Otterpine Sales & Marketing Form
Congratulations! We're approaching release day for your title!! This form is designed to collect additional info to guide the discussions around sales set up, marketing, PR and post-publication work. We recognize that it's a LONG form, and it's OK if you don't have all of the answers yet. Framing and providing thoughts on the various questions will help us help you. If easier, please book a meeting with Saeah (calendly.com/saeahlee) and she'll help you complete the form during a call.
Name
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First Name
Last Name
Email
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example@example.com
Have we finalized a release date? If so, when is it? If not, what's your ideal release date?
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How would you like to structure your release? Please select all that apply
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Sell direct on my website
Sell through Amazon KDP, Ingram Spark, and Draft2Digital
Sell nicer books printed off-Amazon and on Amazon
Other
Please share additional thoughts/info on sales set up.
Do you want to set up a pre-sale? For KDP, it's most ideal to set up pre-sales for the e-book only, but we can also structure a paperback pre-sale if needed.
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Yes
No
Maybe
Other
Please share additional thoughts on setting up a pre-sale.
How would you like to approach galleys/Advanced Reader copies? These are used in advance of the publication of your book to get early reviews, promotion and more. Typically this is easiest to manage with PDF/electronic versions, but in some cases, it makes sense to print physical copies.
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I'd like Otterpine's help with printing physical galleys and will manage the rest myself
I'd like Otterpine's help with printing physical galleys and need Otterpine's help with outreach and mailing.
I'm OK with PDF galleys only.
What are galleys?
Other
Share additional thoughts/info on galleys/advanced reader copies.
Let's see if anything has changed with the direction for printing. Please select all that apply.
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I'd like to set up an Amazon KDP release only for paperback
I'd like to print a nicer digital or offset print run.
Other
Please share any additional info/thoughts on printing.
How many authors copies do you need initially? Author copies are copies of the published book that you use for personal use like giving to family and friends, promotion, and more. Most authors start with 25-100 copies, but in some cases, authors choose to print many more than that. These are typically available AFTER publication/release date. If you don't know yet, feel free to share stream-of-conscious thoughts on this, and we'll help you sort out the details.
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Do you think you'll need help with fulfilling and shipping author copies for promotion, gifts, and more? We can include handwritten notes and other personalization with the copies. There is no hourly work associated with this unless the personalization requires a lot of additional labor. Since there are no customer sales with author copies, we charge only $0.50/copy plus shipping for this service.
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Yes, I need your help with this!
I'll handle this myself.
I don't plan to ship any promotional copies.
I'm not sure yet. Let's talk about this more.
Other
Are we releasing an audiobook? Audiobook production can range from around $1K to $3.5K depending on the length of your manuscript and whether you choose to narrate it yourself or hire a narrator. You'll own all of the audio rights.
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Yes, at the same time as the book release
Yes, but it can be after the book release
Yes, but in the future
I won't be recording an audiobook
Other
Additional thoughts on the audiobook?
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Please share how many copies of your physical book, e-book, and audiobook (if it applies) that you expect to sell in the first year. Make your best guess. We'll use this info to help you build a P&L (if we haven't already) which will help to finalize/validate your retail costs and more.
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We can't stress the importance of promotion enough. It's equally important as the work we're doing with production which sets the foundation for a solid promotional/marketing campaign. What kind of work are you considering with marketing/PR/promotion? Please select all that currently apply.
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Website/Landing Page/Online Store
Social media marketing
Email marketing
Amazon ads and other ads
Book marketing basics (like a sell sheet, press release)
Book Trailer
Amazon reviews outreach (helping you get more Amazon reviews)
Lead generation/outreach/expanding my network
Amazon A+ Content (graphic content on an Amazon listing)
E-Book and Online Promo Sites
Specialty Market & Wholesale Consultation
Teacher/Education Market Outreach Campaign
Trade Reviews Submission
Digital Book Club Outreach
Podcast Tour
Bookstore Tour
Submitting Your Book for Awards
Other
Please share additional thoughts/info on promotional support, and let us know the tasks that you may need Otterpine's help with.
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For the first 3-6 months following your release date, please share your ideal marketing & PR budget.
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$250-$500
$500-$2,500
$2500-$10,000
I'd like to run a $10K+ promotional/PR campaign
Other
Please share additional thoughts on your marketing & PR budget.
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Have we set up a joint email address to use for accounts? If yes, what is it?
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Have you set up the following accounts (ideally using the joint email address above)? In addition to setting up the accounts, please confirm that you've set up the business and tax info. Please select all that apply.
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Amazon KDP
Ingram Spark
Draft2Digital
Findaway Voices (for audiobook)
Other
Any questions or thoughts about setting up the accounts above?
Do you have a Goodreads account
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Yes, I have a Goodreads Author account
Yes, I have a Goodreads personal account
No, I do not have a Goodreads account
I'm not sure
Other
Otterpine can support you with wholesale and bulk purchases made outside Ingram Spark. This can be beneficial for sales to local bookstores, specialty markets, conferences, speaking engagements, and more. These sales are typically made at 40% to 55% of retail. You can promote this with your own networks, and Otterpine has wholesale relationships with local businesses based in Asheville and beyond. We charge 10% of sales + shipping for this service. We issue royalties once per quarter. See: otterpine.com/wholesale
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Yes, I would like you to list my book on your wholesale page.
I'd prefer to manage wholesale through my own website but I'd like you to fulfill all orders.
I'd like to list on both your wholesale page and on my own website.
No thanks. I'll take care of this myself.
I'm not sure yet. Let's talk about this more.
Other
Otterpine has a tiny physical bookstore located at our office in Asheville and we can also list your book and e-book through our shop at shop.otterpine.com. Sometimes we also set up sales at local markets and more. There is no hourly work associated with this. We charge 10% of sales + shipping fees for this service. If the order requires fulfillment, we charge $4/book for fulfillment for orders made through our site. This covers eco-friendly packaging along with the labor associated with fulfillment. We issue royalties once per quarter.
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Yes, I would like you to list my book in your physical, online store, and markets.
No, I'd prefer not to.
I'm not sure yet. Let's talk about this more.
Other
Please share any questions or thoughts about wholesale and sales through Otterpine
Please share 3 to 10 keywords/search terms that may apply to your book.
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Please share 3 to 10 books that may have a similar audience as yours.
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How do you plan to capture value from your book (select all that apply)?
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Retail sales (KDP, online retailers, gift stores, direct sales from your own store, bookstores, etc.)
Bulk order sales (Corporate, schools/education, conferences, retail partnerships, book clubs, etc)
Sponsorship sales (A sponsor buys a book in bulk for organizations, brands, or individual in exchange for visibility and association with your book)
Lead generator (using your book to build leads to other revenue streams)
Building your credibility
Other
Please share additional thoughts on this question if needed
Are you interested in traditional PR (radio/podcast, TV interviews, print media; etc.)?
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Yes
No
I'm not sure yet
Are you interested in digital marketing (blogs; social media; digital publications; etc.)?
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Yes
No
I'm not sure yet
What is your micro business model (for the book)? (i.e. how do you plan to create, deliver, and capture value?)
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Example: I want to sell 1,000 copies of my book within one year. I plan to achieve this by leveraging Amazon KDP for distribution and focusing on building a small but highly engaged email list of 500 subscribers. To grow my audience, I will share valuable content related to my book’s themes and use a lead magnet to attract subscribers. Additionally, I will use my LinkedIn network to promote the book, sharing regular updates, insights, and testimonials to spark interest and drive sales.
What is your macro business model (your brand/company overall)? (i.e. how do you plan to create, deliver, and capture value?)
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Example: I want to build a sustainable, multi-revenue stream brand over the next five years that combines writing, coaching, and community building to empower solopreneurs. I plan to develop a coaching program tailored to the unique challenges of solo business owners, offering 1:1 coaching for personalized guidance and group coaching to foster collaboration and shared learning. Additionally, I’ll design corporate coaching packages to support organizations that want to invest in entrepreneurial training for their teams. Alongside these efforts, I aim to publish three books over the next five years, each focused on themes relevant to solopreneurs, such as productivity, growth strategies, and work-life balance. These books will be supported by digital products like online courses, workbooks, and downloadable resources for solopreneurs who prefer flexible, self-paced learning. To further build community, I’ll create a subscription-based platform where solopreneurs can access live Q&A sessions, bonus materials, and tools for networking and accountability. Additionally, I’ll pursue speaking engagements, collaborations, and merchandise, such as planners or journals designed specifically for entrepreneurs. My ultimate goal is to create a thriving ecosystem that supports solopreneurs in achieving their personal and professional goals.
How do you personally define success for your book?
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How involve do you want to be in the direct promotion of your book?
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None
1-5 hours per week
6+ hours per week
Please share any existing marketing plans you have in place or are considering if they haven't been covered above. (For example: tapping into your existing personal/professional network, blog, author newsletter, etc.) Please share any existing marketing materials you may have (For example: a book trailer, sell sheet, press kit, etc.) You can also add any of these items in your client Drive folder.
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Please share any other thoughts around marketing, PR, and sales set up that we haven't covered along with any additional questions here!
Please upload any applicable files/documents either here or to your client Drive folder. This could include things like the latest version of your manuscript, cover copy you've written, illustrations, and more. You're also welcome to link to any of these files in the text box below!
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