Comments on: Lulu Lens – How Can We Help Your Book Stand Out?

By: Marianne Smith

Marianne Smith — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:29:10 +0000

I have just completed a book “On The Other Side.” It is a true story of World War 2, Germany. I am looking for a top notch publisher but feel uncomfortable doing business on line.

I there any way that I could personally speak with one of your representatives. I would be happy to visit you in Raleigh.

Please let me know if this is possible.

Thank you!

By: Joanna

Joanna — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 19:36:53 +0000

Perhaps just creating a sections for new authors within a certain time frame. Like: “New Authors in Comics, or Art, or Biology”, you know. And if the author through lulu.com begins marketing, reasonably priced advertising through google is always good; whether it be on certain sites or just by search engine.

I think a month of free advertising would be nice.

By: Karen Paxton

Karen Paxton — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:26:04 +0000

Hi Nick: I received the personal reply regarding my REVENUE question. I appreciate the fact that there is a live person on the other end of this computerized process. I’m still working on current projects but would also like to know about ISPN If this is a free service I’m still not sure how and where to get one. Please respond again to karpax@msn.com. Again, thanks.

By: geraldine firequeen

geraldine firequeen — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 05:14:08 +0000

Re presentation. Although the books look great when they arrive, the covers do not seem to be the same quality as other paperbacks. After a short while they start to curl up. Can you explain why this is? To the guy who wants his book in hardback and colour interior, does he realise what this will cost? If he is prepared to pay, fair enough, but it will probably be unmarketable because too highly priced.

By: Jumel

Jumel — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 21:11:18 +0000

Well To make it stand out, I don’t think it’s up to you guys, but to us. Each person is different in there own way and look at things different, I will see the tree and you will see the seed falling from the tree. We must be as creative as possible, all you have to do is get our books out their to catch the people’s eye. I would really appreciate that

By: Heath Pfaff

Heath Pfaff — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 01:40:17 +0000

Thanks Nick!

I read Derwin’s reply, and it made me think… The idea behind adding a CD/DVD to a book is an interesting one, but that raises the question of what sort of content to distribute on the disc. How about including a copy of the e-book, and maybe cover concept art and such? Of course, this is getting a bit ahead of the game here, but it’s an interesting thought.

What about audio books? I would love it if Lulu offered a way to get books recorded into audio format. I’ve tried making my own recording, but I don’t have the kind of voice, or the talent, necessary to make a good product.

An audio book would be a great thing to put on CD and offer with the book. Plus, once the initial cost of the recording is finished, the data itself is incredibly cheap to reproduce. Offering that with the print version is the kind of value that would make people take a second look at an independent novel.

By: Derwin Kitch

Derwin Kitch — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:21:37 +0000

Just spent far too long in two airports the last two days so I had lots of time to look through the bookstores. Some books/authors had some small (perhaps 8 x 10 inch) posters around. Perhaps the authors could pay a small fee to get a poster printed up that accompanies any book order.

The cardboard stand idea was used by another publisher as well. Having a Lulu stand may be very effective.

I think the best way to get the book noticed is to give the authors the tools to make the books look as professional as possible. Like Heath was saying, the raised print and foiled lettering would help.

Just some random thoughts from wandering around the stores: some books and magazines offer CD/DVDs that accompany the book, that may help. Maybe not.

By: Fred Rexroad

Fred Rexroad — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:31:16 +0000

I can’t make my book stand out until I get it published. This is quite difficult, though. I want to make a hardback book with color interior. Lulu’s website says this can be down and gives me all the information I need in order to do it properly and even tells me exactly how much it will cost. Greta! Except, it doesn’t work. The publishing wizard will not let me choose a color interior. It defaults to B&W and the color option is greyed out. No combination of hardcover type or book size will ungrey the color option. All e-mails to Lulu are answered by the same form letter telling me to check out the help pages. There is no item in the help pages to address a non-working option. And there is no way, that I have found, to actually get a person to hear/read my problem and offer a solution. The solution may be “sorry we don’t do color anymore and we just haven’t gotten around to changing the website.” I can buy that… if I got the answer. Anyway, if I every do find a POD provider that will do a hardback book with color interior, I’ll be back for advice on making my book stand out.

Thanks.

By: Nick Popio

Nick Popio — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:00:30 +0000

Heath,
Those are some great ideas. I particularly like the book awards.

Steve,
Good points. I like the cardboard stand idea as well, and I wonder what it would be like if we could combine your idea with Heath’s? There could be displays in each genre with Lulu books in them. That may just be a dream for now, but it’s a great thought. I for one would love to be able to easily find independent books when I walk into a brick & mortar store.

By: Steve

Steve — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 01:15:38 +0000

One way to make Lulu.com books stand out at a brick-and-mortar store is with one of those free-standing corrugated cardboard stands devoted to just Lulu.com books.

Unfortunately, conventional wisdom says that self-published books were not good enough for conventional publishing, so they must be junk lit. Unless more reviewers review self-published books favorably, and more authors explore more options to get involved in their book’s promotion, there is no way anyone’s book can stand out.

If traditional publishers want authors to do more publicizing of their works, then we are being unfair to Lulu.com to insist they work harder to promote our books for free. No one will be as passionate as you with your book.

Remember that anything Lulu.com does to promote its books will place your book among thousands of other Lulu.com books, and we will be right back where we started. Promotion is the author’s responsibility, not Lulu’s.