Our Services – Organisations
We offer the whole ‘virtual publishing' infrastructure, seeing a project through from concept to finished copy and then selling and marketing to both specialist and mainstream outlets.
However, we should stress that self-publishing only works as a commercial venture (the rationale for our involvement) if your book has a genuine market and also provided that you will work with us in helping promote your book. Our services are most suitable for organisations who have outlets for non-booktrade sales in addition to those of the booktrade and who therefore wish to retain the publisher's profit.
Services
Our services include the following:
Project viability
| As part of the preparation stage we draw up a project overview, estimate of costs, suggested timescale and outline sales and marketing plan. |
Preparation
- advice on a book's title, price, positioning and publication date
- agreeing the format, price and paper
- agreeing the title and cover copy
- commissioning a cover or jacket
- commissioning inside page design
- drawing up a Sales & Marketing Plan per title
- submitting the book to the various bibliographic agencies
- commissioning illustrations (if applicable)
- commissioning an editor, proofreader, indexer, designer and typesetter
- advice on non-booktrade outlets
- signing off on costings and arranging for the book to be printed
- recommending relevant promotional material (eg posters, flyers)
- preparing key selling tools – eg Advance Information sheet, press release, Catalogue
- advice on endorsements
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We employ a team of experienced freelancers who we have worked with on previous projects. Together we identify key stages – such as cover copy, inside page design, proofs and the press release – for you to sign off on.
Selling in: sales outlets
- submitting to the trade press
- mailing and presenting to key accounts
- arranging cover illustrations in wholesalers' Buyers' Notes
- advice on supplementary mailings – eg library, school, wholesaler.
- monitoring dues
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Marketing and publicity
- marketing as identified in the Sales & Marketing Plan
- identifying specialist publications and associations
- researching print review lists: national and regional newspapers, magazines and newsletters
- identifying relevant websites and ezines
- prioritising publicity targets
- submitting for bookshop and other events + arranging POS support
- telephone follow-up of relevant outlets
- arranging radio and/or television coverage
- finished-copy review mailing
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After publication
- mini publicity campaigns for reprints
- continuing to promote where possible
- monitoring sales
- stock reduction/remaindering if a book has not sold well
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