Bookstores aren’t the only businesses that sell books. Some titles will fit well in very untraditional retail locations.
This is where you need to think creatively. You know your target audience—where do they frequent? Make a list of all possibilities and consider these retail outlets:
• Gift shops
• Specialty stores
• Independent coffee shops
• Museums
• State and national parks
• Stores on military bases
• Religious stores and churches
• University bookstores
• Supermarkets and warehouse stores
• Beauty shops
What retail outlets are a good fit for your books?
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And your daily photo: "Rings"
$4.99 Ebook ISBN 978-0-9827139-9-0
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I put my books in our local one and only book shop which sold quite well.
ReplyDeleteI love children's slides but the photo of that roller coaster grand as it looks is not for me.
Enjoy your week-end.
Yvonne.
Sell your books wherever you can. That pic really caught my attention.
ReplyDeleteOne of the local authors I know also sold his books the weekly market.
ReplyDeleteRhonda @Laugh-Quotes.com
Those are rings I would not like to ride.
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't like roller coasters any more although I did when I was younger. Great pic though.
ReplyDeleteJO ON FOOD, MY TRAVELS AND A SCENT OF CHOCOLATE
Beauty Shops sell books? I've always seen racks of books in Drug Stores, and I'd get my books in there if I could.
ReplyDeleteGreat list! :-)
Great idea about the "alternative" stores. I'm sure there are a lot of small shop owners who are willing to give a book a bit of shelf space.
ReplyDeleteRings was beautiful.
I actually copied and pasted this list for consideration when I have my books printed. Good list.
ReplyDeleteRhonda, I know a guy that does that exclusively and always sells out.
ReplyDeleteLexa, brainstorm every possible angle.
Thanks, David.
And the photo is looking up at the interlocking rings, the only one of its kind, of the Loch Ness Monster at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg.
Maybe gaming stores? Someplace where geeks hang on.
ReplyDeleteWild photo!
I sold books in the lobby of my dr's office for a while! :)
ReplyDeleteThere are lots of possibilities for book selling. Great post. Your photo makes me dizzy :)
ReplyDeleteIt's great seeing books everywhere. I've bought many books at stores that were not bookstores.
ReplyDeleteThe higher, the bigger, the faster - just up my alley...
ReplyDeleteLove that photo!
ReplyDeleteI have my book at three small independent bookstores now . . .and I'm working on getting the courage up to find a fourth, and then a fifth.
Great suggestions. Some of my books are in a local drugstore.
ReplyDeleteMary Montague Sikes
Great list of ideas Diane!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much~
I love your rings photo ;D
Ooh yeah, fantasy and sci fi could totally be sold in gaming stores. And wow...what a pic!
ReplyDeleteWhoah...I think I'm dizzy now. :)
ReplyDeleteThinking outside the box is the best way to reach your target audience. Good suggestions in that list!
This is such a good idea. Maggie Sefton, for instance, has a lot of events and sells her books in yarn and craft shops because she writes the knitting mystery series.
ReplyDeleteThanks for continually giving us a new way to think of marketing. I've got to stop assuming that those stores only order through a distribution service. Writer’s Mark
ReplyDeleteThese are such good little tips. Great list of retail places...
ReplyDeleteWriter In Transit
Hi Diane .. creative thinking for promoting your book, novella, etc ..
ReplyDeleteDefinitely there are lots of places .. surgeries, hospices possibly, nursing centres etc ..
Cheers Hilary
Coffee shops are a great idea too...a lot of 'library' types seem to frequent there :)
ReplyDeleteI would think that university book stores could potentially be a hot spot for business. ??
ReplyDeleteGreat point. I plan on having my book at summer camps; exactly my target audience and not a lot of competition.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea. I don't live near any of these types of stores but I'm sure it's helpful for many.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I haven't sold a book yet, either a Christian Bookstore or a zoo/museum would consider selling my books. Thanks for all your work on the challenge!
ReplyDeleteMakingtheWriteConnections
Craft fairs might be a good place to sell books....
ReplyDeleteGood thinking! Finding your audience in non traditional venues is a brilliant idea! :)
ReplyDeleteJust looking at that roller coaster makes me ill.
ReplyDeleteHmmm...maybe my books could also be displayed at a martial arts school??? Maybe?
Great tips! I hadn't thought of national parks or military bases. But I have done book signings in military towns and always had very successful events so it makes perfect sense.
ReplyDeleteJai