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Marketing Tips

As an author with TEACH Services, you have a powerful opportunity to personally connect with readers and promote your work. While we handle the publishing, printing and distribution of your book, you are truly the most effective advocate for sharing your message and driving sales.

Successful authors take an entrepreneurial approach to marketing, dedicating as much effort into promotion as they did into writing the manuscript itself. This requires substantial investments of time, money and energy. As Bill Clinton once said regarding sales of his own book, "The book didn't sell because I didn't promote it." Even the biggest names must be actively involved.

It has been said that there are two different kinds of authors:

  • The first group wants someone to publish their book, but they have no plans beyond the writing of the manuscript.
  • The second take the work of promoting their title seriously. These authors know that proper promotion will take as much time and effort as would be devoted to starting a new business—it requires: time, money, energy, and much more.

Our role as your publisher is to produce a high-quality, nationally available book. We also initiate basic wholesale marketing. But sustained outreach makes all the difference, which is why author involvement is so crucial. We are happy to brainstorm ideas, ranging from speaking events, book signings and giveaways, to bookmark distribution.

The key insight is that you have a unique ability to connect with your audience. By leveraging your passion and purpose, you can spark meaningful conversations that drive interest and sales. You truly are your book's most effective ambassador. With strategic promotion, your work can have an even deeper impact. TEACH Services looks forward to supporting your marketing efforts and seeing the response your message receives. NOTE: Marketing options are subject to change without notice because we are dependent on other distributors, vendors, and events to occur as promised. Should one of these changes take place, we will automatically increase advertising to another venue to insure promised coverage and more at no additional charge.

 

Marketing to Few or Many

While General Marketing sells small quantities to many people, Product Development looks to sell large quantities to a few select groups. Let's look at how that works:

General Marketing—

Most people think of this when they look for marketing—the action or business of promoting and selling products. They are stuck or confined to selling a few units to many people. Think of an ad in a newspaper or social media like Facebook, X (previously Twitter), or Instagram. Could your title be best served with a press release to hundreds of news agencies? What about asking hundreds of bloggers to review your book (some have tens of thousands of followers)? The possibilities are endless.

Product Development—

However, there is another type of marketing where customers are sought that need larger quantities. A hospital could be interested in using your book as a gift to its employees or as a community service giveaway. A manufacturer may be interested in offering an abridged or mass-market edition of your book with a purchase of their product. Maybe a church is interested in giving your title at a local fair or health conference. The possibilities are again endless.

Depending on your title, your Author Advisor can help you with the proper promotions you desire.

 

Standard Marketing

E-mail Newsletter
TEACH Services offers special discounts on select books each month. We also offer a discount on new releases to customers who subscribe to our e-mail newsletter. Our monthly newsletter goes out to individual buyers and wholesale retailers that sell to ministries, book stores, colporteurs, etc. To sign up, simply fill out the form at the bottom left-hand corner of this page under "Our Newsletter."

Topic Mailings
Each month we promote selected titles to various departments in Unions and Conferences in North America related to the subject of selected books. So children's books may be offered to Children's Ministry Directors or Cookbooks to Health and Temperance directors.

Video Trailers on Social Media sites
Each Level 3 (Better) title will receive a custom video trailer that will be posted on Facebook/Instagram/X (previously Twitter) along with additional discounts, offers, and news on our Facebook page.

 

Standard Distribution

Through our distribution network, your book becomes available to over 40,000 bookstores, online retailers, libraries, and schools. We send regular title data feeds to these partners, who then decide how to display and sell your book. Most major retailers like Barnes & Noble, Indigo, and Books-A-Million typically show print-on-demand titles as "In Stock/Available" since they can be printed immediately upon order.

While your book is always available to order through our system, individual retailers may display different availability statuses based on their own systems and policies. Sometimes a title might show as "temporarily unavailable" or "out of stock" on certain platforms, but stores can still place orders regardless of the displayed status.

For availability issues, we can rebroadcast metadata feeds to distribution channels, though this doesn't guarantee changes since retailers control their own display systems. For Amazon specifically, we can submit direct availability status update requests after a title has been in distribution for 30 days, but their stocking decisions are ultimately determined by their proprietary algorithm which considers factors like page views and sales history.

Though we ensure all retail partners receive accurate, timely data about your book's availability, each retailer maintains control over how they list and display titles on their platforms. We actively monitor availability issues and work to resolve any problems that arise across our global retail network.

Follow TEACH Services on

TEACH Services on Facebook  Follow us on X (Twitter)   TEACH Services on Instagram

 

The following promotional tactics are available as part of the Pro (Level 4 Publishing) package. Authors who publish under the Aspect imprint may purchase the publicity items listed under the "Optional Publicity" heading below.

Pro (Level 4 Publishing) Promotion
Each month, our team creates an e-mail that is sent out to our wholesale bookstores and is then followed up with a personal phone call promoting new titles we have just released. We also communicate with our retail customers at least once a month promoting new releases.

In addition to e-mail marketing, we feature and promote new books on our Web site. Once released,  books are featured on the homepage of our TEACH Services' website as the weekly feature. It will then be moved to the featured product and new releases category, which is prominently located on our homepage. Every TEACH Services' book is found on this website with a full color picture of the cover and a book description.

We also promote your book on various Social Media sites and through a news releases to your local newspaper. We also print bookmarks for your personal promotional efforts to distribute to your local church and in your community. (Authors receive 750 complimentary copies. More copies may be purchased for an additional fee.)

 

Optional Publicity

The Bible talks about marketing too. The parable of the lamp under a bushel is one of the parables of Jesus. It appears in Matthew 5:14–15, Mark 4:21–25 and Luke 8:16–18. In the King James Version Bible, we read "Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house." This talks about getting your message out to as many as you can. Below are a few optional marketing options we offer.

RESOURCE MINISTRY MAGAZINE can be a great option to get the word out on your title. Click HERE for more information or select RMM Resources in the blue bar above.

ADVERTISING ON THE RADIO can bring quick results in a one-to-one marketing position. We have teamed with Loud Cry Radio to promote acceptable titles to thousands of listeners daily.

Putting your book on the top Adventist online radio stations five times a day for three months (a total of 450 one-minute ad spots) at the usual $5-10 per spot charge would be as much as $4,500. At TEACH Services, we have developed a program where we will write all your ad copy and produce all voiceovers for a single price of $675 — that's only $1.50 per radio ad. With nine different radio stations currently streaming, your promotion can be aired to the best listeners to get the best results. Check out a sample HERE.

FEATURING YOUR BOOK AT A CONVENTION
Books that are featured (at an additional cost) are displayed prominently in our booth with advertising for "Buy 1 get 1 FREE" discounts (mix and match). These discounts—of up to 50% off Suggested Retail Prices (SRP)—are to encourage impulse purchasing. To see our mini catalog, click HERE

Major Non-Annual Conventions

    • GCS (General Conference Session) Every five years
    • CPF (CALLED Pastors Family Convention) Every five years*
    • AEC (Adventist Education Conference) Every five years
    • GPC (Gillette, Wyoming Pathfinder Camporee) Every five years)
    • NAM (NAD Adventist Ministries Convention) 2x every 5 years

“CORE” Annual Conventions

    • ASI  National (Adventist Laymen's Services & Industries)—August
    • AME (Adventist Medical Evangelism Network)—October*
    • SAC (Society of Adventist Communicators) no book sales, only display—October*
    • EC3 (Southern Union Evangelism Conference)—November*
    • PEL (Pastoral Evangelism and Leadership Council)—December
    • GYC (Generation—Youth—Christ)—December/January
    • AAA (Adventist Agriculture Association)—January
    • APC (Annual Postgraduate Convention)—March*
    • ASI Southern Union (Adventist Laymen's Services & Industries)—April

* Limited sales—only featured books displayed and promoted

 

NON-FEATURED BOOKS for "CORE" CONVENTION DISPLAY SPACE
Should you wish to attend a "CORE" convention with TEACH Services and promote your previously featured TEACH title at our booth you can do so for a flat $50/convention in a single conference year. You must supply your own books by bringing them to the convention or have us bring your prepaid books for you. We will pay you for each copy sold during the event (payment will be made in about two weeks after the end of the convention at the price we sold the books to you less any royalties). Should you want us to bring books for you, call and purchase the amount you want us to bring (at least 4 weeks before the event). You can take all unsold books back with you or if you cannot pick them up at the end of the convention, we will ship them to you at our cost plus a small packing fee. Books will be part of our "Buy 2 get 1 FREE" convention promotion for this convention.

 

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2020 Annual Postgraduate Convention 

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2020 Adventist Agriculture Association

 

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2020 Generation—Youth—Christ

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2019 Pastoral Evangelism and Leadership Council

 

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2019 Southern Union Evangelism Conference

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2019 ASI National (Adventist Laymen's Services & Industries)

 

Prequel
Prequels are generally used with fiction and Christian storybooks to promote the main title. From Wikipedia:

"A prequel is a literary, dramatic, or other work whose story precedes that of a previous work, by focusing on events that occur before the original narrative. Therefore, a prequel is a work that forms part of a back-story to the preceding work. Like sequels, prequels may or may not concern the same plot as the work from which they are derived. Often, they explain the background which led to the events in the original, but sometimes the connections are not as explicit. Sometimes, prequels play on the fact that the audience knows what will happen next, using deliberate references to create dramatic irony."

At TEACH Services, we recommend a prequel of up to 10,000 words, including, at the end, the first one or two chapters of the main title, as a free, promotional e-book “teaser” to introduce the reader to the main story and encourage them to purchase it.

Independent Blog Reviews
For a small additional fee, we will offer free review copies to Christian bloggers for review. Those that accept will read the review copy, then post a review on their own blog and at least one other review site or bookstore such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble. For a sample review, click HERE.

Book Submissions and Samples
Do you need to send out additional sample books for submissions or reviews? TEACH Services has a powerful two-prong program that works well for any subject. First, we will send an introduction letter to whoever you wish from the publisher introducing your title. We will let them know of the benefits and reasons they should be interested in it. Then about a week later we will follow up by sending the promised copy with another letter telling them again of its benefits and where they can obtain copies or high-res images for promotional purposes. All of this for only $10 plus the suggested retail price of your book. Authors are required to provide contact information or mailing list for multiple submissions.

Publicity Kit

For an additional fee, we will provide you with more printed promotional materials to get the word out about your book and generate sales. The publicity kit includes these vital elements:

  • Full-Color Bookmarks - Your book’s cover on the front; a short description of your book (average 140 words) and ordering information on the back; each bookmark measures 2” x 8”.
  • Full-Color Postcards - Includes a full-color image of your book’s cover on the front; a short description of your book (average 140 words) and ordering information on the back; each postcard measures 4” x 6”.
  • Full-Color Publicity Cards - These “business-card” size publicity cards feature your book’s cover on the front; a short description of your book (average 30 words) and ordering information on the back; each publicity card measures 2” x 3.5”.
  • Full-Color Single-Sided Posters - These 12” x 18” full-color posters feature an image of your book cover. Add $2.00 for each poster you wish to be 2-side film laminated.

Following are a few suggestions on how to use the promotional items. Of course, we encourage you to get creative and come up with your own ideas to enhance your marketing plan.

  • Give them out at industry events, such as book fairs and trade shows
  • Use them as a direct mail piece
  • Give them to people who have expressed interest in your book
  • Tuck them into any book you give away or sell in person (readers who like your book will pass the word along)

Please note that these additional publicity tools are available only to TEACH Services' authors.

 

Post Cards

 

Book Marks 

 

 

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Table Banner 

 

 

Item Description 1,000 2,500 5,000 10,000
Bookmarks Full color two sided bookmarks are 2" x 8" in size and price includes all creative design and aqueous Coating on both sides. Printed on 14 point C2S stock. Exact reprints deduct $70.00. $169* $239* $319* $469*
Postcards Postcards are 4" x 6" in size and can help promote your title or event. Includes creative design and aqueous coating on front side. Full color both sides on 14 point C1S stock. Exact reprints deduct $70.00. $199* $279* $379* $579*
Business/Publicity Cards These cards are  2” x 3.5” and can be used as business cards too. Pricing includes creative design and aqueous gloss coating on front side. Full color both sides on 14 point C1S stock. Exact reprints deduct $50.00. $99* $139* $159* $199*
PDF Poster Package Need event or book signing posters? 8.5" x 11" and 11" x 17" PDF files you can print locally. Price includes creative design—all for $85*. N/A N/A N/A N/A
Retractable Table Banner These light weight units are easy to carry to any event. Just place on a table and receive maximum exposure. 15.75" x 32". Price includes creative design—all for $139*. $59* for additional duplicate units. Display stand design subject to change. N/A N/A N/A N/A

                * Plus the cost of shipping.