Having trouble making sales at your con? Or you’re just starting out and it’s intimidating? Guess what? One of the biggest and easiest improvements you can make to increase your chances for sales at a convention, book fair, or live event, is displaying your books in an optimal way!
When I first started out, I laid my books in stacks on the table.
This was dumb because all that people who casually walk by see are blank paper ends.
One of the reasons to go to cons is for people to see your COVERS. Even if they don’t buy this time, they might the next time. Or they may find your book online and recognize the cover, even if they don’t know why.
If you were smart, and we all know you are, you got your covers laid out by a graphic artist (unless you are a graphic artist yourself and have clocked in the hours and know what you’re freaking doing). So, your cover looks good, right?
Then you need to show it off!
1. Bookstands
Book stands are cheap and easy; go to any Michael’s, Joann Fabrics, art supply store, or online store, if you have to, but get some. There are some stylish ones out there. I actually got mini-easels at one point for displaying small paintings and they looked really sharp. The more books you have, the more stands you’re going to need. If it gets crowded, a small bookshelf can help. If you’re like my friend and mentor Kevin Anderson and have dozens of titles, you’re going to have to get creative, so continue to the next section.
2. Stacking Books – Making Art Out of Your Display
What do you do with the rest of the books when you have one on the display stand? Well, you do stack them on the table, but do not put them paper side out! That’s what the spines are for! Stack the books with the spines out. There are several methods that can increase the
attractiveness of your stacks. Again, if you’re like my friend Kevin, and have published a ton of books, that means the best configuration for you may be spines out stacked in rows, but if you just have your first series or first couple of books, stacking the other copies in a wave, fan, or crisscross pattern can greatly increase your table’s attractiveness.
Also, when stacking your books, walk the traffic pathways around your table and look. What do you first see when looking at your display? Can it be seen from both directions, or three directions, if you’re on the corner? If not, display up more books. If you don’t have enough stands, you can always prop up a book against a stack. You’ll have to make adjustments to this display as you sell books and your stacks diminish. Make sure it’s always your first book that is the most prominently displayed. It’s the one you’ll sell the most of.
3. Advanced ConQuest: What I Do Now
I have a lot of titles. As of the time of this post I have 15 books over 11 different series and that number is only growing. So I had to change up how I did this in the beginning. I still have a book stand, but now it is a four-row wire display that shows all of my first in series covers facing out (hardcovers, of course). I also now have one of those rotating racks that greeting cards are usually displayed on the other corner into which I put paperbacks.
At cons that I drive to or are local for me, I also bring a collapsible stackable shelf that I display all of my stock on. The spine art is facing out and it looks really impressive to people just walking by. In one glance they get to see my entire body of work, and tells them I am established, all positive things that help with the selling!
You can pick up a copy of Advanced ConQuest here, and use coupon code 4HP10 for 10% OFF!
You can also follow Megan at: https://www.meganmackieauthor.com/
