Comments on Sales Gut Check #2- Roadmap to Success

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Re: Re: I found it kind of depressing

I would like to make at least $90K a year in book sales in order to replace the minimum revenue from consulting which pays the $60/year minimum salary to make child support payments, rent, utilities, taxes and food for myself and the kids, as I have joint custody.  If I sell directly in person, including tables at events, I make about $11 profit per book.  I have had a table at a book fair and sold seven books with moderate attendance.  I sold four books at a poorly attended reading, about ten people. My consignment arrangements are about $6 profit per book, but there do not appear to be any sales, though many of these bookstores are far flung.  I have sold five books through on-demand online, was getting $4.20 per book, but the rules have changed cutting the return in half.  The eBook versions have not sold at all.

I do not know if having others others attend on my behalf will work, because a much greater audience would be needed and I would have to pay them something.  My dilemma is that consulting has been preventing me from scheduling events to replace my consulting income.  Whenever I have a possibility, there is another rollout or other major effort with the client.  Weekends cease to be my own for either family or book sales.

What I need is a kick start to my dormant eBook and on-demand online sales.  Kindle sales would have to be at over a quarter million for full income replacement, while CreateSpace sales would have to be at about 45 thousand.  Any substantial movement to these quantities of books sold would help me make the transition to full time author/publisher.

posted by cpklapper on July 20, 2010 at 7:09 PM | link to this | reply

Roadmap
I love it. Start from the end Perfect.

posted by csherloc on July 17, 2010 at 2:23 AM | link to this | reply

When I was in insurance, it was seven nos to one yes! It can be done like you outlined! sam

posted by sam444 on July 15, 2010 at 9:37 PM | link to this | reply

Re: I found it kind of depressing

No way that's awesome!  Don't get depressed.  First and foremost you are published and most importantly it sounds like when people do find out about your book, people want to buy it.  So let's start this way.  Let's say on average you are getting $5 per book.  What do you want to make yearly off of your book sales?  I ask because we need to back into how we are going to try to sell them.  And also, at your live events how many do you normally sell?  Obviously the electronic version is a lot less, but how many of those do you sell monthly and how?

From there let's also look at how you are selling them.  I'm flying a little blind here and we can clarify in future correspondence, but can you actually have others attend appearances and sell on your behalf?  Perhaps sell signed copies instead of you? Let me know.  I would love to give you my opinion if you want it :-)

posted by salesguy on July 13, 2010 at 3:44 PM | link to this | reply

I found it kind of depressing

I am trying to sell my books, for which I can get a profit ranging from about $4 to about $11 in paperback and about thirty cents electronically.  I am most successful selling in-person at events, but at nowhere near the volume I need to quit my day job.  However, my day job does not give me the time I need to appear at more events, nor enough time to put out new books.  For the time being, and for a good seven more years, I need to make regular enough income to pay child support, so that is another factor keeping me at my day job.

What would you recommend?

posted by cpklapper on July 13, 2010 at 2:49 PM | link to this | reply

What an amazing approach!  You really do simplify and take the stress out of the process.  I will remember this and use it in my goals.

posted by calia14 on July 13, 2010 at 10:08 AM | link to this | reply

sales, I have always hated and feared sales jobs, but you make it sound fun.

posted by dsm_tchr on July 12, 2010 at 3:44 PM | link to this | reply

You sound like a born salesman
You write well too.

posted by jollyjeff on July 12, 2010 at 1:43 PM | link to this | reply