Introduction
All of us were given a unique gift on the day we were born. Some received a flair for music, enabling them to wonderfully play instruments and sing songs. In contrast, others got the knack for academics and became doctors, lawyers, professors, and scientists.
There are some lucky ones, too, who received a very special talent, which allows them to create new worlds out of sheer imagination. Many of them end up being authors who write books that can change the lives of their readers. If you have this gift, as well, be proud of yourself because not everyone can do the things that you do.
The sad truth, however, is that a lot of aspiring authors face a common issue. Many don’t know how to publish what they wrote and let it reach more people. Thankfully, our company, Omnibook Co., can offer a simple yet effective solution to that problem. With our help, you and other first-time writers can be given the opportunity to print and sell your book to a wider audience.
Book Distribution: An Overview
Imagine you’ve already completed the manuscript for your book; you’ve also had it edited and proofed, and you’re now getting ready for its launch. Before you go into full celebration mode, though, be sure to have a proper plan on how your published work can reach readers. That’s where our book distribution solutions in the USA come in. Here are a few things to learn about this service:
What Is Book Distribution
Needless to say, book distribution is an integral part of self-publishing. It refers to the process of making your book available on different platforms, such as stores, libraries, and even online channels. Through this service, you can expect some sort of income when readers buy a copy of what you wrote. It’s also an opportunity for you to become more established as an author since more people can read your work.
This service can be done in different locations. Even if you’re a USA-based writer, you can get book distribution solutions in other countries to reach potential readers in other continents.
What Do Book Distributors Do
Book distributors in the USA are companies – usually publishing houses – that will be in charge of bringing your book to different channels. All in all, they will handle the marketing and advertising for your work. They have contacts with public and private establishments, so your published book can end up being on the shelves of libraries, schools, and retail shops.
However, the job of distributors isn’t easy. Some of them have to create sales pitches in order to convince establishments to get a few copies of what you published. If they can sell your book to libraries and retailers, they’ll take a small cut from the total earnings, and what’s left will go directly to you.
Who Needs Book Distribution Services?
Both big and small publishers offer book distribution services. It’s a solution that greatly benefits authors, including first-time writers and well-established ones.
If you’re looking for a company that offers book distribution services in the USA, you came to the right place. Omnibook Co. is here to assist you in reaching a wider audience. Simply get in touch with our team today to learn how we can help.
From Printer to Reader: The Three Book Distribution Channels
Many people think printing books is no longer the “in” thing because electronic and even audio copies are becoming popular now. But that isn’t necessarily the case because paperbacks and hardbound volumes still get the lion’s share of the total book sales all over the world.
If you decide to print your book and distribute it, here are the main distribution channels you can maximize:
Brick-and-Mortar Shops
If you want to browse and buy books, you can visit physical stores like brick-and-mortar bookshops. These include all kinds of establishments that you can go to, like well-known chains, wholesalers, independent shops, and small stalls.
Even though online shopping is already prevalent, there are still a lot of people who choose to go to brick-and-mortar stores for a variety of reasons. For some, physical shops are generally safer and more reliable since you can get the book and bring it home on the same day. Others, meanwhile, simply want the nostalgic experience and ambiance of going to these traditional stores.
For many writers, it’s a heavenly feeling to see their work being displayed on the shelves of brick-and-mortar shops. As a self-published author, you can experience that by partnering with the right book distribution company.
Online Channels
The popularity of online bookstores skyrocketed over the last few years, and that’s for a good reason. Buying books over the internet is much more convenient than going out and visiting a physical shop. Through e-commerce sites, you simply have to choose the book you want to buy, pay for it using your card or e-wallet, and wait for a few days for it to be delivered right to your doorstep. It’s a really smooth process that you can do even in your pajamas!
What’s more is that online bookstores are practically open 24/7, which means you can place an order even in the wee hours of the day. Also, e-commerce shops offer a seemingly unlimited collection of books, which means the titles you can’t find in physical stores are most likely available online.
The wide range of benefits offered by online stores is the reason self-published authors are encouraged to also sell their books via the internet, too. Thankfully, book distribution companies in the USA can help you do that.
Personal Platforms
If you’re a self-published author, another channel you can use to sell books is your own website. It sure has a lot of drawbacks, particularly in marketing your works. Brick-and-mortar stores have loyal customers who frequent the shop every now and then, so your book will get noticed one way or another if it is on the shelf. The same goes with online platforms.
However, even though you might sell more through physical and online bookstores, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get to earn a lot because a part of your earnings will go to the shop. If you use your own channel, you’ll get to keep all the profit to yourself, and that’s why many self-published authors use their own websites to sell their books. In your personal platform, you can have better communication with your readers, too.
Even if you’re selling through your own website, you might still need the services of a book distributor. If a person purchases one book, your partner publisher will print just a single copy and deliver it to the buyer.
How Book Distribution Helps Self-Publishers
Well-established writers can also benefit a lot from book distribution solutions. But this specific service benefits self-publishers and first-time authors more. Here are some of the ways it can help:
Print-on-Demand Services
When a well-known author launches a new book, their publisher usually prints hundreds, if not thousands, of copies immediately. This is because the company anticipates that many readers, especially fans, would rush to purchase the writer’s work.
This won’t work with first-time authors who are only starting to make a name for themselves. If the publisher creates hundreds of copies of their book, it’s highly likely that many of them would just end up in the warehouse where they’d get old, musty, and yellow. You don’t want your written work to become like that, so it’s best to take advantage of the company’s print-on-demand services.
With the help of a reliable book publisher and distributor in the USA, you can put your book on sale in online bookshops and on your own website. When someone is interested in your work, you can contact the company so they can print a certain number of copies, depending on how many people have placed an order.
Partnership With Well-Known Retailers
Authors typically get their income through the books they write. They can earn a lot if more people purchase copies of their works, and for that, companies that offer book distribution services for small publishers can help.
Book distribution services providers in the USA are often partnered with well-known retailers. This means your published work will already have a place on the shelves of some physical bookshops. Some distributors also collaborate with schools and private libraries, so your book could be displayed there, as well.
Editing and Proofreading
Writers like you know this fact: it’s nigh impossible to edit and proofread your own work. You, after all, have the natural tendency to ignore mistakes in anything you’ve written unintentionally. Your mind might be clouded with judgment because it’s something you’ve worked hard for, so changing something from it and admitting that there are errors can be hard to do. Worry not, though, because the majority, if not all, writers are like that, and that’s why you need an editor or proofreader to help you.
If you partner with a reliable book distribution company in the USA, they can help you proofread and edit your work. They have staff members who are experts in spotting errors and inconsistencies so that you can put your trust in them.
Catalogs and Online Lists
Studies show that more people still prefer physical books to e-books. But it’s still the truth that there are still a lot of readers who choose to buy digital copies because they offer a lot of benefits. They are lightweight (or weightless), so you can bring them anywhere. You don’t have to worry about them getting stolen or going missing because they’ll never get lost as long as you have the data. They can be waterproof, too, depending on your device, so they’re ideal if you love bringing something to read in the bath.
There are a lot of reasons people choose e-books, so it’s best to target these readers, as well. Thankfully, your book distributor can help you with that. Just as they have connections with physical stores, they most likely have deals with online bookshops, too! This means your book can end up on those digital shelves and be marketed to a broader audience.
E-Book Conversion
Of course, you can’t sell e-books if you only publish your work physically. It’s a good thing, however, that some distribution companies can assist you in creating digital copies that can be read on most electronic gadgets and devices.
A lot of people think that creating e-books is just as easy as saving your work in PDF format and distributing it online. Well, they couldn’t be more wrong. E-books need to be adjustable in size, so readers can comfortably see the text whether they’re using their phone or tablet. Special software must be used to do that, and purchasing those computer programs might not be a good investment for some budding writers. It’s best just to ask help from a book distributor to help you with e-book conversion.
Book Distributors vs. Book Wholesalers
Some first-time writers and self-publishers confuse book distributors and book wholesalers. While both of them can help make your written work available to the public, the way they do so can be very distinct from each other.
Here’s a quick guide on how book wholesalers differ from book distributors:
What Do Book Wholesalers Do?
In general, book wholesalers will mediate between you (the author) and major retailers (popular physical bookshops and online stores). In most cases, and for obvious reasons, retailers prefer working with just a few wholesalers instead of hundreds of individual writers.
If you get your name out there as an author of novels, short stories, poems, or any other work, wholesalers might contact you. They will purchase your book wholesale and bring it to different physical stores. This setup might be highly beneficial for well-known writers, but there might be some drawbacks for budding authors.
Wholesalers typically don’t advertise the books they offer because they leave marketing tasks to the major retailers they partner with. But here’s the catch, well-known bookshops – both physical and digital – have hundreds if not thousands of titles in their inventory. So, the chances of them highlighting your work on their shelves are pretty low, especially if you haven’t gotten a name for yourself.
Book distributors are different. They play an active role in advertising your books, so you already have some potential customers. Also, they don’t purchase your book at a wholesale price, so you get to earn more for each copy that will be bought.
Which One Is Better?
The short answer is that it depends on your needs and current status as a writer. If you’re already an established author – meaning your name speaks for itself that book lovers fall in line just to buy a new copy of your latest book – you might need a wholesaler. After all, your name is enough to advertise your work.
Self-publishers would benefit more by partnering with a reliable book distribution services provider. These companies are extremely helpful to new authors and are very much hands-on as they use different platforms for marketing their writers.
If you’re feeling conflicted, no one’s stopping you from working with both a wholesaler and a distributor. That can be pretty stressful, speaking with two different companies, but there’s no harm in trying.
Reaching More Readers Through Book Distribution
We get it! If you’re a writer, you want your works to be read by more people to inspire them or even change their lives. It’s not an easy feat, but we can help you achieve that.
Omnibook Co. is your trusted book distribution solutions provider in the USA. Our company aims to help budding authors like you to get your work out there. With our services, you can reach a wider audience and connect with more readers, and in the long run, it can translate to better sales and a higher income for you. Contact our team today to learn more about what we can offer.
Conclusion
Writing your own book is not an easy job, but putting it on sale might be even harder, especially for people who aren’t that adept in business. If you’re an author who wants to get your published works on the shelves of bookstores and online shops, it’s best to connect with a book distribution company.
Book distributors are extremely helpful to first-time authors and self-publishers. They often have partnership deals with different book retailers, so your written work can already be displayed on physical and online bookshops. This means there’s a higher chance of people buying and reading your work.
If you’re looking for a book distribution company in the USA, Omnibook Co. is here. We can lend you a hand in printing and selling your works, so feel free to request our assistance. Learn more about how we can help you by giving us a call today!
