Blog

Vervante • November 13, 2018

We're constantly amazed by the clever, unique, brilliant and beautiful books and products our customers create. So much that we're starting a spotlight feature to share the details of their creations and the inspiration behind them.    About “Wings: An Illustrated Celebration of Michigan Wolverine Helmets” This year, 2018, marks the 80th anniversary of the Michigan winged helmet. Every university has a logo, some probably more recognizable than the University of Michigan's block 'M.'  Many universities have a mascot, many undoubtedly more well-known than Michigan's. But the winged Michigan football helmet is undoubtedly the most recognizable in the game. In a case of form following function, Michigan coach Fritz Crisler painted the padding and straps common on the leather helmets in 1938 to create the iconic design. His intent was to make his receivers more recognizable downfield. Not only did he succeed, but he created an icon that transcends football, even 80 years later. In an unusual — and perhaps unique — instance of accidental branding, of grass roots symbology, the wings-and-stripes design can be seen everywhere around Michigan's campus and athletic program. How strange is it, but yet how compelling, that a design borne of a leather helmet's construction would spread to be seen in baseball, softball, hockey, field hockey, and lacrosse teams? The entire history of the winged helmet is detailed in this coffee table book: “Wings: An Illustrated Celebration of Michigan Wolverine Helmets.” The 3rd edition of the book was just released and can be viewed HERE. The book is co-authored by James Dack, an avid helmet collector and historian, and Christopher Dack, Michigan alum, writer, and photographer. The story behind the product (as told by co-author Christopher Dack, pictured above) Q: What inspired you to create this product? A: My brother James (pictured at right) began collecting football helmets long before it become popular. He wanted to share his collection and knowledge with the broad and zealous University of Michigan fan base. As a Michigan alum, it was easy for me to get on board with that idea. Plus, I had wanted to create a coffee table book for a long time and realized this would be the perfect subject. Q: What advice would you give for others creating a product like this? A: It's tempting as a self-publishing author to care only about the content and downplay other aspects of the book as a product (trim size, typography, cover design, etc. to say nothing of marketing). But it’s all important. The best content in the world can still fall short of its potential if it’s delivered in an amateurish package.  Finding design help is not that difficult or expensive if you can’t (or don’t want to) do it yourself. Learning marketing is tougher and quite daunting at first. But you don’t have to master it all right away. Just get started with the first step, then keep going. Q: What do you love about this product? A: What we love about this book is its potential as a gift. Although there are certainly rabid female football fans in the world, let's be honest: men make up the majority of the fan base. And men can be notoriously difficult to buy for during gift-giving seasons. We like to think that, instead of the usual ties, socks, coffee cups, and other dull gifts that guys often receive, this book would actually be fun for a Michigan fan to open at Christmas, Father's Day, birthdays, etc. Learn more Learn more about “Wings” here: http://store.vervante.com/c/v/V4081805254.html Want your book or product to be featured? If you liked this and want your Vervante product featured in our newsletter and blog, please email [email protected] with the following information: 250-word overview of your product URL link for the landing or sales page for the product High-res image(s) of the product Your creativity inspires us and your success deserves to be shared!

Vervante • November 8, 2018

Looking for ideas to give your income a boost this holiday season? We’ve got what you need with plenty of products and tips to get ready for Black Friday through the New Year. Here are 5 of our bestselling products that can be sold just as they are, or customized to fit your needs: Planners - use ours or design your own Calendars - desktop or wall calendars Greeting Cards - packaged individually or in sets of 10 in a stationary box with a clear lid Card Decks - any size, any number of cards Journals - soft cover and hard cover Select the products you would like to sell, contact us if you would like to add your logo or customize the design, then add them to your sales pages and shopping carts. Reach out to our publishing experts at [email protected] and we'll help you get everything ready. Worried about time? No need to stress! Here are a few tips to help you get ready in plenty of time: TIP #1: If you have the general specs of the product you want to create, we can give you a free quote right away so you can set your retail price and start working on your sales and marketing strategy. TIP #2: Your product does not have to be complete to offer it for sale.  All you need is the cover design image for display on your site and – voila – you can make your offer and collect pre-orders. Just be clear in the description when your customer can expect to receive their purchase.    TIP #3: Once we have print files, we can ship within 3-4 days, so you're able to let customers know when pre-ordered products will arrive and can be confident in quick deliveries. Questions? Let us help you make the most of your holiday sales by dropping us a line at [email protected] or scheduling a phone call with one of our publishing professionals at https://vervante.youcanbook.me/.

Vervante • November 6, 2018

We're constantly amazed by the clever, unique, brilliant and beautiful books and products our customers create. So much that we're starting a spotlight feature to share the details of their creations and the inspiration behind them. Today, we're pleased to introduce Nancy and Steve Juetten.  About: Life Goes on Roadmap™ Life Goes on Roadmap™ is a playful, powerful, and practical system for families to use to organize their crucial personal finance information to gain power, access, and control, before disease, disability or death get in the way. Life Goes on Roadmap elevates the process of getting organized to be a game to win instead of an administrative task to put off. Users welcome financial peace of mind when they organize important contacts, service providers, insurance information, bank or credit union accounts, investments, credit cards, and more so the information is accessible when and where it is needed. Unlike shelf help, the creators hold clients’ feet to the fire to get the mission accomplished, while making it fun. Consumers love the product and the experience so much they are posting powerful testimonials to YouTube. Created by a fee-only fiduciary who is also a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional and his wife, Life Goes on Roadmap starts powerful conversations now with family members to shift roles and responsibilities as needed to ensure a smoother journey, no matter what happens next. Unlike old fashioned paper systems, Life Goes on Roadmap is suitable for today’s digital age. It offers a safe and secure way to enter, save, update, and share the information that covers 16 important pages of crucial information with the right people who have a need to know. The story behind the product Q: What inspired you to create this product? A: The inspiration for creating this product was deeply personal. Late last year, three people I love got life altering news. One was served divorce papers by surprise after 32 years of marriage. Another found out her stage 4 lymphoma came back. The other checked into the hospital with the flu and died. It was a triple threat of divorce, disease, and death in one week. Shell shocked, I had a serious chat with my husband Steve. He's a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional.  I asked him to get me on the same page with regard to all of our most important financial documents and information so I would have power, access and control to advocate for him if something were to happen to him or be able to drive my life forward if it should come to that. It was a light bulb moment for us because we discovered a blind spot that once uncovered could make a huge difference for families everywhere. As much as financial advisors guide their clients to save for retirement, plan for emergencies, diversify and rebalance their portfolios, and mitigate their risks, there is a common gap that goes unmet that is hiding in plain sight. It is making sure that all the right parties in the family have power, access and control over their financial accounts and documents for when life serves up a bump in the road. After searching online for a positive, upbeat approach to getting the mission accomplished, together we decided to create our own system to escape the 'doom and gloom' approaches we found so disappointing in our online search. We've actually elevated the task of getting organized into a game to win instead of task to put off until later. We hold our clients' feet to the fire to get this done as we make it fun.  In August of this year after serving hundreds of families to rave reviews, we started licensing our system to advisors so they could bring this level of very specific empowerment to their clients. Now we have 10 licensees proudly sharing the system with their clients, and consumers of our system creating YouTube videos to sing its praises. As advisors consider what services to add to their current offerings to serve clients more deeply, meet a personal, practical, and profound need, and set themselves apart in the marketplace, Life Goes on Roadmap™ does the job.  Q: What advice would you give for others creating a product like this? Solve an urgent problem for a specific audience of people who will willingly invest to get the value and the benefit. Be excited about your solution to the point that you will stop at nothing to bring it to market. Take your product beyond "shelf help" by finding ways to engage, delight, inspire, and involve your clients in achieving the promised outcome in a specific window of time so they have something to celebrate and are inspired to tell their friends. I am a big fan of the Great eCourse Adventure and Marisa Murgatroyd's 'experience product' training. Create an audience for your offer, even before your product is done or perfect. Our opt-in page for our 5 Blind Spots that Prevent Financial Empowerment and How to Course Correct for a Smoother Journey Special Report has welcomed over 3090 subscribers this year, and new people find it every day. Test your offer, listen to feedback, make ongoing improvements in messaging and delivery, and keep your eye on the big results you desire and the specific revolution you are fighting for. Work with Vervante so that the delivery of physical product can be world-class, reliable, and efficient. Q: What do you love about this product? A: The design and ease of use of our 'experience product' factor big time in the value and results clients welcome when they make the wise choice to get on the virtual bus to get their personal financial information and crucial documents organized with our tools, expert support, and 'hold your feet to the fire to get this done' accountability. The inspiration for this product and the impact it has on those who use it offer us the opportunity to experience our finest hour of contribution to the marketplace in the third act of both of our careers. I am almost 57 and my husband is 65, and we believe the best is yet to come for us and those we get to serve. What I love is that this product offers my husband and me the opportunity to serve, grow and make our legacy alive today with every family we help.  It's never too late for your finest hour in life and business. Learn more Free report link: www.lifegoesonroadmap.com Consumers can purchase this system from www.authenticvisibility.com/roadmap. It's a thoughtful and practical gift that gets people talking about important things before life gets in the way. Financial advisors and other professionals can license and brand the system as their own to serve their clients in this practical, profound, and very practical way. Get your product featured If you liked this and want your Vervante product featured in our newsletter and blog, please email [email protected] with the following information: 250-word overview of your product URL link for the landing or sales page for the product High-res image(s) of the product Your creativity inspires us and your success deserves to be shared!

Vervante • October 22, 2018

If you have a book idea, but aren't sure how to take it from manuscript all the way to the marketplace, you're not alone. We're helped thousands of authors take their books from first drafts to publication and know every step needed for a successful experience. That's why we rounded up the following frequently asked questions and answers for every step of the process. Q: I’m excited to get started. What’s the first thing I need to do? A:  Establish a Vervante Author Account. It’s free, quick and easy. Just go to www.vervante.com and click on Sign Up.  Once you’re set up, you will be able to access your Author Dashboard, your personal mission control that gives you access to everything from Support and Resources to Activity Reports and Invoice details and overall Account Management. Q:  OK, I’ve got the material for my book written, now what? A:   We recommend that once your manuscript is written, you have it professionally copyedited. This ensures that you will provide your audience with a high-quality product. We do not provide this service, but strongly feel that this step is essential for the quality and success of your finished product. For recommendations contact us at [email protected].  Q:  What is an ISBN and do I need to have one? A:  If you plan on retail distribution for your book, such as on Amazon or in bookstores, yes, you will need an ISBN (International Standard Book Number). The most important identifier your book can have is the ISBN. ISBNs provide unique identification for books and simplify the distribution of your books throughout the global supply chain. Without an ISBN, your book will not be found in bookstores, whether online or down the street from your house. You can buy your own at www.Bowker.com, or purchase one at a low cost from Vervante – Just log into your Author Account and click on “Purchase ISBN.” Note: The imprint within an ISBN indicates the publisher of record. When you purchase an ISBN through Vervante, the publisher of record is automatically shown as Vervante. This publisher information is usually shown in places like the book’s inside cover or in the product details list for books that are sold on Amazon.com. If you would like your own imprint, you can purchase an ISBN directly from www.isbn.org. Q:  Are there steps I can take to protect my book legally? A:  Yes, Copyright registration is important and a simple task you should do as soon as your book is complete. You can complete the Application to Participate online and you will receive an account and password. Once your book is complete, you can send a copy of the book to the Library of Congress at: Library of Congress, Cataloging in Publication Division 101, Independence Ave. SE, Washington, DC, 20540-4320. The website is at http://www.loc.gov/publish/pcn/newaccount.html. For more details and to register your book, go to http://www.copyright.gov/.  If you prefer to have our team submit the copyright registration for you, please complete the request document in your Vervante Author Account. Q: What about a Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN)? A:  The LCCN is a unique identification number that the Library of Congress assigns to book titles. There is no charge for registering your book with the Library of Congress. You can complete the Application to Participate online and you will receive an account and password. Once your book is complete, you can send a copy of the book to the Library of Congress at: Library of Congress, Cataloging in Publication Division 101, Independence Ave. SE, Washington, DC, 20540-4320. The website is at http://www.loc.gov/publish/pcn/newaccount.html. We offer done-for-you LCCN services as well for a small fee. All you need to do is request it through your Vervante author dashboard, we’ll complete the registration on your behalf and email the LCCN as soon as we receive it, usually within 10 business days. Q :  Who owns the rights to my book?  A: When you self-publish with Vervante, you benefit from our unique system in which you simply grant us the rights to print and distribute the book on your behalf. Our contracts with authors are non-exclusive. This arrangement is rare in the publishing world and is very much to your benefit as the author. You retain all rights as the sole owner of your book. Period. Q:  OK, I’ve got the manuscript back from my editor – now what? A:  Now it’s time to format the text of your book. Formatting is the process of creating print-ready digital files according to our specifications. Q:  What are some decisions I need to make regarding formatting? A:   Here are two important decisions that will affect your book’s appearance: Binding: You can choose perfect bound, saddle-stitch or spiral binding (hard cover, spiral or hard cover wire-o) for your book. There are photos, specs and templates of each available on the “Print Specs & Templates” page on the Vervante web site. Better yet - for real-life examples to help you make your choice, check out the sample packages we offer at www.vervante.com/samples. Size: We can bind a book at any size up to 8.5 x 11 inches. We do not have pre-set sizes. One of the most popular sizes for paperback books is 6 x 9 inches but it is completely up to you what your book should be. Depending on the binding style you choose, books can be from 25 to 800 pages long. Color – we offer mixed black & white and color – some pages can be printed in color and the rest black & white Q: What about my cover? A: We require a print-ready PDF of the cover. You can find detailed specs and templates on our website HERE. Q: My text and cover files are ready to go. What next? A: Once your files are ready, you can upload both content and cover art files from your Author Account using the Send Files link. Q:   How long does it take to get my book published?  A:   Once we have a final, approved-by-you, high-resolution PDF of the book content and cover, we can print your book within three to five business days and distribute anywhere in the world according to your needs and deadlines.  If your book will be printed as a hard cover book, the turnaround time could be a few weeks. Q: What about ebooks? A: You provide us with your formatted ebook files and we can post your ebook to Amazon or Barnes & Noble. For more detailed information and the steps to get started, please log in to your Vervante Author Account and go to the Retail Distribution page accessible via the Services menu. Q: Can I use the same ISBN for my ebook? A:  No, you cannot use an ISBN from a print edition for your digital edition. If you want to include an ISBN for the digital version of your book, it must be a unique ISBN. You can supply your own ISBN or you can purchase an ISBN from Vervante. Q:  What are the fees for using Vervante’s publishing services? A:   No set-up fees, no monthly minimums, no management fees. You only pay for printing and distribution costs.   Q: What will be my cost for printing the book? A:   Products printed on demand include production, packaging and fulfillment.  For products printed in bulk and drop shipped on demand, there is an order fee and pick fee per item.  Each book is unique and Vervante will quote you the exact printing price as soon as the book is set up for publishing. The prices quoted do not include shipping. Q. How are orders shipped? A: We send the majority of shipments via USPS, First Class or Priority Mail and International Airmail. We charge postage based on weight and destination. We do not have a flat shipping fee and we do not inflate the postage rates. Q:   Who sets the retail price of my book? A:   The price you list on your book is up to you. We provide you with a quote for printing and fulfillment costs, as well as potential royalty scenarios depending on the sales and distribution channels you choose to use. Q:  What about royalties for sales on Amazon or other retailers? How will I be paid? A:   All transactions for your book are recorded in a free online account you will set up with Vervante. Royalty payments can be sent to you as a check or online via PayPal. Q: How do you process orders? What about compatibility with shopping carts? A:  We have no shopping cart preference and, in fact, can process your orders from any shopping cart or merchant solution. Orders can be processed in a variety of ways: Automatically processed from the order confirmation emails generated from your shopping cart. Automatically processed from an email notification set up in Vervante specified format outlined in our detailed user guide (available from your Author Dashboard) You can log into your Vervante account and place orders You can email your orders to [email protected] for processing You can find information about automated order processing HERE. Q: Can you help me list my books for sale? A:  We can add your book to the following channels for direct sales: Vervante Bookstore Amazon.com Barnes & Noble.com Barnes & Noble Nook Baker & Taylor Amazon Kindle Vervante Bookstore is a great option if you don’t want the hassle of setting up a sales page, website or merchant bank for credit card processing. We will be happy to sell your book or product through our public bookstore. There is a 10% per transaction fee. You set the retail price for the product. The buyer selects and pays for the shipping and postage. Amazon Marketplace is the most popular option for Amazon because it only takes a 15% discount plus $1.80 per transaction fee. We receive the orders when your book or product is purchased on Amazon. The transaction is entered in your order report in your author account so you will see all transactions. Amazon pays Vervante for transactions and we will post the credit for the Amazon purchases in your Author Account. You set the retail price for the book in Amazon Marketplace. (**We highly recommend Amazon Marketplace – see our note below) Amazon Advantage is a consignment program with Amazon. When we list your book in this program, Amazon will order usually 1-2 initial copies for their inventory. When the book is sold, Amazon will ship the book directly to the customer and will take a 55% discount on the retail price of the book. You are also responsible for the postage costs to ship the book to Amazon. Barnes & Noble.com is a consignment program. When we list your book in this program, BN.com will order usually 1-2 initial copies for their inventory. When the book is sold, BN.com will ship the book directly to the customer and will take a 40% discount on the retail price of the book. You are also responsible for the postage costs to ship the book to BN.com. Please note: Your book cover must contain the ISBN barcode including the ISBN number PLUS price. This is a Barnes & Noble requirement. Baker & Taylor is one of the largest wholesale distributors in the world. We can list your book in their database and then any book reseller can order and stock your book in their store. Baker & Taylor sells and distributes to book stores, internet and physical locations, such as Amazon, Border, Barnes & Noble, etc. If your book is listed in the Baker & Taylor database, a customer can also special order the book from any bookstore. Baker & Taylor takes a 55% discount off the price of the book and you pay for shipping to the Baker & Taylor warehouse. There are no pre-orders with this program. Baker & Taylor will only order your book if they have an order for the book. PLEASE NOTE: There are some risks associated with listing your book with Amazon Advantage, Barnes & Noble and Baker & Taylor. They are: Your suggested list price may not be what the book is actually listed for on these sites. These companies may choose to list your book at a discounted price and you may then have a competitive situation where you have the book listed on your site for the full list price and the distributor may be selling it at a discount. If you list your book with Baker & Taylor, Amazon may import this listing and chose to sell your book at a discount. The book on Amazon will show "Out of Stock" and may never show in stock because Amazon might list the book but never order it from Baker & Taylor. **We highly recommend the Amazon Marketplace option for a few important reasons: You control the list price The product is never out of stock We ship the product so you know who is buying your book You pay 15% commission plus $1.80 per transaction You determine how much you want the buyer to pay for postage We have full control over the listing so if you want to make changes or update the product description or price, we can do this for you quickly and easily Q:   How can I keep track of the books that are shipped to me or my customers? A:   When your orders are shipped, you or your customer will receive a shipping confirmation email notifying when the product has shipped and a link to track the order. You may log on at any time into your Vervante author account to view the status of your orders, tracking information, order details, online reporting and customization of your packing slip.   Q: How do I know who purchased my book or how to follow up with them? A:  Retail booksellers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble do not share customer contact information with you. Listing directly on Amazon, or sending your buyer to purchase your book on another site like CreateSpace, Lulu or Blurb, turns your customer into their customer, and denies you access to any of their information. This is why we strongly recommend selling your book from your website as your primary sales option. This gives you the benefit of knowing who your customers are, and how to contact them to follow up. We do recognize the power of Amazon and suggest using them as a secondary sales option using the Amazon Marketplace program. This gives authors all the advantages of Amazon, while still retaining control of sales and customer information by using Vervante as your publisher and distributor.  Using Vervante as your back-end publishing and distribution partner allows you to have the best of both worlds – your own solution where you sell the book from your site, collect customer contact information critical for building your business, and have professional solutions you trust to handle printing and shipping. PLUS we handle the sales and processing for your books and products by working with your shopping cart (we can work with them all!) and listing your book on Amazon. It’s a win-win solution for authors all around. You have access to critical customer data. Your book enjoys the visibility and prestige Amazon offers. You are in control, every step of the way. ~~ Feeling a little more confident about self-publishing? With this expert guidance, you now possess the big-picture knowledge to address important decisions and issues that are the foundation of self-publishing – and your book’s success. For questions or free quotes please feel free to contact our publishing specialists at [email protected]. We’re here to help!

Vervante • October 17, 2018

The holidays are quickly approaching. Are you ready? If you haven’t started planning yet but want to give your income and your business an end-of-the-year boost, now is the time for action. First, let’s talk products. Here’s a few crowd-pleasing ones perfect for holiday sales: Calendars: Great for sales, calendars are also a great option for client and customer appreciation gifts and to use as lead generation freebies. Planners: Planners are a product that people just can’t seem to get enough of. You can create your own, or save some time by customizing our ready-to-go 2019 planner. Journals: Timeless treasures perfect for just about any situation. Adult coloring books: Create your own using holiday themes, New Year themes, or branded content that supports your products and programs. Cards of all kinds: Card decks, note cards, and postcards are popular all year long. Create your own custom cards, or use our ready-made ones by adding your logo or message. Your Holiday Sales Timeline Once you’ve picked your products, it’s time for action: OCTOBER: Decide on products to sell. Make a list of customizations. Contact Vervante at [email protected] and request free quotes for printing, shipping timelines, etc. If you’re just adding your logo to one of our ready-made products, upload print-ready file to your Vervante account, then order sample copy. For customized products, finalize graphic design files and upload to Vervante account. Order sample copies for quality and proofreading checks. Have Vervante list your books and products for sale. We can list on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Vervante Bookstore online, etc. If you sell from your own website, set up shopping cart. NOVEMBER: Put marketing plans into action. Announce special promotions, early bird sales and specials. Promote, promote, promote! Procrastinate much? For last-minute ideas in time for Black Friday, our ready-made planners, card decks, books, journals and calendars are easy and quick to set up and sell. DECEMBER: Confirm Vervante holiday shipping deadlines. Attend book signings. Continue promotions, especially for New Year / 2019 products. Announce surprise last-minute deals. JANUARY: Continue to promote New Year products. If 2019 planners were a hit, think about removing dates from planner so it can be sold all year long. Look back at your holiday sales experience, making notes about what worked (and what didn’t) to help with next year’s plans. Questions? Let us help you make the most of your holiday sales by emailing us at [email protected] or scheduling a phone call at https://vervante.youcanbook.me/.

Vervante • October 5, 2018

Our email inbox has been piling up with orders and requests for THE hottest product on everyone’s minds right now – planners! Interest is so intense right now that we felt like these products deserve a special email to keep you in the loop. Planners are HOT. Everyone loves planners and they’re perfect for any type of business. They make great gifts, sell-out for holiday promotions, and are perfect for keeping your brand front and center all year long. >> If you want a ready-to-go planner for 2019 to share or sell from your shopping cart – we’ve got it. >> If you want a custom-designed planner for 2019 that fits exactly what you need – we can do that too! We’ve designed our 2019 planners for universal appeal. They are 7” x 9”, can be done with hard or soft covers, and are spiral bound to easily lay flat for reading and writing. Inside is a mix of full-color and black-and-white pages that include stickers, monthly and daily planning pages, adult coloring pages, tracking lists, space to journal, and more. You can see page-by-page details of what these planners contain as-is by clicking on these links: Grateful Heart Planner, and Fresh Start Planner. Think of this planner as a baseline for your own planner, but feel free to get creative and make all of the changes you would like. Here's a few ideas to get you started: (Please note the photos in this email showing creative customizations by our customers). Use one of our cover options - or replace it with one of your own Change the color scheme to match your branding Add your logo and/or message to the back cover Choose hard cover* or soft cover Change colors for the binding: Spiral binding for soft cover planners can be in black or white. Wire-O binding for hard covers can be printed in a variety of colors (black, white, blue, red, green, gold, silver and bronze) *Minimum order of 25 for customized hard-cover planners There's no limit to how many changes you can make! If you’ve got a vision that involves lots of personalization – we can make it happen! There is no limit to how many changes you can make, including: Inside pages: Create address/contact info pages, exercise and nutrition-trackers, recipe and shopping lists, journal pages, budgeting guides, writing prompts, weekly mantras, accountability check-ins, and more. Stickers: You can use our stickers, revise them to fit your own brand, or opt for no stickers at all Change the size Print without dates for flexible anytime use Add tabs for easy access to special sections Add pockets for extra organizing power HOW TO ORDER SAMPLE PLANNERS IF YOU HAVE AN AUTHOR ACCOUNT: Log in and scroll to the bottom of the author dashboard. Click on “Order Samples.” The new planners are posted at the bottom of the page. If you don't have an author account you can ORDER DIRECTLY FROM THE BOOKSTORE by using the following links. (Note: Vervante Author account user names and passwords do not work in our Bookstore): Grateful Heart Planner Fresh Start Planner HOW TO CUSTOMIZE PLANNERS Send an email to [email protected] and let us know what ideas you have for customization. We can either send you the InDesign files to make changes directly or our graphic design team can make changes for you ($75/hour graphic design rate). Questions? Contact us at [email protected] or schedule a phone call with our publishing pros by clicking HERE for free quotes and guidance for submitting designs, customizing options, and getting your unique planners ready to go.

Vervante • September 25, 2018

When an author wants to sell more books, build credibility and get more attention as a speaker, author or expert in their industry, it’s common knowledge that becoming an Amazon bestseller is one of the quickest ways to success. In fact, there’s an entire industry built around helping authors become Amazon bestsellers. Authors can purchase services that practically guarantee helping them become bestsellers no matter what type of book they write, with promises of wealth, influence and star status that are almost irresistible. But there’s a secret behind all of the buzz about becoming an Amazon bestseller that no one is talking about. And a lot of misinformation that we feel should be addressed. In fact, bestseller status: Is a lot easier to get than you think Doesn’t mean you sold a lot of books Won’t guarantee future book sales Can be achieved without blowing up your budget When we started working with authors almost 20 years ago, bestseller status on Amazon had credibility and true value as it was achieved using the traditional method of counting book sales. Over the years, however, Amazon’s methods for assigning bestseller status have changed and we’ve seen how achieving it can be relatively easy with only a few sales. In fact, since Amazon algorithms update nearly every hour, by coordinating friends and family to all purchase the book within a very short time frame, you have a very good chance of achieving “bestseller” status. We’ve even heard of authors creating large batches of email addresses using different names then purchasing their book using those various email addresses within a short time frame to become a “bestseller.” Hey, we even read a true-but-hilarious story about how this author became a bestseller on Amazon in five minutes and with only $3. Don’t get us wrong, bestseller status is great. We just hate to hear stories of new authors blowing their budgets to get bestseller status by outsourcing expert help and purchasing large amounts of their own books when they really just need to learn a little bit more about how Amazon assigns bestseller status – and how they can work toward it on their own. While we believe that good writing, quality printing, and access to a database of dedicated readers are the keys to a successful experience as an author, we’re happy to share how many authors are achieving bestseller status – and how you can too.   It’s all about the categories Here’s the secret about Amazon bestseller status – it’s all about the categories. When a book or ebook is first listed on Amazon, selecting categories is one of the first steps. Choosing the right ones can lead to bestseller status. Choose the wrong ones, and no matter how many books you sell, you’ll never achieve bestseller status. Amazon assigns bestseller rankings to books based on how many sales or downloads they have over a period of time as compared to all other books on the Amazon market. You can find that number in the Product Details section on the book’s page. It looks like this:       Here’s what those numbers mean: If you’re in the Top 100 in your Amazon category, you will see a “best-seller ranking” below the title. A book at the #1 spot in any given category will get a “#1 Best Seller” banner featured next to the title. Dominating a category is obviously key for bestseller status. So you can see how carefully choosing the right category is essential. Choose a broad category means you’re in competition with a larger pool of books. But choosing a much more niched category decreases the size of that pool and the size of your competition as well. For example, if you’re writing a gardening book, you could choose the category of “gardening.” But if you are able to niche down even further using categories that pertain to the type of gardening, geographical locations, or even select fruits or vegetables, etc., you’ll be even more niched and have much less competition for bestseller status. How to choose Amazon categories Unfortunately, Amazon doesn’t list its categories, so you’ve got to do a little research to choose the ones you want to use. Start by researching other books that are similar to yours and see what categories they are using. You can see this in the Product Detail section (as seen in the image above). Make a note of the ones that fit your book best, then try to niche down even further. Do this by clicking on one of the categories in the books you are researching. A page will open listing best sellers in that category. And the categories will be shown in a column on the left. Often there will be even more options for narrowing your category and you can explore those by clicking on any of the selections. Here’s an example: In the image here you can see how we were able to niche down 6 categories from Kindle ebooks to Reference to Writing, Research & Publishing to Publishing & Books to Authorship.  By researching books similar to yours, and their rankings in categories that are “super-niched,” you’ll be able to select categories that can boost your own status. We hope this peek behind the curtain at how Amazon bestseller status is achieved – and what it really means – has been enlightening and helpful. Here at Vervante we offer free listing services for Amazon and if you want to learn more about choosing categories with the most potential for bestseller status we can help. Just reach out to one of our Amazon retail specialists at [email protected] or set up a call using this link.  

Vervante • September 21, 2018

Your dream of publishing a book, CD, DVD or other unique product is almost to the point of becoming a reality. You’ve crafted the perfect content for it and are ready to take the next big step – publishing! The most important move you can make right now is to take the time to research your next steps in order to ensure your final product stays true to your vision. Choosing a publisher is a big decision – they will become an important part of your team and an essential element for bringing your dream to life. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve gathered together the top 8 qualities you need to look for in an on-demand publisher for your project. After more than 30 years in the publishing industry, we’ve seen up close and personal what you need – and what you don’t need – in order to pick the right company to help you. And we know that no matter if you choose to work with a larger corporate publisher or specialized boutique organizations, these are universal truths that will help you make the right decisions to ensure that your publishing experience is valuable, productive and, above all, stress-free. Easy to Use: Are you a DIY person, or do you want someone to be your personal guide and help you through the process? No matter which, make sure that the publisher you choose can work with your unique publishing mindset. DIY: For the person who prefers to do it themselves, check that the website has a full complement of online tools, training videos, whitepapers and information posted for those who prefer total automation.  A partner in publishing: For those who love to have access to personal help throughout their publishing experience, check to make sure your publisher has a team available to help with everything from file set up, graphic design, packaging and more. Proven Track Record: How long has the company been around? What is their experience / track record in the industry? Who are the principles and what is their background? Your book or product is very important to you and you should have qualified, experienced professionals with satisfied clients and proven track records to be on your team. Check the publisher’s “About” page on their website for initial background info. Read up on the executive team. See what their background is and their level of experience within the publishing industry. Look for information about other clients who have used this publisher. If their contact information is public, reach out to them to hear about their publishing experience. Customization. Your unique vision should know no boundaries. Check out what customization options are available to you. Are you required to use cookie-cutter templates or do you have access to various unique customization options for your product. “Off the shelf” ideas are great for certain standard projects, but you want to make sure that you can break out of the box and have access to all sorts of creative products and packaging depending on your needs. Ideas? Hmmm, how about drawstring bags for personalized card decks? Or t-shirts, framed certificates, goody bags, shipping boxes or clear newsletter packaging envelopes? A good publisher will take your ideas, bring them to life and then give you options that will elevate your project to even higher levels. No strings, no hidden fees: This pretty much speaks for itself. Read the fine print in any agreement or product descriptions and choose a publisher who states all project fees upfront. Who needs the stress of worrying about each little thing along the way and adding up a ‘la carte fees? Not you! Look for a publisher who will work with you with no set up fees, no minimums, and allowing all items to be produced and shipped on demand or in bulk.   Comprehensive Solutions: Check if the publishers you are looking at offer free coaching on product and packaging as well as dedicated team to support you, via email or phone support. You should never be left hanging. Check with your publisher about how progression through the publishing process will work – and that you will have access to an experienced guide who can walk you through everything from design and formatting, printing and shipping. Don’t forget to ask about comprehensive solutions ahead of time such as accdess to designers who can create artwork and packaging, edit audio files, master DVDs, and then produce and ship products. While it may be tempting to try to do it all yourself, it is worth asking about done-for-you packages that may end up saving you precious time and finances in the long run. Marketing & Sales: Once you have your product in hand, can your publisher take the extra steps to help you realize your goals by providing sales, marketing and promotional opportunities? You’ve already worked together so much – at this point it is a relief to be able to continue that relationship with someone who can help you to manage retail channels such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble, as well as format and offer ebook solutions and help ensure distribution via the largest channels available. Personal Relationships: Every step of the way you should have full access and quick response from your publisher. If you want to see how your potential publisher is with relating to their clients, go to the source, their customers. See if they have testimonials available. Reach out to those people – if they are really satisfied they will be delighted to tell you of their experiences. Referrals are the best – and truest – form of flattery. If colleagues and like-minded people have used the publisher you are looking at – and would do it again – then that’s telling you a lot. Connect with Customers to Help Your Business Grow: While we listed this last, it may indeed be the most important point you should consider. If you want to publish more books in the future, create products, and continue to grow your audience and your business, having a subscriber list is the key. Ask your publishing company how they handle sales and customer contact information, and if they provide a way for you to stay in touch with your readers and fans. By taking a close look at these 8 essential qualities, you’ll be able to easily narrow your search for the perfect publishing partner for your big project. When it comes to all of the qualities we describe above, Vervante continues to stand out from the crowd. Vervante has the experience, solutions, and systems to help you publish, share and sell high-quality books and printed products easily and profitably. And when it comes to supporting you as a business, and helping your bottom line grow, Vervante offers what no other publisher does - the ability to connect with your customers. Subscriber email lists are your #1 asset for business growth, so why send your customers to another site to buy? What does that mean? Well, if you sell through self-publishing companies such as Amazon KDP (formerly CreateSpace), you’re selling directly from Amazon. And that means the people who purchase your book are essentially Amazon’s customers and you don’t have access to customer contact information. We love Amazon, who doesn’t? But what we offer is the ability to sell your book in multiple ways, including via Amazon, with ALL customer contact information gathered for your business database. Here’s how it works: SELL FROM YOUR WEBSITE – You can sell your book via a website page you create, using your own shopping cart that’s set up to send sales details our way, and we will print and ship all orders for you. AMAZON SALES – We can also list your book on Amazon. When we list it for you, Amazon will send all order information to us, including customer information, and we will pass that info on to you. (Score!) This is how using Vervante as your back-end publishing and distribution partner allows you to have the best of both worlds – your own solution where you sell the book from a site you control, collect customer contact information critical for building your business, and we handle printing and shipping. PLUS we list your book for sale on Amazon as an additional purchasing option. It’s a win-win solution: You have access to critical customer data AND your book will be available on Amazon. We have more than 30 years of experience in the publishing industry and have worked with authors, business owners, entrepreneurs, corporations and visionaries just like you who are ready to share their brilliance and creativity. We specialize in easy, efficient and quick publishing solutions for books and products such as newsletters, CDs, DVDs, books, information products and card decks. Whether you are motivated by art, business, or life, we make it easy for you to realize your publishing dreams. For questions or help, we invite you to contact us at [email protected] or schedule a phone call with one of our publishing specialists at https://vervante.youcanbook.me/.

Vervante • September 4, 2018

We love to connect with our customers and have great conversations by email and through our phone appointments. During those chats, we’ve heard over and over a few things that we’re told really make us stand out in this industry. So in case you’re new to Vervante, or want to learn more about the different products and services we offer, here’s the top 20 reasons people say they love working with us. #1 Publishing Outside the Box: Here's why we are different: You sell from your site and we'll print and ship the product to your customer. You build your email list, make more money and we take care of the printing and shipping. You can use ANY shopping cart. No overpriced package deals, no hidden fees, and no flat shipping fee or marked up postage costs. #2 Publishing Your Way: What you want, when you want it. That’s it! If you need one book or thousands, paperback or hard cover, digital or offset – we will print your book your way. #3 Worldwide Order Fulfillment: We ship anywhere in the world using USPS and UPS services and keep you up-to-date on its status. Shipping confirmation emails are sent to recipients with tracking information. All of the order information such as status and tracking numbers are posted to your account online. #4 Personal Customer Service & Support: Need help? No problem! We're here to make sure that your questions are addressed quickly and efficiently to ensure that your project is a success. We provide several ways to get help, beginning with an FAQ page that contains detailed answers to many common questions about our products and services and is available 24/7. Next steps are to either email us at [email protected] or schedule a phone conversation with one of our publishing specialists using the link on our Contact Us page. No matter how you reach out, you can be sure that someone experience, attentive and passionate about publishing is waiting to help. #5 Inventory Management: We can print, store and drop ship on demand.  And we will manage your products and drop ship.  We provide you with access to online, real-time inventory reporting so you know exactly what we have on hand. You set the re-order points for each item and we'll automatically send you an email when it's time to replenish your inventory. #6 Free Resources: We offer a wide variety of free Resources to inspire and help you create your products. Expert Guides and How-to's Videos that will educate and inspire FAQs that provide the answers you need Print Specs & Templates for preparing print files #7 Monthly Subscription Boxes: Subscription boxes have become one of the most versatile, income-boosting and business-building products we’ve seen lately. If you’ve been thinking of adding a subscription service to your business, Vervante can help create, package, and fulfill each monthly shipment for your customers. We also offer a wide range of packaging options to help you create a box or package that stands out from the crowd. Customize your packaging on the outside with creative graphics, branding or stickers. And customize the inside with colorful tissue paper, attractive bags, mantra cards, or other unique inserts. #8 No Hidden Costs: We believe in providing our customers with competitive prices and no hidden fees.  Some of our competitors add a markup of 33% on postage? Just think how this can really add up over time. We charge exact postage fees and no mark-ups. #9 Card Decks and Packaging: Our card decks are highly customizable – they can be printed at any size, with square or round edges and in either full color or black-and-white. And when it comes to packaging – the only limit is your imagination! We’ve packaged card decks in drawstring bags, clear pop-up boxes, button/string poly envelopes and custom-printed boxes. #10 Comprehensive Online Access to Reports, Orders, Tracking & More: The Vervante Author Dashboard is like having a central "mission control" for everything you create with us. It's an all-in-one location for placing orders, checking invoices, customizing products and more. #11 No Monthly Minimums: Other companies require authors to purchase costly publishing packages to get started. These can range from $449 - $1999+ and usually include a lot of extras you probably don't need. We have no monthly fees and a no-hassle policy. #12 Books!: We can print, prepare and ship all manner of books, whatever you want, how much you want and when you want. Paperback, hardcover, coloring (for kids or adults!), children’s books, collaborative books, cookbooks, journals, planners, and whatever else you can think of.   #13 Automated Order Processing from ANY shopping cart: We accept orders from any shopping cart. #14 ISBNS, LCCNS, & Copyright: If you’re going to share, sell or distribute a book in any way, it’s best to protect it legally and set it up correctly for industry specifications. We educate our customer on everything from purchasing ISBNs for retail sales to protecting their intellectual property using copyrights, and we can help them through the process to make sure it’s done right. #15 Retail Distribution: We make it easy to sell your product through our Bookstore or on Amazon Marketplace. #16 Flexible Book Sizes: We offer a wide variety of sizes, binding, and other variations to help you create exactly what you want, and what your customers will love. #17 Book Publishing Industry Experience: We know how important it is for authors to have access to resources and guides that they trust. That’s why we offer free resources featuring a wide range of expert guides, how-to’s, technical specifications and more, all written by our team of experts with decades of experience in the publishing industry, that keep our clients up-to-date and in-the-know for all things publishing. #18 Spiral Bound and Wire-O Books and Journals: Soft cover spiral bound books printed on demand, or hard cover spiral or wire-o printed in minimum print runs of 25.  #19 Custom Packaging and Personalized Packing Slips: We offer a wide range of packaging from boxes to bags to creative options that you can customize to make your book or products really stand out. And every package we send out includes a packing slip that you can customize. #20 USB Flash drives: Customized USB flash drives can be imprinted with company logos, taglines, or contact information to create a unique product clients and customers will love.

Vervante • August 30, 2018

We’re excited to share the release of a game-changing resource for authors who need a little help navigating the self-publishing process AND guidance for using that book to grow their business and create a solid foundation for future sales success. “How to Self-Publish: The complete guide for authors, entrepreneurs and industry influencers” builds on our 2015 release of “Self-Publish Today” and was written to help authors, entrepreneurs and industry influencers make sense of all the steps that might seem confusing when publishing a book. By following this guidance in this book, you can check off all the details in a matter of days — and at a fraction of the price if you tried to figure everything out on your own. But we don’t stop there. Publishing a book can lead to so much more including new revenue streams, new clients or customers, databases of new fans that can accelerate business growth, and new opportunities for sharing your knowledge and experience. We are committed to supporting our customers throughout their experience with us and this book provides the knowledge you need to leverage the amazing potential of publishing a book for growing your business, spreading your message, and achieving your biggest goals. To order, Authors can log into their Author account, scroll to the bottom of the dashboard and click on "Order Samples." For those who don't have an Author account, you can order the printed book in our Bookstore by clicking HERE, or download a copy here. Either way, here are a few highlights: How to get access to your customer contact information so you can build a list, boost sales, and nurture an audience hungry for more. (spoiler: Vervante helps you do this – other publishers don’t!) How to prepare your manuscript for publishing Design and formatting best practices The wide variety of books you can create: Children’s books, coloring books, journals, planners, collaborative books, etc. Tips for creating eye-catching book covers How to copyright and legally protect your book Sales, distribution and marketing tips Listing your book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Baker & Taylor How to get the biggest returns / royalties And so much more! Just imagine the feeling of finally holding your book in your hands. Then watching online sales roll in, appearing at book signings, speaking from the stage about your experiences as an author, and seeing new growth in your business and passion. Whether you need five books or 5,000, we offer full-service self-publishing solutions that are easy and quick and customized to fit your exact needs. If you’d like to talk to one of our publishing experts, email [email protected]. Or schedule a phone conversation by clicking HERE.

Vervante • August 2, 2018

Did you know that today, August 2nd, is National Coloring Book Day? We love coloring books and wanted to share a few ideas and some creative free coloring pages with you today in celebration of this holiday. ADULT COLORING BOOKS are very popular right now, and a great way to create connections with potential clients, add value to products or programs you offer, or create new revenue streams to boost business income. Check out this article for tips on creating adult coloring books and ideas for incorporating the into all types of businesses. CHILDREN’S COLORING BOOKS are popular too, and we can something special we offer for children’s books authors with illustrated books. We can transform full-color books into coloring books by removing the color from illustrations and simplifying text if needed to create a companion coloring book (as seen in the illustration). It’s a quick, easy process that instantly doubles the products you can offer your audience. Plus, we can also ship coloring books with crayons or colored pencils to make them even more special. For more information about publishing children’s books and creating coloring books, check out this article. COLORING PAGE INSERTS: Products like planners, journals, books, and coaching or training materials can also benefit from the creative energy of coloring by adding individual coloring pages to the content. Check out the sneak preview of our new 2019 Planners to see what we're talking about. FREE COLORING PAGES: In honor of National Coloring Book Day, we invite you to click on the following link to download our pack of 5 gorgeous coloring pages and let your creativity soar. We really appreciate you and hope these bring a smile to your day.

Vervante • July 25, 2018

As summer speeds along, we want to remind you that if you’re thinking about offering a 2019 planner for your customers, this is the perfect time to get started. We are now offering a 15-month and 12-month version. For planners printed without any customizations, the following prices apply: 15 Month Planner (Oct 2018 - Dec 2019) printed on demand: $22.00 each 12 Month Planner (Jan 2019 - Dec 2019) printed on demand: $17.95 each (*Discounts available for orders of 25 or more.) To order a sample copy IF YOU HAVE A VERVANTE ACCOUNT: Log in and scroll to the bottom of the author dashboard. Click on “Order Samples.” The new planners are posted at the bottom of the page. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A VERVANTE ACCOUNT you can order directly from the bookstore by using the following links. (Note: Vervante Author account user names and passwords do not work in our Bookstore) 15-month Grateful Heart Planner 15-month Fresh Start Planner 12-month Grateful Heart Planner 12-month Fresh Start Planner If you'd like to customize planners by adding your logo, new pages, stickers or anything else contact us at [email protected] or schedule a phone call with our publishing pros by clicking HERE.

Vervante • July 4, 2018

As we celebrate Independence Day here in the United States, we wanted to give you a peek behind the scenes of our operations here at Vervante to let you know of our pride and commitment to the people, places and products we are fortunate to have right here in the United States of America. While some companies outsource or have taken production out of the country, Vervante is here to stay and planning on many more decades of providing you with the best of service right here here from our home. All of our books and products are printed, bound, warehoused and assembled for distribution in the USA. Our operations are based in the heart of Utah, with more than 12,000 square-feet of warehousing, fulfillment centers, and administrative space dedicated to meeting our customers’ needs. Independence is at the heart of what we do and we feel ourselves fortunate to work with people from all over the world to help them create independence in their businesses and their lives by creating products that support their goals and dreams. Happy Independence Day from us to you, no matter where you are!

Vervante • July 1, 2018

As we were reading an article from Richard Branson last week, this stood out: “No matter how big, small, simple or complex an idea is, get it in writing. But don’t just take notes for the sake of taking notes, go through your ideas and turn them into actionable and measurable goals. If you don’t write your ideas down, they could leave your head before you even leave the room.” His article, titled “Why everyone should be taking notes,” made us think of one of our favorite products – planners! If ever there was a product perfect for taking notes and turning them into actionable goals these are it. Late last year we debuted a 2018 Planner that could be customized or used as is and sell as your own. Your response made us sit up and pay attention because, wow, did you love it! Your creativity in customizing everything from the cover and images to the content and layout inside really got our wheels turning. That’s why we’re starting much earlier this year.   We’ve designed two ready-to-use planners, (pictured here), that can be your secret weapon for personal, business and revenue growth. They are unique 18-month planners that start in July 2018 and take you all the way through 2019. (If you want to launch in Jan 2019, though, no problem. We will remove the months you don’t want.) Just think – seasonal or end-of-year promotions, new year debuts, and long-term goal tracking can be planned, tracked and recorded in one (gorgeous!) place. We’ve designed our 2018/2019 planners for universal appeal. They are 7” x 9”, have two cover designs that can be done in hard cover or soft cover, and are spiral bound to easily lay flat for reading and writing. And we’ve added even more inside with a mix of full-color and black-and-white pages that include: Stickers for important dates Full-month spreads and daily planning pages Adult coloring pages Places for brainstorms, lists, and goal-tracking Inspirational quotes and motivations throughout SNEAK PEEK OF THE WHOLE PLANNER: If you'd like to see the full planner, page-by-page, click on these links: "Grateful Heart Planner," and "Fresh Start Planner." As we said, you’re welcome to use these planners just as they are and sell as your own. (They make great gifts too!) But you can also customize to make them unique. One super easy idea is to add your logo to the back cover. But we can help you take it much farther than that! Last year we saw some very creative ideas, such as: Inside pages: Create address/contact info pages, exercise and nutrition-trackers, recipe and shopping lists, journal pages, writing prompts, weekly mantras, and more. Custom stickers: You can use our sticker template and easily revise them to fit your own brand. Design new front or back covers or change the color scheme. HERE'S HOW TO ORDER A PLANNER so you can see what it looks like and how to customize or personalize it for your customers: 1. IF YOU HAVE AN AUTHOR ACCOUNT: Log in and scroll to the bottom of the author dashboard. Click on “Order Samples.” The new planners are posted at the bottom of the page. 2. If you don't have an author account you can ORDER DIRECTLY FROM THE BOOKSTORE by using the following links. (Note: Vervante Author account user names and passwords do not work in our Bookstore): Grateful Planner Fresh Start Planner 3. Let us know what ideas you have for customization. We can either send you the InDesign files to make changes directly or our graphic design team can make changes for you ($75/hour graphic design rate). Questions? Contact us at [email protected] or schedule a phone call with our publishing pros by clicking HERE for free quotes and guidance for submitting designs, customizing options, and getting your unique planners ready to go.

Vervante • June 19, 2018

Finding a new way to stand out from the crowd is always a good thing, right? Email newsletters have become of the most reliable and profitable ways of connecting with new clients, nurturing current ones, and overall helping to grow a business. Which is why so many people use them – including us! We love newsletters. In fact, we help a lot of our clients create newsletters that definitely stand out from the crowd – by creating PRINTED ones, that is! One of the most powerful – and underused – marketing tools is the printed newsletter. Whether you are a small business with a humble list, or an established entrepreneur with a sizeable audience, there’s some serious power in the printed newsletter. More effective than email, which is often quickly scanned and forgotten, a printed newsletter can be a valuable resource for the reader, who can save, reread and even share it with others. Printed newsletters: Have a higher perceived value and are better remembered and referred to later on Give peace of mind that important info will reach readers without worrying about spam filters or accidental deletions Encourage readers to connect to your message at a deeper, more emotional level Impress customers and become treasured resources Are perfect for special occasions or as “collector’s editions” Can be shipped in clear or branded envelopes and include extras such as checklists, notepads, stickers, bookmarks, or other products that complement your message Newsletters can be one page, a few pages, or even multiple-page booklets in black-and-white or full color. If you’re interested in creating a printed newsletter, we can help. Just email your ideas or questions to us at [email protected] and we’ll send you a free quote and all the answers you need.

Vervante • June 5, 2018

Does this sound familiar? You’re speaking on stage and the event planners offer you a space to sell your books and products at the back of the room – just 2 days before the big day! You’ve been asked to lead a workshop as part of someone else’s event, and at the last minute they tell you that enrollment for your class doubled! Book signing is scheduled, marketing is going well, and you receive a rush order at the last minute from the bookstore for 100 more books! It’s inevitable that at some point you’ll need to order a book or product at the last minute. We understand, that’s why here at Vervante we go the extra mile to help our customers with quick service and fast turnarounds – without adding to your stress with inflated charges, penalty fees or sluggish service. When events call for quick orders and even quicker shipping, we can help. All you need to do is place your order via your Vervante account, choose the shipping method that works best, then send us an email at [email protected] with “Rush Order Request” in the subject line. Let us know when you need your order by and we’ll do all we can to expedite printing and ship within 24-48 hours, WITHOUT charging rush fees or marking up postage costs. We’re dedicated to providing you with the best customer service and publishing experience we can – even when life throws last-minute curve balls like these.

Vervante • May 15, 2018

Want to write a book that is guaranteed to be read again and again, even night after night? Children’s books have a vast audience filled with passionate, loyal readers with insatiable curiosity and love of a good story. If you’ve ever dreamed of creating a children’s book, now is the perfect time to make that dream come true. Children’s book writers are passionate people, with new worlds and exciting stories to share. Self-publishing has opened the door for writers to share their stories with children of all ages around the world – and retain control of everything from formatting and art to marketing, sales and presentation. If you’re ready to publish your own children’s book, but not sure where to start, we’ve got some tips and tools to help put your passion into print. TIP #1: Start with great art. If you’re not an artist, you’ll want to hire or partner with an illustrator for your book. The story and the art that accompanies it are equally necessary for getting and keeping a child’s interest.  Be sure that your artist understands your vision and can produce art that helps bring your story to life before committing. TIP #2: Choose your format: The beauty of self-publishing is that it gives you the power to choose the type (or types) of formats you want your book to be. We offer a variety of styles including soft-cover, saddle-stitch or perfect bound, hard cover with gloss or matte UV finish, dust jackets, and even the ability to transform full-color books into coloring books by removing the color from illustrations and creating the perfect companion coloring book! TIP #3: Think beyond books: Printed books are just the beginning. We can also help you turn your printed book into an ebook for Kindle and Nook sales. And we offer services to create complementary products such as stickers, posters, bookmarks, calendars, cards and card decks. TIP #4: No limits, no boundaries. No matter if your dream is to create a set of 10 books as a legacy for your children and grandchildren, or 10,000 to sell in bookstores and online as part of your business as a writer, speaker or educator, our publishing services can be customized to fit your vision. Plus, we’ll let you order sample copies of your book to check out in real life before you make any large orders – and only charge you the cost of printing and shipping. No markups, no penalties, no stress. TIP #5: Presentation is everything. Bright, vibrant images are a must when it comes to children's books. Our state-of-the-art printing facilities produce illustrations and artwork in rich colors and vivid detail. We print all of our beautiful children's books in our U.S. facility. Your books can be stored in our warehouse and shipped on demand with packaging and shipping that can be customized as well with colorful packing material, fun extras and custom-designed boxes and stickers that will delight kids and adults. If you’re ready to publish a children's book, we provide the high-quality, affordable printing services you need to create something truly amazing that kids and parents will love. Please email us at [email protected] or schedule a call with one of our publishing professionals HERE for free quotes and to answer any questions you might have.

Vervante • April 27, 2018

Offering your book through a retail outlet is much more than a good way to increase your revenue. Selling your book in stores and online is also a great way to: improve search engine optimization (SEO) increase sales opportunities elevate your status as an author establish yourself as an expert in your field expand your audience and visibility online get bookings for speaking gigs, workshops, trainings, retreats, etc. create a fan base to support future books and products Vervante can list your book for retail sales in places like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the Vervante Bookstore, however we strongly recommend that the majority of your sales are processed via your own website.  The most important asset you have in your business is your customer email list and when you process orders on your own site, you collect the customer data and build your list!  Listing your book on Amazon is a great secondary distribution channel and we can help with everything from A to Z: listing, orders, managing sales transactions, printing and distribution. We get lots of questions about retail sales, so we’ve put together the following list of frequently asked questions and answers here for quick reference. For more detailed information, please log in to your Vervante Author Account, scroll to the Support section, and click on “List Physical Product for Retail Distribution” or “List eBook for Retail Distribution.” RETAIL BOOK SALES FAQs Q:  How do I submit my book or product for retail distribution? A:  Log into your Vervante author account, scroll down to the Support section and click on “List Physical Product for Retail Distribution” or “List eBook for Retail Distribution.” Q:  How much do you charge to list products via retail channels?  A:  Listing your book or product on Amazon and/or the Vervante Bookstore is FREE.  There is a one-time charge of $50 for Barnes & Noble and Baker & Taylor. Q:  Where can you list books for sale online? A:  We can list books in the following places for direct sales: Vervante Bookstore Amazon.com (US and Canada) Barnes & Noble.com Barnes & Noble Nook Baker & Taylor Amazon Kindle Q:  Can I only list books for sale? What about other products? A:  You can add physical products to the Vervante bookstore and Amazon.  You can only list books with Baker & Taylor. Q:  What is the turnaround time from submitting a book or product to when it’s available on that retail channel? A:  Turnaround times vary by each organization. Here is an approximate amount of time for each one to take from request to ready for sales: Vervante & Amazon Marketplace: 3 business days Amazon Advantage: 7 business days Baker & Taylor and Barnes & Noble: 14 business days Q:  Do I need to provide ISBN numbers or UPCs for books or products to be sold online? A:  Yes, an ISBN number (International Standard Book Number) is required for books and CDs sold through retail channels such as Amazon or Baker & Taylor. Vervante sells ISBN numbers for $35 per ISBN. Q: Can I change the description or price of my product currently listed on Amazon? A: Yes! Just send us an email at [email protected] letting us know the product and your requested changes and we would be happy to do this for you. Q: I love how Amazon lets shoppers peek inside the book before buying. Do you offer anything like this? A: We love that feature, too! Which is why we're happy to let you know that we do offer a sneak peek into books when readers are browsing in the Vervante Bookstore called "Peek-A-Book.” Q:  I already have a website and sales page where I promote and sell my book. Can I still list my book in other retail channels such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble as additional distribution channels? A:  Yes, you can list your book for sale in all of the channels we mention, in addition to your own website and sales page. Q:  How do I keep track of sales once my book or product is listed? A:  All orders are posted in your Vervante author account.  You can identify orders from Amazon by the 17-digit referring order ID on your “View orders” page.  Orders from the Vervante Bookstore are posted on a separate page in your account. Q: How are fees and royalties accounted for and where can I view that information? A:  All of your financial information is posted on your Vervante Author Dashboard on the Statements page.   You can also track your profit on each Amazon order by viewing the Amazon Order Reconciliation Report. Q: What’s best – sell my book on my own website, or offer it through someplace like Amazon? A: With our services, you can have the best of both worlds! Here’s why: If you have a business, plan on writing more books or creating more products, and want to develop a connection with your audience and readers that supports future sales and growth, selling via your own website or sales page should be your primary option, with sales through Amazon and others like it as your secondary sales channel. Selling your books and products from a site you control, and not sending customers to purchase directly through Amazon or other online retailers, allows you to grow your database of customer information. As business owners, building an email list of loyal, interested customers should be your #1 priority because email subscribers can become repeat product buyers.  We want you to sell lots of books and we’ll help you do that, so as a secondary distribution channel to your site, we recommend Amazon Marketplace. We list your books and products on Amazon for you, then we handle orders and shipping. This way you know who is buying your product because we receive the orders and shipping addresses and provide that information to you. Q:  How do I know which retail channels (in addition to my own sales page) are the best for me? A: When it’s time to choose a retail option for selling your book online, it’s not just about how much profit you can make. Think strategically about where your audience likes to shop, how easy you want the sales process to be and which of these will offer the best resources, experience and returns for you and your book overall. Remember, you aren’t limited to only one distribution option and you can choose either one or a combination of several that will best fit your needs. Each retail channel works a bit differently, so we’ll share a few details about each one below. If you’re still not sure, our publishing professionals will be happy to help you make the decision. Just reach out to [email protected] or schedule a phone appointment using the link on our website contact page. AMAZON MARKETPLACE This is the most popular Amazon program option for authors. In this program, you pay Amazon 15% commission plus $1.80 per transaction. We will add your book or product to Amazon through our account with Amazon.  We will process your Amazon Marketplace orders daily and ship the order directly to the buyer. Amazon Marketplace orders must ship within two business days per Amazon’s requirements, so the product must be available for printing or in stock.  Unfortunately, we cannot list a product on Amazon for pre-order. We provide an Amazon Marketplace Reconciliation report in your Vervante author account so that you can track the profit/royalty on each order and transaction.   Amazon Advantage This is a consignment program with Amazon. When your book is listed in this program, Amazon will order 1-2 initial copies for their inventory. When the book is sold, Amazon will ship the book directly to the customer and will take a 55% discount on the retail price of the book. You are also responsible for the postage costs to ship the book to Amazon. Baker & Taylor Baker & Taylor, one of the largest wholesale distributors in the world, sells and distributes to book stores, and book resellers. If you opt to have Vervante list your book in the Baker & Taylor database any book reseller, such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble, can order and stock it in their physical or online bookstore. Baker & Taylor takes a 55 percent discount off the price of the book and you are responsible for paying for shipping to the Baker & Taylor warehouse. Barnes & Noble The ordering and fulfilment process for Barnes & Noble orders is pretty much the same as with Baker & Taylor. Vervante receives purchase orders, prints and ships your products to Barnes & Noble, and you are credited for sales within approximately 90 days. Barnes & Noble requires a 40% discount. Vervante Bookstore For many of our customers, the idea of processing credit cards, setting up a shopping cart and dealing with calculating shipping costs can be overwhelming. We have the perfect, easy solution!  We encourage you to have a landing page on your site and direct all of your sales and marketing efforts to your website.  We’ll set up a product page in our bookstore for your book or product. We can create a dedicated online author page that highlights you and your book or product to provide more in-depth information, including Vervante’s Peek-A-Book feature that allows readers to see select pages inside the book. All you need to do is redirect the “buy” button from your site to your page in our bookstore and the buyer then makes their purchase on our site. Selling your book or product in the Vervante bookstore eliminates the need for credit card processing on your site but it also eliminates the need for you to calculate postage and shipping options.  In the Vervante bookstore the buyer makes their shipping selection and pays us for the postage. The transaction fee for purchases in the Vervante bookstore is a low 10 percent fee per transaction. BOOKS AND BEYOND In addition to books, we offer a variety of other products and services. A book usually leads to more products such as a journal, workbook, a home study, an audio or video program, a coaching or training program, card decks, etc. You can also send us products such as apparel or branded promotional items to include and ship with your book or products. Our staff of publishing professionals are happy to help with any questions about retails sales and book or product publishing. We also offer ISBNs, UPCs, Copyright Registration and LCCN applications. And we have a full library of free expert guides you can access any time online.

Vervante • April 19, 2018

Your book is ready. Your new coaching product or card deck looks amazing ... on your computer. But what would really make you happy is to have a printed and bound copy or a finished card deck in your hands right now to make sure it’s everything you want it to be. Printing just one copy of your book or product is usually quick and very easy. We want you to be happy with what you’re creating and taking the time to print a preview copy is a great way to make it so. Printing one copy of your book or product can help you to: Check that the appearance and quality are as expected Use as an advanced reading copy (ARC) for invaluable reader feedback See if the design looks as good in person as it did on your computer screen Check that the fonts and sizes are easy to read For the majority of products that we offer, printing a single copy isn’t just a possibility, it’s incredibly easy and affordable. If we can print your product on demand, you will only be charged the cost per product and shipping. No extras, no penalties, no hassles. All you need to do is upload the print-ready files, place your order, and your book or product will be printed and shipped right away. Our standard turnaround time is usually 3-4 business days, so even if you’re not in a rush, we’ll get your new product printed and shipped in just a few days. Questions? Ideas? We’re here to help at [email protected].

Vervante • April 7, 2018

Wow, our last article sharing a comparison of Vervante’s services to Amazon’s self-publishing solution Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), formerly CreateSpace, caused quite a positive response! In fact, we received so many requests from authors interested in moving their books from Amazon KDP to Vervante that we wrote up the following FAQs and next step information for authors ready to make a change. But first, we’d like to clarify that using Vervante doesn’t mean you can’t have your book on Amazon.  Just the opposite, in fact.  We want you to sell your book on Amazon – just not as the only purchasing option. When you link your sales/buy buttons directly to Amazon via KDP, you can’t capture the customer data. We think that’s pretty important when it comes to building your business.   Using Vervante as your back-end publishing and distribution partner allows you to have the best of both worlds! You sell the book from your site, collect the customer’s data, and we’ll print and ship your book. Then, as a secondary purchasing option, we’ll list your book on Amazon. You’ll have access to customer data AND your book will be available on Amazon. Q: If I use Vervante can I still have my book listed on Amazon? A: Yes, we encourage you to sell your book from your own site so that you can capture the email address of your customers. AND we recommend that we list your book on Amazon as a secondary purchase option. It’s a win-win situation all around! Q: How do I move my book to Vervante if it’s already listed with KDP / CreateSpace?  A: There are two ways to “Unpublish” a book with KDP / CreateSpace:  Option #1 – Change Status 1. Log in to Amazon KDP and go to your dashboard. 2. Click on your listing 3. Go to the third link under 'set up', which is 'interior' and click on that. 4. The second option is 'Change' in a blue, oval button. Click on that. You will see this message: “You have selected to make changes:  WARNING: If you make any changes to the setup of your book, you must complete the review process again. Is this what you want to do?” 5. Select 'Proceed' 6. Now when you go back to 'Member Dashboard' your book will show as 'incomplete' It takes a day or two, but the book will eventually be shown in listings as 'unavailable' Option #2 – Retire the Book Email customer service at KDP and ask them to retire your book. This should also make the book unavailable for ordering. Q: Will I need to redo my current listing page on Amazon if I stop using CreateSpace? What about my testimonials, will they disappear? A:   No. If we list your book with Amazon Marketplace your current book page and all testimonials will stay the same. The only difference is that Vervante will now receive all orders and ship them for you. There are two advantages to Marketplace:  1) 15% Amazon commission vs. 40% CreateSpace commission, 2) You will have access to the names and mailing addresses of customers who buy your book. You won’t get their email address but we can include a letter with the book encouraging the buyer to visit your site and opt into your newsletter or blog. Q: Does Vervante print books on-demand? A: Yes, we can print and ship your book on-demand, print in small batches or print thousands – whatever you need. Q: Can I order books for myself at my cost? A: Yes, your book will be available in your Vervante Author Account where you can order it at your cost.  We also offer bulk order discounts for books and products. Contact us at [email protected] if you plan on a large order. Q: I’m ready to get started with Vervante, what’s my first move? A: First, you need a Vervante author account, set one up HERE. Once that’s done, you can request a free quote for your book from your Author Dashboard online, or email us at [email protected]. If you have questions or would like to discuss your project, you can also schedule a phone call with us using our online system HERE. Q: How do book sales work? A: If you already have a sales and shopping cart system set up online, great! We can process orders from ANY shopping cart, no matter which one you use. And you don't need to worry about integration, API, or any of that fancy complicated stuff. For details on integrating shopping carts into our system, click HERE. No website or shopping cart? No problem. Vervante has a public bookstore solution. We can sell your book in our store and you’ll have access to the email and customer data. Listing on Amazon: We love Amazon, and we still want you to list your book there. Our recommendation to switch from KDP / CreateSpace doesn’t mean we don’t see the value of having your book listed there. We just want to offer you the ability to collect and build your customer contact list without giving away your customer data to KDP / CreateSpace. All you need to do to list your book on Amazon using Amazon Marketplace is to let us know and we’ll take care of the details. Q: How do I get paid for Amazon Marketplace orders? A: We’ve put together a special guide called “From Retail Sales to Royalties” to help authors follow the money trail for everything from sales to royalties for their books and products. Check it out HERE. Q: What are your options for book binding? A: We offer a variety of binding options:  spiral, wire-o, saddle-stitch, perfect bound, hardcover, 3-ring binders. Q: I’d like to print my book mostly in black-and-while, but with a few color pages mixed in. Do you offer options for color or partial color? A: We can print an entire book in color, partial color (just a few pages within the book), or black-and-white. If your book has just partial color then we only charge you for those pages to be printed in color, not the entire book. Q: How do the numbers work again? A: We’ve created this handy chart to show you the numbers.                                     Q: Can I send marketing materials or a letter with the book?  A: Yes, we can include materials we print such a letter, bookmark, postcard, etc. or even items that you provide us to include in the packaging with your book. Q: What if I don’t live in the United States? A: No problem, we have lots of international customers who use us as their U.S.-based distribution option. And we can send book orders anywhere in the world. We hope this helped create a clearer picture of our services, and inspired you to let us help create your next book or product. Questions, ideas, comments? We're here for you at [email protected]. You can also schedule a phone call through our online link HERE.