Book Distribution for Self Publishers

Generally, self published authors find it very difficult to find a traditional distributor to take on their product and, without a distributor, it is almost impossible to access book shops. This traditional method of selling books is also very costly. Here are the alternatives we offer which provide the world – whether around the globe or around the corner – with the ability to purchase your book (and leaves you with most of the profits!).

Palmer Higgs Books OnLine

Launched in April 2009, Palmer Higgs Books OnLine is the perfect way to utilise the marketing reach and retail capability of the Internet without having to devote enormous resources to developing your own commercial web site. Books OnLine is dedicated to the promotion and distribution of books by Self Published authors but you do not have to have used Palmer Higgs Publishing to produce your book – any Self Published author can list their book for sale on Books OnLine.

Books OnLine is non-exclusive, therefore you can use it as your primary method of distribution or as an adjunct to other distribution methods you have put in place.

How Does It Work?

Books OnLine has been designed to provide a simple and effective method of selling your book on the Internet. It works very much like other Internet stores and provides the customer with the opportunity to see an image of the book, read a synopsis and reviews, order the book and pay on-line through a secure payment system.

For the author, it provides a secure retail outlet without having to create and manage your own commercial website which can be very costly and time consuming. We provide the option of an Author Page which enables you to have your own Micro Site linked to your book – in effect, your own website! You can see your sales quickly and easily on-line and we provide a quarterly reconciliation and payment for books sold.

One of the most important benefits of Books OnLine is that it will be marketed to become one of the leading on-line bookshops – meaning that more people will see your book.

For more information on selling your books with Books OnLine, click here to contact us.

For those less web-centric buyers, we also offer two, more traditional methods of purchase.

Palmer Higgs at Box Hill, Melbourne

Our premises at 975 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill include a shop front where your customers can come and purchase your book over the counter. We prefer that they telephone in advance (03) 8892 4488, to ensure we have stock available and cash, credit card and debit card payment options are accepted. We will also take telephone orders for delivery on this number.

Federation Square Book Market

Palmer Higgs takes part once a month in the city's largest weekly book market, in The Atrium at Fed Square. Under the weather protection of the glass Atrium, the Book Market is planned as a year round attraction focusing on second hand and new books, a program of "meet the authors", book readings and review forums.

The Palmer Higgs book stall will sell the books of our authors who wish to participate at the market and we will also promote the Books OnLine web site.

Palmer Higgs Aims to Partner with Select Independent Bookstores

We are currently in discussions with two of Melbourne's leading independent bookstores. Our aim is to develop a relationship with these, and a small number of similar independent bookstores in each State, to promote books which have the merit and appeal to sell in sufficient quantity through the traditional bookstores.

Palmer Higgs will market selected books to the bookstores and will negotiate on behalf of and in agreement with the author. Each book deal will be negotiated individually in terms of Palmer Higgs commission and the bookstore's margin.

We feel that, although the profitability of the book will be reduced by selling through these channels, the culture and status of select independent bookstores could add intrinsic value to certain book titles and authors.

Library Catalogue Promotion

In Australia there are approximately 14,000 libraries and they purchase about 12% of all books sold. New Zealand has about 2,500 libraries.

Palmer Higgs provides research about and direct marketing services to libraries to ensure that your book is represented in public or specialist libraries. We produce a quarterly colour catalogue which is posted to 1,300 libraries consisting of all public library headquarters, public library branches libraries and State Libraries. The database service being used constantly updates their lists and guarantees 98% deliverability.

The colour catalogue sent to the librarians is created by our designers to ensure high readability. Each book advertised internally will have ¼ page feature consisting of;

• Book cover image
• Synopsis (200 words maximum)
• Book details

We also use the catalogue to promote the concept of supporting Australian Self Published Authors and the purchase through Palmer Higgs Books OnLine on the cover of the catalogue.

You do not need to have produced your book through Palmer Higgs to participate in the Library Catalogue promotion, however your book must be listed on Palmer Higgs Books OnLine for the library to purchase.

Click here to see our most recent catalogue.

For further information on the Library Catalogue Promotion, please contact Debbie@palmerhiggs.com.au

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