We think perfect-bound books are perfectly wonderful. And that’s why we’re pretty excited about this special offer – check it out!
For the month of August, you can enjoy:
10% printing discount: Print any perfect bound book, in any quantity. Want 1? Great. Want 1,000? We can do that too.
Free: We’ll store them in our warehouse until you’re ready to send.
Plus: Extra discounts on printing and shipping if you order in bulk (see below).
If you have a perfect-bound book, this is a great time to plan ahead, print what you’ll need for the rest of year at a discount, and enjoy the luxury of free warehousing and discounted fulfillment services once you are ready to send them out.
Oh, and bulk order discounts still apply, which means you can boost your savings even more. Here are the details for printing costs with bulk discounts applied:
1-99 books: $5.33 per book*
100+ Books: $3.75
250+ Books: $3.00
1000+ Books: $2.27
Plus: Place a bulk order and you’ll receive a 20% DISCOUNTED FULFILLMENT FEE for books printed in bulk and then shipped on demand.
*Prices based on 120 pages, 6x9 or smaller, black & white text, no bleeds, full color cover, perfect bound. Prices do not include postage.
Ready to print? Contact [email protected] to get your project started right away. And remember, this offer only lasts until August 31.
Marjorie Geiser is President of MEG Enterprises, Inc., which provides wellness and service professionals with tools, techniques and determination to build the businesses of their dreams. She started with a small, sports nutrition and personal training business in 1996, and today runs a 6-figure virtual business from her home office, working 3 days a week.
Margie has an MBA in Entrepreneurship, is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, a Board Certified Coach, and is the author of “Just Jump: The No-Fear Business Start-up Guide for Health and Fitness Professionals.”
Q: Tell us a little about your book and information product. And the inspiration behind them.
My book, “Just Jump: The No-Fear Business Start-up Guide for Health and Wellness Professionals” takes the reader through a journey of self-discovery. Most health and wellness professionals are experts in their area of specialty, but know nothing about business. Through a series of introspective exercises, I feel this is “the” missing link. Many people tell me they have read tons of business books, but because they are written in business terms, they glaze over while reading them. “Just Jump” is different: It’s my coaching process on paper, and I believe that the questions the reader must answer help him/her address areas essential to address long before they start the planning.
I wrote “Just Jump” because I realized that many people just starting a business couldn’t afford to work with me privately. The book was written to help a greater number of people realize their dream of starting a business that would bring them fulfillment and a sense of accomplishment in their lives.
“Make Great Money Without Selling Your Soul” was the culmination of a mastermind program I offered for several years. “Make Great Money” is the next step after “Just Jump,” because it gets deeper into helping the reader and listener, again through series of exercises, develop their niche, their brand, move away from dollars for hours, and develop a marketing approach that helps them feel good after a ‘sales’ conversation with a potential client, AND increase how many clients they get. It also addresses an issue often ignored in business building products; Money mindset and what role it plays in success… or not.
“Make Great Money” is a series of 7 CDs and a workbook including all the exercises. Customers are also invited to join a private support community, where they are encouraged to share their work, in order to receive feedback from me and their peers. I developed “Make Great Money” again to help a greater number of people realize their dreams, taking the next step after “Just Jump” and gain a deeper understanding of what marketing is and how they can embrace it.
Q: How have these products affected your business?
Having books and products helps me better serve my audience, because I can better determine exactly what it is that they most need, based on our initial conversation. As a consequence, someone who cannot afford my private coaching, or isn’t ready for it, can still get help by buying my book or any of my products.
But having products also helps the bottom line of the company, because they are always available, providing a source of passive income. Because I often offer sales, my followers eagerly keep an eye on what I share, which results in a better open rate in my communications.
But I do have to say, creating products is FUN, too!
Q: Anything you would have done differently?
If I were starting out today, I would produce more products much sooner. It’s so easy, with so many different options. If you want to offer electronic products, you can literally have them up and for sale within a matter of days, if not hours. Companies such as Vervante make the production of physical products a breeze, and with print on demand, even offering something like “Make Great Money” an affordable proposition.
Q: Besides your books, you also do a lot of writing for your blog and business as well. Do you ever deal with writer’s block?
I remember discussing how to handle writer’s block with my coach once. Since then, whenever a concept/thought comes to me, I make sure to make a note of it. It might sometimes be just a title idea. But because I write 3 blogs a week, and am currently working on multiple small ebooks, I HAD to come up with a solution to this challenge.
Q: Any wisdom you would share with entrepreneurs who are thinking about adding books or multimedia products to their business?
As Nike says: “Just do it!” You can always edit/tweak/update products. But by getting your ideas out there, you have the opportunity to make a greater impact on the world. Holding back on an idea just makes no sense, today, because so much of it is really ‘risk-free.’
Using print-on-demand products practically makes creating products and books risk-free. In fact, as one example, just a few months ago, we updated the cover of my book “Just Jump,” and, including the cost of the designer, it was less than $100. No more do authors/publishers have to order thousands of books from the printer.
I used Vervante to create the physical version of my product “Make Great Money Without Selling Your Soul,” and it was a fabulous experience! The staff was very patient and supportive through the entire process of setting up the product. I had a lot of questions about creating a product that had multiple CDs and a workbook. Customers who have purchased the product have been pleased with the quality and timely receipt of the product.
Because all of my clients are health professionals, many who provide integrative and functional nutrition services, I was excited when I heard Vervante was offering storing and shipping of supplement products. I trust them completely and the next time a client asks my opinion about how best to sell products, I can confidently steer them to Vervante.
Q: You’ve enjoyed great sales with “Just Jump.” What’s your technique for igniting sales and increasing interest?
I am a member of the International Coach Federation, the National Speakers Association and the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics., so I am often on the stage, presenting live, or even featured on radio shows or webinars online to a wide variety of audiences. During presentations, my book is always mentioned in the introduction and I make it a point to reference my book at appropriate time throughout. Nothing too salesy, just occasional short stories or anecdotes that complement what I’m speaking about, while subtly mentioning that they are from the book in case anyone in the audience might want to follow up. I also make sure to negotiate the ability to sell my books while at events, most of the time event organizers are OK with it.
Sometimes events are exactly about the subject your book is about. If not, they are usually complementary to your topic and it’s good to give your audience the choice to follow up with you about your book if it appeals to them.
I also offer a companion ebook with my book sales to sweeten the deal. It gives me an opportunity to offer more value to my audience. It is a great way to fit in all the stuff that didn’t fit into the physical book and a way to print out pages and have a place to take notes for those who don’t like to mark up their books.
Q: With more and more products and services being offered by self-publishing companies, how do you see your offerings evolving in the future (and your clients?)
With a primary audience composed of dieticians and people who work in integrated health industry, a lot of them offer or are expanding into offering nutritional supplements and similar products. A common question with new clients these days is “how do I do this?” It’s complicated when you have to use multiple vendors. Finding someone like Vervante that offers printing, distribution, bundling of products, warehousing and strategic partnerships is priceless. This makes it easier, more efficient for people to have a main vendor they can trust for quality and professionalism.
5 Fun Facts about Margie
1. Favorite books / authors
There are SO MANY favorite books, and in both fiction and non-fiction! My favorite business books lately have been Guy Kawasaki's "APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur," Jay Baer's "Youtility," and Carmine Gallo's "Talk Like TED." Also, my favorite novels are historical novels. I LOVE the Hangman's Daughter historical novel books.
2. Personal words you live by
With vision and planning, ANYTHING is possible!
3. Fun times and relaxation favorites
LOTS of hiking. We've hiked the Grand Canyon several times. We live in a national forest and are just minutes from tons of trails. We moved to a new home last year and I am having a great time playing in our garden.
4. One thing about you that would surprise people
I'm a home body. Other than hiking, I prefer to stay home. Probably why I'm so suited to working out of my home office. I could go all day without talking, too.
5. What makes you happy?
Grin; I'm a pretty happy person. I LOVE witnessing the success of those I work with. Makes my work have meaning. Of course, our 18-month-old grandson is pretty cool, too!
Lyle McDonald has helped thousands to change their bodies for the better through products, programs and online resources that focus on health, fitness and nutrition. Lyle became interested in sports performance in high school which led him to UCLA to pursue a degree in kinesiology/exercise physiology. During this time he got involved in competitive cycling and in-line skating which took him deeper into the science and practice of sports performance, nutrition, training, and supplements. His first book, The Ketogenic Diet, was published in 1997 and he has written 10 books since then on various topics of nutrition, fat loss, diet and exercise. Lyle is also a passionate volunteer and advocate for the Austin Humane Shelter and regularly shares his experiences on his website with the shelter and his two rescue dogs Alfie and Norman.
Q: What inspired you to become an author?
My first book was written back in the 90's; due to my presence online and background I had become a bit of an "expert" on low-carbohydrate diets and set out to write an objective book on the topic, looking at both the pros and cons of such diets. I actually originally published it through a short-run print house before switching to Vervante and have produced 7 products through them since.
For various reasons, I had become dissatisfied with my short run print company, mainly with having to maintain inventory, pay up front for books and handle the shipping myself. As print-on-demand services like Vervante offers became more common I researched them heavily and made the switch.
What I liked most about Vervante was that their setup was easy and they do not charge a setup fee. They also do not take a percentage of sales like many other companies outside of actual print and shipping costs. Being able to pay at the end of the month only for products actually sold, plus the fact that they handle returns and reships quickly and easily, sold me. I've never looked back and refer any friends or colleagues looking to get into book publishing without a publisher to Vervante.
Q: Do you offer digital downloads along with printed products?
I actually do. I had offered digital downloads earlier in my career but became frustrated with piracy so I stopped. Two years ago I started offering them again and am thankful I did. We are moving to a digital age and a majority of my sales are digital only. However, I offer bundles on all of my books where the purchaser can get the hardcopy (for people who want physical books) and the immediately downloadable digital version. I have also recently got into Kindle .epubs and Nook formatted products. So many people are using only phones or tablets, so they need scalable digital files. I really see digital ‘books’ as almost overtaking the physical kind in the future. No need for space, easy to transport, we live in a digital world now.
Q: What advice would you give to other authors who want to increase exposure and sales?
I am in a different position than most as I’ve been in the field and online for 20 years now. Getting started with writing now is much more difficult, there is much more competition, and it’s a lot harder to stand out.
I have hosted a handful of seminars including in Canada and Ireland, but beyond that I’ve mainly just focused on books themselves. I am lucky that I was on the Internet in 2004, about when it started, so by the time I got around to really writing I was well-known and already had the exposure. Certainly as the Internet grows, my exposure grows by leaps and bounds. Since I focus on nutrition and fat loss books, and given that just about every forum has some type of weight loss related topic, people more or less do my marketing for me.
Writing good content and quality books is the first step, but without marketing you’re a store that nobody can find. YouTube, Facebook and Twitter are more or less mandatory now. Finding folks who are popular bloggers in a niche, who have a following, also helps. Approach them politely and offer to send a book copy for review. If you have an affiliate program make them aware of it. Yes, objectivity can suffer when affiliates are making money off the product but that’s really part and parcel for the Internet now. Even Amazon takes a cut and nobody complains about their business practices. A recent practice is to actually release the whole book or a chapter (usually digitally), for free initially, giving readers a chance to sample it without risk. If they like it, they will buy it. People are tired of flashy marketing that sells garbage books. Show readers you’re a good writer, don’t just tell them. In the long run that, more than anything, will help with growth. People that like your work tell two friends and they will tell two friends, and so on. In a world dominated by social media, all it takes is for a few people to share your work and it can explode.
Q: What do you wish that someone had told you BEFORE you began publishing books?
My first book was a nightmare since I didn't know what I was doing. From layout to not getting an ISBN, or realizing how long it took to get them (this was in the mid-90's), my first book's publishing was delayed for reasons that had nothing to do with the writing. To be honest, my first book was such a disaster that I almost gave up on it near the end. After that, trying to write another book gave me anxiety attacks for years. It was all pretty difficult. But that was part of the learning experience and I didn’t have access to resources to help me through all of the problems (again this was the mid-90's). I had also already been selling my book through a different company to begin with; a lot of the problems were fixed by switching to a better company, Vervante. Now, I mainly try to walk friends/colleagues who are doing their first book through the minefield of potential problems since I think I personally found them all.
The only problem I can recall early on with Vervante was a very old issue with the author interface. I had some books that never made it to the purchaser but I wasn't aware of it and wasn't able to correct the problem. They really stepped up when they identified the problem. Since that time Vervante has made significant improvements to the author interface and there's nothing I can't check in terms of orders that didn't ship or when I need to put in specific order requests myself. My books are well received, people seem happy with quality of the books and shipping, and that makes me happy.
Five Fun Facts about Lyle
1. Favorite book / author
Robert Sapolsky is the writer I hope to someday be when I grow up. His ability to take complex scientific concepts and write about them in a fashion that is both non-technical and entertaining is a skill and an art that most science writers lack. He is truly brilliant. I also have a long enjoyment of Robert Anton Wilson, a counterculture author to be sure but reading his work truly gave me a new perspective on not only the world but on how to think about things.
2. What are you reading right now?
I actually just started re-reading Sapolsky’s book Monkeyluv. I had lent out my copy and never gotten it back. I’m also re-reading The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson, a 3rd generation cyberpunk and author. I love his work.
3. And when you’re not writing?
I watch a lot of Netflix, I love the ability to watch shows from beginning to end. Video games. Playing with my dogs. I’m quite the introvert so I tend to be fairly much of a homebody.
4. One thing about you that would surprise people:
That despite my often brash online demeanor, I can actually be the best friend anyone will ever have. I’m just 100% or nothing. A friend I will do anything for. Everyone else...
Marjorie Geiser is President of MEG Enterprises, Inc., which provides wellness and service professionals with tools, techniques and determination to build the businesses of their dreams. She started with a small, sports nutrition and personal training business in 1996, and today runs a 6-figure virtual business from her home office, working 3 days a week.
Q: Any wisdom you would share with entrepreneurs who are thinking about adding books or multimedia products to their business?
Lyle McDonald has helped thousands to change their bodies for the better through products, programs and online resources that focus on health, fitness and nutrition. Lyle became interested in sports performance in high school which led him to UCLA to pursue a degree in kinesiology/exercise physiology. During this time he got involved in competitive cycling and in-line skating which took him deeper into the science and practice of sports performance, nutrition, training, and supplements. His first book, 
Writing good content and quality books is the first step, but without marketing you’re a store that nobody can find. YouTube, Facebook and Twitter are more or less mandatory now. Finding folks who are popular bloggers in a niche, who have a following, also helps. Approach them politely and offer to send a book copy for review. If you have an affiliate program make them aware of it. Yes, objectivity can suffer when affiliates are making money off the product but that’s really part and parcel for the Internet now. Even Amazon takes a cut and nobody complains about their business practices. A recent practice is to actually release the whole book or a chapter (usually digitally), for free initially, giving readers a chance to sample it without risk. If they like it, they will buy it. People are tired of flashy marketing that sells garbage books. Show readers you’re a good writer, don’t just tell them. In the long run that, more than anything, will help with growth. People that like your work tell two friends and they will tell two friends, and so on. In a world dominated by social media, all it takes is for a few people to share your work and it can explode.