Where is your book now? With a distributor? In a book store? Or, did it already die an early death after a few months?

New self-published authors often believe they need a distributor to sell a lot of books. They want to use Ingram or Baker & Taylor because they think they need to get their book into "brick and mortar" bookstores like Barnes and Noble.

Authors go through many hoops and snags to accomplish this-- what I call "traditional publishing nightmare" of inefficiency and lack of support for authors. Usually author only gets around 10% royalties and has to pay back all promotion expenses such as book signings. So many hoops, some give up. So many authors I speak with who have gone this route still have hundreds, even thousands of unsold copies littering up storage space. Talk about discouragement.

Distributors Can be Dangerous to Your Book's Health and Your Wallet

One author wrote, illustrated, and marketed six beautiful children's books. Her books were well reviewed and received. For some time, profits rolled in until her distributor went bankrupt, owing her $160,000. After she stopped crying, she decided to take her books on road—to local fairs and talks where she could KEEP all profits.

Distributors take quite a chunk of money from author's profits too. They charge author for storage, and when books are returned, author loses those sales, and has to pay distributor too. Authors lose from bookstores because their payment is late or unreliable. Some authors wait way beyond 90 days. In fact, many just don't get paid. Writers are not always good at collections either. These middlemen not only take most of author's profits, they cause much stress too.

How Can Self-Published Authors Distribute?

If you are discouraged because traditional methods of book or product distribution haven't brought you profits you wanted, think Internet distribution. This Online promotion method is good for long haul and costs you little time or money.With Online distribution self-published author or Web business site gets to keep all money.

Whether you have a Print on Demand (POD) book, traditionally printed book, or an eBook, you can become your own distributor these ways:

1. Distribute through two-step email promotion campaigns.

You don't need a Web site to sell products. Benefit from easy and preferred way to buy by three trillion in 2002.

First Step: Send a freebie to your different email lists. Think of your email groups--customers, clients, ezine subscribers, ePublishers, teleclass groups, and networkers. Offer to give them a free answer to one question. Offer a free "Special Report," or an excerpt from your book. These give your relationship a good start, because increased sales come from trust developed during relationship marketing more than anything else.

Second Step: Follow up with your book sales letter . Each sales message includes: headline to capture attention, background of problem, where potential buyer wants to be, benefits and features of how to get there. Add testimonials and be sure they are credible and sincere.

Be sure to ask for sale and include several easy ways to buy: toll free number, fax or mail by an order form placed at end of sales letter, or if you have a Web site, a link to where they can buy with a secure provider.

2.Distribute through your own ezine.

Write your own ezine if you want to attract more credibility, trust, and sales. Because your potential clients and customers expect a lot of free information, include a lot of useful content such as a feature article, editor's note, resources and tips. You'll get to be well known as "expert." In each ezine, add your sales messages for your products or service. Keep your ezine regular- once every two weeks or once a month to start. Keep it short--a real challenge to many of us.

3.Distribute by submitting how-to free articles to top opt-in ezines.

Online readers love free information. They subscribe to ezines you can submit your well-written article to. After learning acceptable article formats from a book coach, start subscribing and submitting them. Collect 5-10 edited articles before you send. Thousands, even 500,000-targeted potential buyers will see your article with your signature file on it every time you submit it.

Be sure your product is up on a Web site. Many Web publishers will take your e or print book, sell it, and distribute it for you for a commission of 60% or so. This is great for people who do not have their own site.