Resources

Where buyers and sellers come together and the book industry really shines!

Author101 University
http://author101.com
The Premiere Event for Publishing & Marketing Success

Book Expo America
http://www.bookexpoamerica.com/
BEA combines the largest selection of English language titles with special industry and author events and educational content to create a dynamic environment for networking, sourcing, and relationship-building.

American Library Association
http://www.ALA.org
The ALA annual conference is the largest convention in the world of librarians, educators, writers, publishers, and trustees with programs on various topics such as technology, censorship and literacy.

International Christian Retail Show
http://fp37.a2zinc.net/clients/CBA/UNITE2016/Public/MainHall.aspx?ID=292&sortMenu=1010
ICRS (formerly CBA) is the largest show in Christian retail with new products, training opportunities targeted at specific retail practices, retailers, suppliers, distributors, and industry professionals.

Religious Booksellers Trade Exhibit
http://www.rbte.org/
RBTE annual trade show for religious booksellers to find books, network, and make connections.

London Book Fair
http://www.londonbookfair.co.uk/
Global publishing community’s leading spring forum for booksellers, publishers, librarians, and book production services worldwide. It’s a trading and educational platform offering access to the world’s books, business contacts, and shared knowledge.

Frankfurt Book Fair
http://www.book-fair.com/en/
Trade exhibition for book industry with seminars, conferences, merchandise, and cultural interchange about books across national borders.

Specialty products from new age and beyond.

Book Marketing Works
http://www.bookmarketingworks.com/
for sales through book stores and non-bookstore buyers.

Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com
Union Square Publishing works with authors to ensure they become an Amazon Bestseller. Contact us for details.

Every book needs an informative ‘Tip Sheet’ – a sales tool that assists reps selling your book in highlighting to buyers the best selling points of each title. The most effective tip sheets include the information below: (* = mandatory info)

Cover Image
Title *
and subtitle
Author *
ISBN * (13 digit number)
Price *
Binding * (hardcover, paperback, CD, DVD)
BISAC Code * https://www.bisg.org/bisac/bisac-subject-codes
Page count
Publisher * (including when you’re the publisher)
Imprint
Publication Date *
Description *
Author Bio *
Author Hometown * (city, state, country)
Size (inches x inches)
Series Information
Target Market/Audience
First Print Run
Excerpt
Comparative Titles * title and author, 13 Digit ISBN – http://www.straussconsultants.com/resources/comparitive-title-guidlines
Endorsements
Casepack Quantity (how many fit in shipping box)
USPs – unique selling points
Marketing Strategy

Most buyers these days won’t consider a new title without a comparative title along with it. Buyers use the comparative title to inform them about how well books similar to your new title have done, and draw a conclusion about how much to buy. Guidelines on how to select the most effective comparative titles to maximize sales of your new titles:

Comparative titles:

· Come from the same genre as your new title, same series, or by the same author that sold well.
· Must have sold well the month before, of, or after release.
· Must be in the same price range as your new title.
· Cannot have been published more than three years before your new title.
· Should ideally be placed next to your new title in both your catalog and tip sheet.

Literary Partners & Associations

Affiliating with key associations lends your support to their objectives while putting you in touch with knowledgeable professionals that may become helpful information resources.

Authors’ Guild
https://www.authorsguild.org/
Supporting working writers and protecting authors’ rights.

Pen America
https://pen.org
To protect open expression and the freedom to write.

American Comparative Literature Association
http://www.acla.org/
ACLA – Society for scholars whose work involves several literatures and cultures as well as the premises of cross-cultural literary study.

American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/
ALA – Oldest and largest library association in the world, with the mission to promote highest quality library and information services and public access to information; offers professional services and publications to members and nonmembers.

Publisher Associations

Being part of, or simply keeping up with the goings-on of these organizations can provide great networking and educational benefits for your company.

Independent Book Publishers’ Association (IBPA) – trade association of independent publishers that serves book, audio, and video publishers located in the U.S. and around the world – http://www.ibpa-online.org/ .

Association of Publishers for Special Sales (APSS) – http://community.bookapss.org/ .

Publishers Advertising and Marketing Association (PAMA) offers professional events for the opportunity to meet publishing’s most prominent leaders, network and share innovative marketing ideas with peers, and gain insights into the book industry – http://pama-ny.org/who-we-are/ .

National Association of Indpendent Publishers’ Representatives (PAIPR) – Trade association for commission sales reps, booksellers and publishers – http://www.naipr.org/Home.html .

American Booksellers Association (ABA) – National trade association for independent booksellers offering education, services and products, advocacy, and relevant business information – http://www.bookweb.org/ .

Christian Booksellers Association (CBA) – Trade association for the Christian Retail Channel, serving the interests and meeting the needs of member Christian stores – http://cbaonline.org/ .

Christian Small Publishers’ Assocation (CSPA) – started to represent, promote, and support the small publisher in the Christian marketplace – http://www.christianpublishers.net/ .

New York Center for Independent Publishing (NYCIP – formerly Small Press Center) – Sponsors year-round public programs to promote independent presses and authors – http://www.nycip.org/

Nonprofit literacy organizations and charities promote books to eager readers nationally and internationally. Working with them can help you expand your target audience.

Better World Books
http://www.betterworldbooks.com/
capitalizes on the value of the book to fund and support literacy initiatives – .

Reading is Fundamental
http://www.rif.org/
Oldest and largest children’s and family nonprofit literacy organization in the U.S.; delivers free books and literacy resources to those who need them.

Silent Images
http://silentimages.org/
Images seeks to educate others and tell the stories of persecuted people around the world through journalistic photography, video, and writing.
The book Voices of Sudan by David Johnson is a leading resource in their educational efforts.

These sites are great one-stop-shops for useful book industry information, web tools, and publisher sales software downloads.

IndieBound
http://www.indiebound.org/
Group of independent bookseller websites and e-commerce arm of American Booksellers Association’s Book Sense program. – .

EarlyWord
http://www.earlyword.com/
Brings the best thinking on the art of selecting books and buying for demand, to benefit the collection development of public libraries.

Publisher Alley
http://www.puballey.com/pages/PubAlleyLogin.aspx
Online tool for in-depth analysis of book sales through Baker & Taylor, YBP Library Services, Lindsay & Croft, and Majors Book Company.

ISBN Agency (U.S.)
http://www.isbn.org/
Bowker is ISBN Agency for the United States, responsible for assigning ISBNs as well as providing information and advice on the uses of the ISBN system to publishers and the publishing industry. This is the source for your 13-digit ISBN converter number.

NetGalley
https://s2.netgalley.com/
provides centralized ARC, digital press kit and catalog services, as well as a place to connect and collaborate with others in the industry.

LegalZoom
http://www.legalzoom.com/
Created by attorneys, site helps you to get common legal documentation like incorporation, trademark, LLC, and copyright from home or office.

What’s Next Blog
http://www.whatsnextblog.com/
Founded by B.L Ochman, renown marketing strategist, influential blogger, author, and speaker, this site is dedicated to bringing you the best information on marketing, brand building, and improving blog traffic.

Wikipedia
https://www.wikipedia.org/
Online encyclopedia added to and edited by its users.

Online tools for small publishers and authors to produce books efficiently.

Ingram Lightning Source promises to reduce overhead, increase market exposure with access to the world’s largest distribution channel, improve inventory control, provide profitability on every book, complete fulfillment services, and minimize returns – https://www.lightningsource.com/

Create Space – (Formerly BookSurge) Owned by Amazon, was creating to give opportunities for authors to publish their work while retaining content rights and sales profits. It offers complete publishing, inventory-free fulfillment, and online distribution services for independent publishing – https://www.createspace.com/

OverDrive provides infrastructure for distributing digital content through local libraries. Publishers, libraries, schools, and retailers can use it to maximize their presences in the digital world to securely manage, protect, and lend or sell digital audiobooks, eBooks, music, and videos – https://www.overdrive.com/ .