Suggestions to a blind friend on how to market his self-published book

by Richard E. Gordon (last updated 04/24/2009 )

I have a friend who is blind. He has published a book telling how he has faced his disability and turned it into an opportunity to lead an even more purposeful, inspirational life.

I've had some experience creating websites. John asked me to give him any advice on how he might sell his book over the Internet. I thought I would see what information I could find that might help John. He will have the help of a sighted person to make this information available to him.

Several questions came to mind, and I decided to document where I found the answers to these questions through this webpage.

1. Can John find a blind writer who has already succeeded in getting his or her books published and in circulation -- a writer that might give him the best advice based on personal experience?

Sight Unseen on Amazon is a book about a woman who at age 11 began going blind. The author Georgina Kleege has several other books on Amazon. Her book Sight Unseen is also advertised for sale on the Yale University Press. Ms. Kleege is a professor of creating writing at Berkeley. I think John would do well to contact Ms. Kleege for advice on how to get his own book in circulation: Phone: (510) 642-0651. Email: gkleege@berkeley.edu.

2. How could John get his book for sale on Amazon?

As often happens when doing Internet research, trying to answer this first question, I came across the part of a book that John might find very helpful: How to Publish and Promote Online, by Rose and Adair-Hoy. The book's index show several pages referring to Amazon. The authors give away part of their book online, allowing readers free access to selected section. The authors even offer the entire book as an "e-book" that for a price can be downloaded to the reader's computer.

Perhaps John will consider publishing his book on the Internet as an e-book. (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

Perhaps John would consider donating his book to local libraries, perhaps in Palm Harbor and in Tarpon Springs. Pasted into the inside cover of each donated book could be a card with John's website address where the book could be purchased.

Here is an article by Kevin Kelly telling how he sells his books, CDs, and Dvds through Amazon. Kelly says, "The cost of using is Amazon is high. They take 55% of the 'official' price (not the sale price but the price you originally determine.). That means that even if they discount the book (good for sales), the discount is coming out of their half. But it means you are only getting 45% of your listed price." Kelly goes onto describe eight specific steps for getting listed on Amazon -- if you're willing to pay the price.

3. How can you sell your book over your own website?

First, you'll need to select a company that will host your website. By hosting, I mean the website company will make your site available to others on the Internet around the world. A good choice for a hosting company will get a domain for you -- mine, for example, is gordonrichard.com. The price of a hosting company will vary from $10 a month on up. I pay $19.95 a month to Purehost -- a service I have been very happy with for several years. Be sure to find a host company that will give your 24 hours a day, seven days access to phone call help -- which is the case with Purehost.

I created my own website using Purehost. For example, see this one I've done for a retired teachers club. Or one I've done for my wife Fern publicizing her poetry. On Fern's site, I have given samples of her poetry from six self-published books -- just as John might give away parts of his book to viewers online. I use a page to give instructions for purchasing a book. I use an approach that is simple enough, but I would not recommend it for John. I ask interested readers to send Fern an email giving name, address and title of the book wanted. Then Fern mails out the book with directions where to send the check. If the buyer doesn't follow through with sending the check, Fern is just out of luck -- and out of a book.

Besides Purehost, here are some other web hosting companies you can consider:

GoDaddy. As low as $3 per month. Go Daddy claims that you can build a site in as little as an hour using special software provided by GoDaddy.
Yahoo also offers web service for about ten dollars per month. Yahoo has a special set up for selling products. Perhaps John would do well to sell his book on a Yahoo server site at about $25 per month. Here, too, Yahoo offers special software that makes creating a webpage easy.

4. What kind of a site is best suited for selling John's book?

I suggest the website of an organization dedicated to helping the blind. Here are such sites:

Pinellas Cooperative Library Association makes available to the public "talking" or recorded books for the blind. John may considering offering his book in recorded form to this association. Email contact: contactus@pplc.us. Phone 727-441-8408.
National Federation of the Blind. See especially Kermel books publicized on this site. "There are currently thirty Kermel books which tell the stories of blind men and women." The Kermel books are published entirely online, but John can offer free for publication on line a single chapter of his book while making the entire book available for purchase. For information, contact Mrs. Marsha Dyer by email at mdyer@nfb.org. Or perhaps John might have his book made available through Jacobus tenBroek Library of the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute at 410-659-9314 or send an email to jtblibrary@nfb.org. Several publications of the Jernigan Institute are on this site.

Other suggestions for getting your book publicized

5. Contact college English teachers, especially those teaching Creative Writing, and volunteer to speak to their classes.

6.Get a friend to contact a feature story writer of a local newspaper. Your friend could explain why you would make an excellent subject of a feature article. The article would give the title of your book. Feature editor of the St. Petersburg Times in Florida.

7. Be a speaker at local organizations such as a Lions or Moose club.

8. There are coffee shops that have open Mic poetry readings. Recite from memory some of your poems -- or have a friend read several them.

9. Be a volunteer speaker at local self-help groups such as those sponsored by AA, NAMI, MDDA. Have some selections from your book read aloud. In all the above, you would have several copies of your book with you to offer for sale -- and you could give out your business card giving your email address for those who would like to contact you about buying your book.

10. If you haven't done so already, contact the Michigan Training Center for the Blind. See if they would be interested in selling and promoting your book. On the Internet, I only came across the Michigan School for the Blind. Maybe that is a new name for the Michigan Training Center.

11. Speak to other creative writing clubs in the area. I know one also meets at the Tarpon Springs Library.

12. Use Blurb to help create and market your book online. Time Magazine May 14, 2007 describes how, using Blurb, you can self-pubish and market your book, and get free software, too, to design your book. 5/12/07

Suggestions offered by readers of this website or from newsgroups for the blind

I welcome suggestions from those who come across this site -- or are contacted by me though Newsgroups -- to offer suggestions on how to help get John's book in circulation. Responses I have gotten so far --