10/6/2015 0 Comments Money Money MoneyIn honor of Infant Loss Awareness month, I have a special discounted price on digital copies of my new book "Traded For Jaded". Which talks some about our story of infant loss, and how to find hope and overcome. But I wanted to talk a little bit about book pricing, in light of the "sale", because if you're like me, when you see prices of anything, but especially a book from a rookie author like myself, you're skeptical at the price tag. If I was in your shoes, I'd be a little hesitant to pay $39 for a hardback book, about a dead baby. So let's talk for a moment, and come to terms with a few facts. Not because I have to disclose the information, but because I want to. Because I believe honesty and integrity is the best policy, and because I want to give you every reason to get your hands on this book! Not because I want you to "read what I wrote". But because I want you to have victory over difficulty, and give you the things I've learned along the way as tools to help! So first- why does the book cost almost $40? Why do you need to make $40 on each copy? Ok- first, you need to understand that there are two ways to publish a book. The first way, is through a publishing company. This company charges an initial fee, they edit and help craft your book, and then print and promote for you to some degree (depending on the package/price you paid them initially), and then you sell books in order to recoup the monies invested at the start. This is a great way to go, because it's fool-proof. It's guaranteed to be error proof, and every details is thoroughly checked and completed by book-publishing professionals who've down the process 1,000's of times before. However- it's costly up front. And if you're like me- you don't have wads of cash floating around for publishing a book. The other way to go, which is the route I chose, is much less expensive initially. You are required to do the work, do the checking, do the details- without help from professionals. If you mess up, it's too bad, and you just try try try again. Many long nights, tireless volunteer hours from brilliant friends, and grueling proof-reads were required to self-publish my book. (Thank you to the brilliant geniuses who helped proof everything! You know who you are!) So after all of that (and I've still found a few errors as the book has been printed) you also have to pay for printing. Through a company, printing is done in-house, in large quantities, and the price drops dramatically. (Think buying diapers individually at a 7-11 or at Costco by the crate- the price fluctuates enormously!) When self publishing, you pay a printer. There are obviously discounts for bulk orders, but the price drop isn't really seen or felt (by your wallet) unless ordering 100+ copies. I personally, do not want 100 copies of my book. Nor do I think you do. Not only do I pay individual printing costs, I pay individual shipping costs. A a cut to the printer is taken. A cut to the shipper is taken. A cut goes to the IRS. etc. you can see where all the dollars accumulate. So let's break this down. Cold, hard, real numbers from my book: To print a hardback copy, costs- $17.68. I pay the printer a fee, as well as the website who carries my book (LuLu) - which is also the middle man company who finds the printers willing to print low volume orders, and puts together the book from a word document to an actual book. The printing/LuLu distribution fee is 30% of my total revenue. So if the book is sold by me for $39, minus nearly $18 for printing, $21 left, take away 30%, is $14.70. Then I pay to ship it. It gets either shipped to me- or to you- at a ground flat rate of $5.99 per book. (And if you want expedited shipping, the cost increases, without additional pay to me!). So now we are down to $8.71. That is my cut, which is deposited into my bank via PayPal. But I still have fees to pay out of that price. I still have to pay Uncle Sam at the end of the year- which PayPal creates a "total revenue earned" form, and I pay out of my bank to cover that (since taxes are not automatically withheld). And a portion also has to go to marketing, printing error fixes, and future book events- like an event I'm speaking at this month where I'd like to give away a copy of the book or two. So you can see, I basically earn about $5 when it comes down to it, per hardback copy. That price changes based on the type of book- since paperback copies cost a bit less to print, as well as zero shipping or printing costs for a digital copy. ( which is why digital copies go on sale so frequently!!) So how can I afford sales and discounts? The middle man/printer company (LuLu) sends me emails about once a week, with promotional coupons. I can purchase copies, through my username, at these discounted rates. I try and pass them on to everyone else, when it works out and o don't owe more after sales. For example- if they offer me, free shipping on $100 or more- (a savings of about $18 for a large box of books) it isn't really beneficial to anyone- because I would be getting free shipping to my house- for the bulk order- but would have to pay the shipping on my own at the post office, to send each customer their copy individually. (Again- at the post office- by weight- one book costs about $4 to sell- $100 in books is about $6 books at my "wholesale" price, through my account, and 6x4=$24. Not worth it.) So now that you can see, I'm not just trying to "Rake in buckets of cash", I hope you'll be willing to purchase a copy, or gift a copy- because the book is waaaaaaaay more than just a story about a dead baby. It's about giving up what we feel like, for God's best. It's about trading our own way for His way. And that applies to us ALL! The best part is, it's got the gospel all over the place. If you have a friend on the fence about salvation. Or you know someone who needs Jesus- get them a copy. It's as clear as day, and simply put. And hours of prayer and writing have gone into this project to make Jesus Famous! Not me. So buy a copy today- and today only- digital copies are $10! Better hurry!
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AuthorBri is the mom to four little people, the wife to a gentle giant, and a lover of Jesus. She's figuring out the best ways to parent by trial and error, and sharing her struggles, successes, and stories with you! Archives
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