a question about comic-selling timing

[aimeekitty]

those of you who have sold your own books, etc, etc...

ok,... so I'm definitely advertising my book in Diamond Previews, (which will be early enough that it will be "preorders" for the book. as soon as I get my purchase order from Diamond, I'll give the A-OK for the book to be printed at Quebecor. Meaning I don't have to worry about having a ton of extra books, at least not to fill the orders for Diamond.)

But I'm trying to estimate how many extra books ON TOP of the Diamond purchase order I should order. I need enough to sell at:
- my website
- Anime Expo
- Comic Con
- and perhaps another convention later.

Last time we ordered way too many, and I'm still stuck with them in my garage. I have higher hopes about this book though, but I still would rather underestimate than be stuck with a huge number of books. Additionally, since at least part of the interior is in color, and it's a softbound 140-200 page book, rather than a comic-book... the cost will be higher.

but I'm also going to advertise in another magazine. But I'm not sure which issue of the magazine to go into, the earlier one (which would allow for preorders, I would just add it onto the number from diamond... and publish that many plus some extra for AX and CC...).....
OR should I go in the later magazine, which will come out about a week or two before Anime Expo, helping to promote the actual release date of the book, and my booth at AX and CC.
The magazine thinks I should go for the later magazine. Mitch says I should go for the earlier one.

---- so the two questions are:
1) how many books should I order in addition to whatever I get from Diamond? (Has to be enough to sell online, at Anime Expo and COmic-Con at least.)

2) Should I go in the earlier or later issue of the magazine I'd like to advertise in?


and any other advice you'd love to throw my way :P

Comments

[karisu-sama.livejournal.com]

Numbers: I thought about it, and sadly, I don't really know. I didn't HAVE the web around to sell on, though; that was actually *gasp* pre-Internet.

Magazine: pre-orders from dealers or from single issue buyers? If it would help you estimate your purchase, I'd suggest maybe the earlier issue. If someone's interested in the release, they may likely still remember it by AX / CC. Early notification is good. If you can swing a little Ad "reminder" in the later issue as well, even better...

I still have about 500 issues in boxes in my garage, but honestly, since I did better than break even, it's no bother to me as I'm not absolutely dying to reclaim that space yet. ^^

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

re: diamond previews will be preorders from comic-book stores.

the OTHER magazine would be an add basically pointing to my website, saying "you can preorder here or come see me at Anime Expo and Comic Con booth: blah blah"

I think I can probably only afford to swing one add. I'm hoping that if I send samples out to various other magazines and online things, that some of them will help give me publicity or review me.

we only have a couple boxes left (I have no idea how many issues) but my space is growing less and less now that we are "reclaiming" part of the garage as actual work space. :\
If I can break even (including printing costs, booth costs, and ad costs) I will consider it a success. :)

[pneumaz.livejournal.com]

I have always heard that if you are strictly doing a limited run of books in a publication - it should be your estimated demand (in this case your pre orders) plus 10%. That allows the book to get to all the people who wanted it and then gives you a small, but certainly fair amount of books for people who happen across your booth.

But thats not taking into account your website sales. I would say count up the amount you had sold solely from your last venture online (if you have that number) and order that many more. That should give you a good option of material without having too much left over.

So: Preorders + Estimated Web Sales from Last book + 10%.

Hope that helps!

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

unfortunately I have no record of how many I sold before... and it was several years ago (and possibly a different target market as well) *SIGH!*

Thanks for the suggestions! I'm not sure because... there's one side that is "if you order more at the same time, it's cheaper" and the other side to it is "what if you get stuck with a ton of books"

[pneumaz.livejournal.com]

If you want to stay safe - i would say your perfect number is 12% of your pre-orders. Even though it seems low - if your book is moving really well and you see there is a high demand for it - then a 2nd pritning is very negotiable and it rewards loyal readers with 1st Editions.

But if, for some reason you arent getting a good online response, then you still can have product to take to Cons and move the material there, without having a massive surplus.

Meeting an artist and holding a book is always great for moving merchandise. And the ideal is to be as close to sold out as possible but still provide material for the fans. If you sell out - then use the notes on your first run to amend a 2nd printing or whatever you decide to print next.

That way you have more solid numbers in which to reference.

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

I'm wondering though which issue of the magazine I should advertise in.... the earlier one or the later one?

thanks for the advice regarding percentages, that at least gives me a rough idea!

it's true that I could reprint later, but it'd be bad to sell out of the book the first day of the con of course (or sell out at AX and have no books for comiccon. there wouldnt be e nough time between the two cons to reprint, most likely)

[pneumaz.livejournal.com]

If you're trying for broad appeal - Previews is always a good way to go. It also allows for people to give pre-orders. Of course that may also lock you into a high production number than you're comfy with.

Well lemme ask you this: if you were looking for a comic book style like this to read. What magazines would you flip through to find appropriate suggestions?

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

well, I'm already definitely going into Previews (so that's where I'll get a definite preorder part)

the problem is not WHERE to advertise, it's more when. whether I should take preorders in the specific magazine I've already decided to advertise in, or whether I should go in the later issue of same magazine, to specifically advertise right before Anime Expo (the first event I will be selling at) does that make sense? :)

[pneumaz.livejournal.com]

So what did you finally decide for the book?

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

well, actually I didn't have to decide, luckily. A publisher has decided to publish it for me...! It will probably be coming out in book stores, etc, later this year. But I wont be selling it at AX or CC.

[moonsail.livejournal.com]

ooc, are you still selling your old ones?

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

yes, I'm still selling them ^_^

[moonsail.livejournal.com]

how much are they? paypal work? if possible i'd like to pay today :D

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

how about $6 total including shipping to USA?
my paypal is: aimeeATaimeemajorDOTcom

[mayuka13.livejournal.com]

Have you thought about advertising for Wizard magazine???

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

mmm... I wonder whether wizard's reader base would be interested? I cant afford to advertise too much and I know the magazine I'm doing right now is perfect.

if I can afford it though, it'd be worth a shot.

[blukat.livejournal.com]

a suggestion, have you thought about Amazon for selling your books? I know a number of self-published people that sell there and have done rather well.

Might help clear out the garage, and with any extras you have of your new book

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

I'll definitely sell there once I get running. It's pretty easy to get up there actually.