:

Lisa Vickery, Day Editor, National News Desk, Wall Street Journal Polly Smith, Deputy Business Editor, Chicago Sun-Times Steve Trousdale, Deputy Business Editor, San Jose Mercury News

If you have a business book or a business book in the works, then this information will be helpful to you. The Webinar called "Inside the Business Section" will be Thursday, May 17th at 2 p.m. Eastern Time. Follow this link to register.

The second resource is a new revision of The Radio Publicity Manual by Alex Carroll. Over the last 15 years, Carroll has booked himself on over 1,400 radio shows and sold over 250,000 books as a guest. He has an ebook and until May 22nd you can get it for free (and after May 22nd he will be charging $49 for it). It's 177 pages of tested advice and I picked it up. Here's the link. You will have to complete your name, email, phone and address (required fields) but DON'T enter your credit card information since this is a free offer. After completing the order form, you will be taken to a page where you can download the book.