What happens after the book is printed at Tipoprint?
How do I choose a good distribution partner?
A good distribution partner will make sure your book gets to the right place. Choosing the right distribution partner depends on what you need and who your readers are. Sometimes a bookstore is the best choice, but maybe you reach your target audience better online. Here we discuss a few things to look out for when choosing a good distribution partner. To better understand your own needs, ask yourself the following things:
Target market
Where is your target audience located? Is your book mainly aimed at the local market or do you also have international ambitions? Identifying your target market will help you choose a partner with the right regional expertise.
Sales channels
Where does your target audience usually buy books? Are they often found in physical bookstores, do they prefer to buy their books online or do they regularly pass through kiosks at railway stations? Understanding the buying behaviour of your target audience helps determine the most effective distribution channels.
Circulation and reprint
What is the planned print run of your book and how often do you expect to reprint it? Some distributors specialise in large runs and have the capacity for mass distribution, while others are better at marketing and managing smaller runs.
Examples of distribution partners
Book publishing via Centraal Boekhuis
The largest logistics partner in the book business is the Central Book Office (CB). CB offers comprehensive services such as storage, distribution and stock management. An affiliation with CB allows you to sell your book in major bookshops in the Netherlands and Belgium. This does not mean that it is automatically sold to the bookshops, but it does give them the opportunity to order it more easily. The disadvantage of selling through Centraal Boekhuis is that you have to give up a large part of the profit: 47%. This is due to the discounts they give to bookshops, known as the bookshop discount. Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Book publishing via Bol.com
If you choose to publish your book through Bol.com, you will have the opportunity to reach a large audience in the Netherlands and Belgium, as they have a reach of more than 13 million users. You can easily upload, manage and sell your book on their platform. In addition, Bol.com also offers marketing tools to make your book more visible on their website. However, please note that a fee is charged for this service. The amount of this fee depends on whether you choose to ship the book yourself or whether Bol.com does this for you. If you choose to ship the book yourself, Bol.com will charge a surcharge on top of the price of your book. If you choose to also store your stock at Bol.com, there will be additional costs for storing your stock.
Book publishing through managementbook.co.uk
Are you going to print a business book or have you printed a business book? Then managementbook.co.uk is a good choice. They know better than anyone how to spotlight books for business professionals. As an author, you can join them after agreeing to their terms and conditions. Contact them for that.
Self-distribution - advantages and disadvantages
Of course, you can also choose to distribute your book yourself. This brings advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages of self-distribution
- More control: When you distribute yourself, you have complete control over every aspect of the process, from pricing to marketing strategies.
- Greater earning potential: As you have no middlemen, you keep a larger share of the revenue from each sale.
- Direct customer communication: By distributing yourself, you have direct contact with your readers. This can provide valuable insights and build a strong rapport with your audience.
Disadvantages of self-distribution
- Logistics challenges: Managing inventory, order processing and shipping can be complex and time-consuming, especially with high volumes.
- More limited reach: If you distribute yourself, reaching distribution channels such as bookstores and online retailers is more difficult.
- Marketing and visibility: It takes time, money and knowledge to promote your book yourself and get it visible without support from a partner.
A combination of distributing your book yourself and through a good distribution partner may be the best option! Wondering how to sell your own book? Then take a look at book selling on our website.
Do you have any further questions?
Want to know more about distributing your book or have other questions? At Tipoprint, we are happy to support you throughout the writing process. Take contact our staff by phone Monday to Friday between 09:00 and 17:00 or send us an e-mail.