Lulu -Sales records -- Where?

[Cindy]

I have been studying the Lulu site and can't seem to find anything on sales for 2006. I'm not familiar with publishing there but intend to try it. My concern is ..do your books really market well from this site? If you have published there, are you satisfied with the number of items you have sold? Can you direct me to a site that shows the number of sales per author?

[kriswrite]

You can't just plop your book onot Lulu (or any other website) and hope that they sell. You have to market your book yourself.

I doubt Lulu has publishing stats available; traditional publishers don't, either. Really, it's all up to the author; if you work hard, and your book is actually of interest to people, you can sell a great many copies. But if not...well.

Kristina

[Cindy]

Thanks for the response kriswrite. I noticed that you have electronic books available at your website. Do you use lulu or do you sell personally through your website? Wow...I'm impressed with your published works. I have a pretty sturdy marketing background as well as webpage building so that should help in getting my books out. I'm debating submitting to a publisher or going through lulu. I design crochet patterns and have three published leaflets through Leisure Arts as well as some published items in magazines. My ultimate goal is to write inspirational romances as soon as I get these designs out of my system.

[kriswrite]

Cindy~

I've never used Lulu, but I have used CafePress for a POD book. The operation is pretty similar. I sell my eBooks directly through my website, as well as through Writer's Weekly ( http://www.writersweekly.com/books.php ).

Really, truly, honestly, I suggest that you try traditional publishing first. Mostly because it is such a good way to hone your skills. (Anyone can self publish, but you need a certain level of skill to be traditionally published.) There are exceptions, though. For example, if your target market is small, you may have much more luck self publishing.

But if you want to write novels, publishers are going to take more notice of you if you have traditional publishing credits.

I hope this helps a little.

Kristina

[Lookin^Up]

What if you don't know how large your target market is?

[kriswrite]

Then you need to find out! :)

If your book is nonfiction, one of the things you must do in your book proposal for a traditional publisher is examine books like yours (and there are always some that are similar) and find out who your target audience is.

If you can, find out how many copies books similar to yours sold. (Admittedly, this is tough unless it was a bestseller). Look at organizations for your target audience: How many members do they have? (For example, if you're targeting moms of preschoolers, look at membership to MOPS, and other mommy groups.) If your book mentions an illness, how many people in the U.S. have that illness? Etc. etc. etc. You have to get creative.

If the book is fiction, also find books that are similar and see if you can get a general idea how many people are reading books like that. Fiction is very difficult to self publish successfully, though.

Kristina