SUPER PROFITABLE NEW TECHNIQUES FOR SELLING BOOKS BY MAIL
The total number of books sold by small, part-time mail order
entrepreneurs is growing each year. More and more people are finding how easy and
financially lucrative it can be to run a small business out of their own home and in their
spare-time. More than a few have turned these part-time endeavors into successful
full-time careers. You can begin a new mail order business or enhance an existing
operation by following the ideas set forth in this report.
Two basic steps can be taken to create the rapid growth of your mail order business and
to propel you toward financial freedom. The first step in mail order success is to offer a
wide selection of books via a mini-catalog. Secondly, you must be able to distribute your
catalogs inexpensively and yet to the largest possible audience of prospective buyers.
Many booksellers are sending their mini-catalogs to prospective buyers as inserts in
printed materials the prospect has already ordered.
Mini-catalogs are usually printed on 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of paper, folded in half along
the length, and simply slipped inside the covers of a magazine or the folds of a
newspaper. Often, a mini-catalog is folded and sent out as a self-mailer. Both of these
methods of obtaining circulation are very profitable.
A book-selling mini-catalog usually features a full-page ad on the front cover. This
serves as the main sales thrust or featured book. The second, third, and half of the back
page of the mini-catalog generally are comprised of two columns of listings of other books
being offered. Each listing should consist of the title of the book followed by a short
description of either the book itself or how it can benefit the buyer. The catalog number
and price of the book follow. The bottom half of the last page of your mini-catalog is
devoted to the customer order coupon.
Personal computers and inexpensive page-layout software are making the design and
preparation of mini-catalogs from the home or office a quick and easy task. Many programs
come complete with professionally designed examples of four, eight, and sixteen page
catalogs already built-in, simply needing to have the text of the catalog typed into the
template. If you do not have access to a computer, you could simply lay out the pages for
your catalog at home, using supplies readily available from any local office supply store.
When you have selected the books to feature in your catalog and have decided on the
basic layout, the text of the entire catalog should be typeset and printed up. Many
marketing analysts recommend using a different color paper for each mailing. Some sales
analysis results indicate that the better quality paper your mini-catalog is printed on,
the more sales it brings in for you. You may wish to consider using recycled paperstock
for your catalog in order to appeal to environmentally conscious book-buyers. Check with
your local print shop for cost comparisons of various paper qualities, then decide which
will best fill your needs.
Many publishers and book distributors are currently supplying ready-made catalogs for
your use in generating business. Read through several of the success and business
opportunities magazines available on the newsstand. Note those ads offering you
information on entering the mail order book business via drop shipping. Write to the
addresses listed and gather as much information as possible. From the supplied information
packages you will be able to decide which company best fits your need or if you would
rather strike out on your own.
Once you've selected or personally prepared a mini-catalog through which to advertise
your books, bring all your efforts to bear on the problem of obtaining the maximum
circulation of your catalog among prospective book buyers. Check at your area newspaper
offices for a listing of all their distributors and route carriers. Contact these people
and ask them to give you the price they would charge to include one of your mini-catalogs
with each paper they sell or deliver. Determine how many catalogs you'll need for this
kind of distribution, and have that number printed. Deliver these catalogs to your
contract distributors and get ready to fill book orders! It's simple and easy, but best of
all it really results in big profits for your book-selling business.
Another simple method is to line up students from different high schools in your area
and pay them each so much per piece to deliver your mini-catalogs door-to-door. If you
have high school age children, enlist them and their friends to help you out. This could
be the easiest and least expensive method of distribution for you.
Major cities also have professional distributing services which deliver advertising
material to the residents in each neighborhood. Check your local phone directory yellow
pages for the names and telephone numbers of such companies. You may also wish to consider
the direct mail distribution of your catalog city-, state-, and nationwide. You can
inexpensively rent a good mailing list of book buyers and opportunity seekers from several
mailing list companies. Mailing with a third class bulk imprint indicia will substantially
lower mailing costs. Check with your local postmaster concerning bulk rate mailing.
The orders which you develop through the local and national distribution of your
catalog can be filled by mail quickly and easily. Shipping labels, containers, and
packaging materials can be purchased inexpensively at many office supply stores or in
quantity at larger discounts through local paper and supply distributors. Check your
yellow pages for more information.
There are numerous books that can help you develop marketing strategies and a better
understanding of the ins and outs of direct marketing. Such books are available from the
distributor who supplied you with this report. Best wishes in all your endeavors!
1
