PW Select???

2002 Views 7 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Ardin, Mar 12, 2013

Ardin

Discussion Starter · Mar 12, 2013

Has anyone used Publisher's Weekly Select program for self-published books. Its $149 and they list your book, possible review it. Just wondering who has experience?

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A few of my editing clients tried it, and they were not impressed.

None of them were reviewed. As a matter of fact, all the indies that were reviewed seemed to be the unedited ones, as they were blasted for that in the reviews.

Also, the "listing" didn't even include a cover.

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· #3 · Mar 12, 2013

Keep in mind that PW is an INDUSTRY pub, not a CONSUMER pub (yes, yes, I know some "non-industry" people read it, but those tend to be writers, indies, etc, not general readers). Unless you have a marketing plan designed to hit brick and mortar stores, an ad in PW won't do anything for you. If you DO have a plan to specifically target brick and mortar, $149 is pocket change compared to what some of the ads in industry publications cost.

I have no plans to use it for any of my fiction, but I will probably use it when we publish the Independent Reader's Guide to Independent Books since brick and mortar stores will be part of the target market. But for most indie fiction there are better ways to spend money.

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Jan Strnad

· #4 · Mar 12, 2013

I looked up the PW Select books...reviewed and starred by PW in their special Indie section...and they weren't doing a bit better than many of us do. I'd say the promotional value for most of us (who aren't planning a b&m blitz) is negligible to nil.

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Ardin

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 12, 2013

Ok, thanks. Another dead end then!
So how would you do a bricks and mortar blitz, out of curiosity? I've only ever sold on Amazon. If an indie wants to see their book on store shelves, what's the procedure?

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· #6 · Mar 12, 2013

Ardin said:
Ok, thanks. Another dead end then!
So how would you do a bricks and mortar blitz, out of curiosity? I've only ever sold on Amazon. If an indie wants to see their book on store shelves, what's the procedure?

The procedure? LOTS of time, resources, and elbow grease while never using the word Amazon in any discussion.

Many indies have good luck with their local bookstores. But if you are talking about major reach and getting into bookstores across the country?

You need distribution of print. Ideally, setting up directly with LSI so that you can offer returnability and deeper discounts that Createspace can provide. And be prepared to get paid quarterly, not monthly. There is generally a substantial lag in reporting with print.

You need to develop a marketing plan that won't scare the bejessus out of brick and mortar (i.e. can you drive traffic into the store or are you too busy giving away 20,000 copies for free on a Select run?) Stores don't want to be treated as your free showroom if you are just going to direct traffic to Amazon.

You need to build a media kit to convince decision makers your book has value. Book reviews from third party sources (NOT AMAZON CUSTOMERS!), press clippings, tear sheets from ad campaigns, anything that can show a manager you know what you are doing.

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unkownwriter

· #7 · Mar 12, 2013

Dean Wesley Smith discusses how to get books into bookstores on his blog. It can be done, but it's not a snap your fingers and you're there kind of thing. There's some work involved.

http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/

~~Look under the tab for Think Like a Publisher, which links to all the posts he's done about these types of subjects.~~

Okay, he's updating the book, so there all the older posts aren't under that. Here's a direct link (I hope) to the article I'm talking about:

http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/?p=3968

I know a few people here don't much like Dean, but he does have some ideas worth checking out, at least. He's been writing and publishing for a long time.

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