Author Portals for Selling Books

Fall time is always a heavy book selling window. Fall time is always a heavy book selling window. Using the right portals for your target market involves visibility and ease for fans, followers, and new book buyers.

Out of the blue, I received an email question: Can anyone order books directly from Ingram?

The answer is NO.

Typically, bookstores order directly from Ingram portal. Via their internal computers, bookstores can easily open their Ingram link to order books when customers seek a book that isn’t on their bookshelves.

For authors to get registered, there are a number of ways, starting with:

1. Ingram Content
Ingram is a wholesaler/distributor to bookstores. You will need to set up a “merchant” account as a reseller. https://www.ingramcontent.com/

2. IngramSpark … the indie/self-publishing model
As an author, if your book is listed on IngramSpark.com, you would log into your account—click on titles and your titles will appear. Click on the main title and order directly. It will be discounted … check out, pay and you should have within 10 days.

OR …

3. Your website, using IngramSpark’s Share & Sell links on their personal websites or at live events. For info, start here: Sell Your Book with IngramSpark

Other Options include:

Online Retailers: Readers can purchase titles through major online stores like Amazon.com, BN.com, or Bookshop.org once the author enables global distribution.

Local Bookstores: Customers can ask independent bookstores or libraries to order the book using its ISBN through Ingram’s catalog network. Many bookstores welcome a “consignment” arrangement. Authors bring in the books—sales happen—you get paid based an agreed upon percentage split with the author and bookstore.

Direct from the Author: Authors can sell directly to consumers by using IngramSpark’s Share & Sell links on their personal websites or at live events.

Direct from the Author: via author’s website … a link can be set up to pay via a portal like PayPal. The author then ships the book to the buyer. Note: authors need to have an inventory of books. … or can “resell” and ship books that they have purchased with Amazon Authors discoed or the wholesale side of IngramSpark for copies.

Direct from the Author: via author’s personal contacts and private events that are set up. Author supplies inventory. Handles book sales. Is paid directly.

Direct from the Author: Don’t forget the “back of the car” option. Always have a case of your books in your car. Your trunk will welcome them. You will be amazed at the causal encounters authors have with others that result with instant sales.

Building Your Book Inventory

With both Amazon’s KDP and IngramSpark, you can order copies that you can resell. This is where authors should be checking out the “Author copy” option on KDP and “Buy copies” via IngramSpark. Typically, it takes two weeks to receive these copies. Both also have forms you can complete to remove taxes being charged because of your resales where you add taxes on to the buyer. BUT if you pay the Amazon and IngramSpark printing costs with State taxes include … this is a good time to talk to your bookkeeper or accountant how to make any adjustments in resales.

This is eCommerce today. I live in Colorado—I have State and City taxed. I live in Aurora—the combined rate is 8%. If I lived in Denver, it would be 9.15%. The Colorado base rate is 2.9%. If you are ordering copies for reselling and paying the initial sales tax, it’s time to have a conversation with your accountant on how to handle.

Any author can also print a run, known as a “short run” of less than 1000 copies with a book manufacturer. They need the print specs to get a quote –size, paper, quantity, etc. 1000 copies is often the “sweet spot” … meaning that print amounts over that will show a greater reduction in price per book unit. On the AuthorU.org website under the RESOURCES tap, click on Recommended Publishing Associates—you will find printers you can reach out to for bids.

Recommendation for You

I recommend keeping books on hand for direct sales. And to augment what a bookstore orders. I typically order 250 to 500 copies and keep a small, accessible inventory of my titles in my car. Several bookstores, including Barnes & Noble, are also open to consignment arrangements with authors. It’s not uncommon for me to sell out a bookstore’s inventory. With my backup inventory, I can add additional copies to the stores on consignment and continue selling and signing.

Happy Autumn Selling to YOU!

Dr. Judith Briles is the award-winning and bestselling author of 49 books and calls Colorado home. When she’s not in the kitchen or in the garden, she’s working with clients as The Book Shepherd, a book and publishing consulting and project management firm that works with authors at all stages of their book to create and publish a book they never regret! She’s the founder of the first Authors’ Hall of Fame exclusively dedicated to ensuring the legacy of authors connected in some way with Colorado. She’s also the Director of San Francisco chapter of the Women’s National Book Association.

Judith’s books have been translated into 17 countries with over 1,000,000 copies sold! They have been featured in over 2,000 radio and TV shows including repeat appearances on CNN, CNBC, and Oprah. She has worked with over 1,500 authors and created 500 plus bestsellers. Print publications include Newsweek, People, Time, The Wall Street Journal and … The National Enquirer! Her popular podcast, AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing is dedicated to authors and writers and their success and is ranked in the top ten in four categories on GoodPods.