Just Hear Those Sales Bells Jingling

It’s hard to believe that summer is over and your attention must turn from sand and sunscreen to snow and holiday promotions. ‘Tis the season to ask whether you are ready for the holiday book buyers.

According to IBM’s 2013 Cyber Monday report, last year’s Cyber Monday was the biggest online shopping day in history, seeing a 20.6% increase in online sales over 2012. Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday also saw online sales growth, beating out 2012 by 19.7% and 18.9%, respectively. And to wrap it all up with a big red bow; books, CDs, and DVDs were the second most purchased online gifts, according to a Shop.org survey.

Online sales provide a way to put your books directly in the hands of consumers, a trend that is growing among all types of publishers, from trade to scholarly presses.

If your online sales weren’t what you expected last year or you weren’t yet offering print and eBook sales online, don’t let the holiday shopping season pass you by again. This year, it pays to be prepared, and Sheridan Books offers three simple solutions you need to support Direct to Consumer (D2C) sales.

• Sheridan Connect — This fully hosted and branded eCommerce site enables consumers to purchase titles through a link on your site. This offering also provides an optional print-on-demand module that lets you sell print as well as eBooks. And you can use the informative analytic tools to better understand your customer.
• Publisher Connect — To supplement your existing eCommerce site, you can use this solution to seamlessly integrate eBook and print fulfillment without changing the look and feel or established payment process. An optional reporting and print-on-demand module makes it easy to track sales and broaden your online offerings.
• ShelfWise — Manage eBook distribution and sales with this eStore, which offers author and small publishers’ works in a single online catalog.

All three solutions are turnkey, easy-to-implement methods of delivering sophisticated features and making online sales easy for you and your customers.

It’s not too late: Now is the time to ensure you are ready for end-of-year online sales. Sheridan Books can help you roll out the right print, electronic, or hybrid sales strategy that best serves your readers and your market.

[cta]Sheridan provides the expertise and full range of services you need to sell your book directly to consumers. Contact your Sheridan representative, Laura Baker, at Laura.Baker@sheridan.com to learn more.[/cta]