Traffic > Offers > Sales
Mar 27, 2024"Wow, I've got a lot to learn". This was me talking to myself (as I do) back in July 2023 when we started direct sales for my wife's books.
There seems to be so much to do, and there is, but as humans, we have a habit of overcomplicating things.
As Chinese philosopher, Confucius, once said:
" Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated."
At first glance, direct sales can seem complicated, and 100% overwhelming.
But when you strip it back, it's actually very simple, and be broken into 3 pillars:
Traffic > Offers > Sales
Focus on these 3 pillars and you won't go far wrong.
Sure, there are a handful of technical things that need to be done, but these can very quickly be learned and implemented.
What's more important is your strategy around these 3 pillars. That's what's going to determine your success with direct sales.
Let's break it down...
Traffic
Without traffic, without eyeballs, you're not going to make any sales.
So, start with a traffic source you already use and you're comfortable with.
If you're not sure where to start, I highly recommend Facebook Ads, as you'll see results within a matter of days, provided you've got the other 2 pillars in place.
Offers
Give readers a reason to act today (i.e. buy today) rather than tomorrow, as tomorrow inevitably never comes in e-commerce.
An offer doesn't mean you need to entice someone to make a purchase today, though that is of course, favorable.
An offer could be something you deliver to people for free, in exchange for their email address; this is often known as a reader magnet.
That way, you'll be able to follow up with these folks through a series of automated and/or personal emails, and that's where they'll make the decision to buy.
Offers are also, clearly, for someone to purchase a book from your store. So what can you offer on your store, that isn't available anywhere else?
Remember, you're competing with the likes of Amazon, Kobo, Apple Books, etc, when selling direct (assuming your books are on those retailers), so why should readers buy from you rather than these retailers?
A discount, a bundle, an exclusive bonus chapter, bonus story, deleted scenes, etc.
An enticing offer can quite literally make or break your store.
It may take some testing to find an offer that converts well, but it will be worth it, trust me.
Sales
Once you have the traffic and an irresistible offer (or offers) in place, that's when the sales start to come in, thick and fast.
Now you've found a winning trifecta of traffic, offers and sales, the next step is to increase the traffic to your store.
Get more eyeballs on your offer, and in come the sales.
Want To Dive Deeper?
If this has piqued your interest in any way, and direct sales is something on your radar, you may be interested in joining over 300 authors inside...
The Direct Sales Blueprint For Authors
Inside, I'll walk you through the entire process of going from no experience with direct sales, and no store, to:
– A thriving store that drives sales every single day
– Growing your email list day in, day out
– Earning more royalties from every sale
– Building a deeper connection with every reader
You'll also have direct access (no pun intended) to myself and hundreds of other authors inside the members-only Facebook Group, to help you on your direct sales journey.
Got questions? Not sure if direct sales is right for you?
Please don't hesitate to reply to this email; I'll be more than happy to help.
If I don't think direct sales is a good option for you at this moment in time, I'll tell you. I want direct sales to work for you, just as much as you do.
To Your Success
– Matt
