Dear Indie Annie,
I really want to sell signed books, but I’m worried about shipping. The majority of my readers are in the US, but I am not. Would readers really be willing to pay extra shipping for signed books or special editions?
Multinational Merchant
Dear Multi,
Do you mind, my sweet, if I shorten your name? My darling, no need to get your knickers in a twist over shipping signed books abroad. You may struggle to believe this, my dear, but your readers will trot across fiery coals for your John Hancock. Just take a calming sip of Earl Grey—or whatever tipple takes your fancy—and I’ll walk you through making that worldwide magic happen.
The first cardinal rule when wooing overseas fans: set clear expectations. Pop a cheerful banner in your online shop explaining extra transit time and charges for distant deliveries. Cryptic fees create crabby customers, but with realistic timelines and costs spelled out upfront, your loyal readers will take such charges in their stride.
Given lofty international postage costs, whatever side of the Atlantic or Pacific you are on, you could offer your badge-wearing bibliophiles incentives to make that hefty shipment worthwhile. Consider bundling several signed editions together to maximize each parcel. Who doesn’t love a bargain? Dangle volume discounts and prize packs to entice fans to buy in bulk. Serial readers will snatch up sets of your sizzling or sassy tales. For prized items like limited editions, readers will also shell out a few extra dollars, believe me! But do insure those precious parcels. Cough up the coins for tracking to ward off any wandering wonders.
Now if the dollar signs still make you wince, take command of production. Set up print-on-demand across the Atlantic through rapid publishers like IngramSpark or Lulu. Our tech-savvy modern book buyers are ridiculously patient for special editions. A few more days’ wait to avoid steep duties? Most readers will understand.
The problem here, of course, is how to sign such copies. Here’s where other authors have been creative. Try sending out signed nameplates. These are printed stickers marking the books as a limited edition you can sign back home in old Blighty, then post out to readers separately. Since you only need to worry about sending a small envelope instead of a packaged book, you’ll save some money, and your reader will end up receiving two deliveries, each one sparking joy in their hearts. You could even take this opportunity to include a thank-you card and/or a small surprise gift like a branded bookmark.
Alternatively, you can manually order small batches and handle fulfillment stateside yourself. Just be sure to calculate all taxes and other extras. Niche mail carriers specializing in global literary logistics like AwesomeBooks can ease the journey. Let those postmasters shoulder currency conversions and customs declarations so you can focus on writing!
Finally, you could reach out to your fellow authors and see if there are writers in the US of A who need a base to distribute their volumes on the other side of the pond. This trade works best, of course, if you are heading stateside and they are planning a visit to your home country. When in town, sign your books, then wait for those magical orders.
I would caution you, dear Multi, to ensure that what your readers are spending extra for is worth the price and the effort. Can your special editions include illustrations? How about gilded edges? Special edition short stories available nowhere else? Colored pages? If your world is unique, consider commissioning a map. Maybe even a treasure hunt? Put a secret code on the back page that readers can use on your website to unlock a host of other goodies.
Most critically, don’t fret not about fussing your fans with shipping times and costs. They’ll feel downright chuffed at those personal touches making the long voyage from your world to theirs!
Remember, dear heart, that your fans love your books. Casual readers might be happy with a digital copy, and some will donate their print copies to the local library when they have finished. But your true fans, those who will cherish your autograph and snap up your limited editions, are prepared to wait and to pay a higher price. Now off you go to pack those boxes, darling. Keep calm and carry on connecting with your community across the pond!
Happy writing,
Indie Annie
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