Blog

Vervante • February 5, 2026

Why Amazon KDP Isn’t Always the Best Choice There is no question that Amazon KDP offers reach. Your book is listed in the world’s largest marketplace, and copies are printed near the buyer. For many authors, that convenience is appealing. But convenience is not the same as consistency. We regularly hear from authors who come to us frustrated with: • Inconsistent print quality, such as faded ink, uneven color, crooked trims, or covers that feel thin • Copies that look different depending on where they were printed • Author copies arriving late or missing important launch dates • Limited support when something goes wrong • Negative reviews caused by manufacturing defects When you are building a brand, those issues matter. What Authors Want Instead Most authors tell us they are not just looking for distribution. They want reliability and a book they are proud to hand to someone.  Here is what makes the difference. Consistent Quality: Whether you print 20 copies or 2,000, your books are produced to the same standard. Paper, binding, and color are not left to chance. On Time Delivery: If you have a launch, event, or conference, we work backward from your date so your books are ready when you need them. More Flexibility: You are not limited to preset options. We offer custom trim sizes, mixed black-and-color interiors, and finishing options such as foil stamping, embossing, UV coating, matte, gloss, or soft-touch lamination. We can even print and insert bookmarks, letters, or promotional pieces so your book becomes part of a complete branded experience. Amazon is built for efficiency. It is not built for distinction. If quality, timing, and presentation matter to you, let’s create a paperback that reflects the value of what you wrote. Request a custom quote or order samples and see the difference for yourself. At Vervante, every copy matters.

Vervante • January 4, 2026

If you’ve been selling printed products for any length of time, you may have noticed that Amazon doesn’t work the way it used to, especially when it comes to books. Over the past year, Amazon has made quiet but significant changes that affect how new products can be listed on its marketplace. We want to clearly explain what’s changed, what’s still allowed, and how creators can move forward. Amazon Is No Longer Allowing New Book Listings in the Books Category Amazon has changed how they manage the Books category on its marketplace. At this time, new titles cannot be added to the Books category through Amazon Marketplace. This applies regardless of binding type, print-on-demand vs. products in inventory, or the seller history or longevity. This is not a temporary error or a missing approval step. Amazon has tightened control over book listings and now limits how new books are introduced to the platform. Why This Is Happening: Amazon is increasingly directing books into Amazon-controlled publishing programs rather than allowing third-party marketplace listings. While this shift hasn’t been clearly announced, it has affected many established sellers and publishers.  Even companies that have sold on Amazon for decades are seeing the same restriction. What This Means for Print-on-Demand Books:  Vervante offers true print-on-demand, meaning books can be printed and shipped one at a time as orders come in. However, even with print-on-demand, Amazon is not approving new book listings in the Books category through Marketplace.  If Amazon were allowing new book listings, print-on-demand would work just fine. The limitation is Amazon’s category policy, not the printing or fulfillment model. What Products Can Still Be Listed on Amazon:  While books are restricted, Amazon still allows certain non-book products to be listed in other categories.  Currently: Planners and Journals may be listed in the Office Products category Card decks may be listed in the Games category These categories are not always an ideal fit, but they are the only options Amazon currently allows for these product types on the Amazon Marketplace.   Because category placement affects discoverability and search behavior, we always want customers to understand the tradeoffs before choosing this route. Why Amazon Should Be a Secondary Sales Channel: Amazon policies change frequently and without much notice. For that reason, we encourage creators to think of Amazon as a secondary sales channel, not the foundation of their business.  Many authors and creators are shifting their focus to channels where they have more control, including branding and presentation, customer data and email lists, and long-term business growth. Where Creators Are Selling Instead:  We’re seeing strong results for customers selling through direct sales and landing pages, online marketplaces like Etsy, TikTok Shop, and Faire, and event-based sales. Our Commitment to Clear, Honest Guidance: We’ve sold products on Amazon for 25 years and continue to monitor their policies closely. If Amazon reopens access to the Books category or expands how products can be listed, we’ll revisit these options and update you.  In the meantime, we believe transparency matters. Our goal is to help you understand what’s possible today so you can make informed decisions about where and how to sell your products. If you have questions about print-on-demand, fulfillment, or alternative sales channels, we’re always happy to help.

Vervante • January 9, 2025

At Vervante, we believe that one of the most valuable things you can do for your business is to build your email list—and the best way to do that is by selling directly from your website. However, adding Amazon Marketplace as a secondary sales channel can increase exposure and visibility. The good news? You don’t have to choose just one. You can sell from your site AND reach new customers on Amazon! For those who prefer a hassle-free option without managing shopping carts, sales tax, or shipping logistics, the Vervante Bookstore offers a simple and stress-free solution. Whether you sell from your site, Amazon, or the Vervante Bookstore, each option provides unique benefits to help grow your business. Expand Your Reach with Amazon Marketplace Selling on Amazon is a powerful way to connect with a broader audience while letting us handle the logistics. Here’s how it works: ✅ We Create the Listing – Provide us with your product details, and we’ll create your Amazon Marketplace listing. You maintain control over pricing, and Amazon won't discount your product. If you have an Author Central account, your Marketplace listings will be linked to your existing KDP products. ✅ Effortless Fulfillment – When a customer orders on Amazon, we print (or pull from your inventory) and ship directly to the buyer, complete with tracking information. ✅ Simple Payment Process – Amazon collects the payment, deducts their fees (15% + $1.80 per transaction) and pays Vervante. We then reconcile these transactions with your monthly invoice, crediting your Vervante account for easy payouts. ✅ Sales Tracking Made Easy – Amazon sales data and website orders will be visible in your Vervante Author Account. However, note that Amazon does not share customer email addresses. Why Use Both Your Website and Amazon? ✔️ Your Website – You control the customer relationship, collect valuable data, and build your brand. ✔️ Amazon Marketplace – Gain exposure to millions of buyers with a hands-free setup and fulfillment process. Why Sell in the Vervante Bookstore? If you want a simple way to sell without handling shopping carts, sales tax, and order fulfillment, the Vervante Bookstore is a great option. Here’s how it works: ✅ Create a Landing Page – Showcase your product, tell your story, and add a ‘Buy’ button. ✅ Redirect to the Vervante Bookstore – The ‘Buy’ button links directly to your product’s page in our bookstore. ✅ Hassle-Free Transactions – We handle credit card processing, print and ship orders (or pull from inventory), and provide customer support. ✅ Sales Tax Covered – We collect and remit sales tax, so you don’t have to worry about compliance. ✅ Stay Informed – We share order and customer information with you so you’re always in the loop. Stress-Free Selling with the Vervante Bookstore For those new to online sales or looking for a streamlined selling process, the Vervante Bookstore makes it easy. We set up your sales pages, process payments, and handle fulfillment, allowing you to focus on growing your business. ✅ Set your retail price and stay in control ✅ Pay only a simple 10% per-transaction fee ✅ Buyers cover shipping costs ✅ We collect and remit sales tax ✅ Online order reports keep you informed Sell More, Stress Less with Vervante! Why limit your sales to just one platform? Combining your website, Amazon Marketplace, and the Vervante Bookstore gives you the best of all worlds—greater visibility, easy fulfillment, and higher profit potential.  

Vervante • October 15, 2022

Earlier on the blog we talked about how important it is to be strategic about where you sell your products online. Amazon is often the first place you may think of for buying books. Etsy is great for creative products like notepads, card decks, and daily planners. But we also pointed out that using your own website or online store - such as the Vervante Bookstore - is another great option that might fit your needs best. Here's the bottom line, though. You don't have to choose just one. You can have it all by selling on all three!   First: Sell from your own website Your primary sales option for customers should be your own website. Selling your book or products online through your own website/shopping cart (or Vervante’s Online Bookstore if you don't have or want to process credit cards), means more profit, control, and connection with your readers. Even if people don’t buy right away, by directing them to your website you’ve got a chance to create a connection, offer a free download, or opt into your newsletter. Anything that will put them on the path to staying connected, becoming more involved, and eventually become loyal fans that support your long-term success.   Next: Sell via Amazon or Etsy The online reach of Amazon and Etsy is impressive, and using them as secondary sales options is a great way to help people discover you and your products. That first sale on Amazon or Etsy is like an introduction that you can follow up with strategic communications that invite them to become a part of your tribe. But wait, how do I compete on Amazon / Etsy? Selling from your website is obviously the best option for bigger profits and business-building results. Just remember this: It’s not about competing – it’s about standing out! Give people a reason to shop with you vs. Amazon by creating an experience that makes you stand out. Exclusive offers, unique bonuses, VIP perks, and exceptional service are just a few ways to attract customers and create loyal, long-term fans. If you use your own sales pages and shopping carts in addition to Amazon or Etsy, and you’d like to attract more buyers to your own cart vs. Amazon, here are a few ideas: Exclusive Offers / Extras That Add Value Attract potential readers by offering exclusive extras they can’t get from Amazon such as limited access to programs, complementary products such as stickers, notepads, and bookmarks, or free downloads such as worksheet, templates, checklists or sneak-peeks with each purchase. Unique Bonuses How about creating a special box of goodies to include with the book order? You can create a custom-designed box/package and add a few products that elevate the reader experience. Top it all off by having it wrapped with colored tissue, stickers, and extras for a fun, hand-crafted “Etsy” type experience. You might even end up seeing your product as the star in a social media “unboxing” episode! VIP Perks People love a VIP experience. Another idea to help your sales page stand out from Amazon is to offer a special ‘VIP’ print run that will be sent to special customers, connections and influencers to help spread the word. You can autograph your books, include handwritten cards, bookmarks or stickers, and give your readers an early, exclusive peek. Exceptional Service When you run the show from the moment they arrive at your website to the moment they receive their book in hand, you’re able to control the content and amount of customer service they receive, so make sure it counts. Be personal, be positive, and shower them with the kind of service you wish you could get. Share helpful information in fun ways such as by including colorful branded postcards with content that shares everything they need. Personalize your packing slips, follow up with emails after the fact to make sure they are enjoying their purchase, and share more info to entice customers to continue to follow you.     Creating unique and satisfying experiences is the best way to get the right kind of attention for your book sales and keep customers coming back for more. If you have ideas for creating products or experiences to help boost your sales, let us know, we’re here to help! Vervante makes it super easy to sell on Amazon and Etsy! For Etsy orders, all we need is a copy of the order confirmation email - simple and easy. For selling on Amazon, we offer a very streamlined system you can learn more about by logging in to your Vervante Author Account and go to the Retail Distribution page accessible via the Services menu.

Vervante • October 1, 2022

As you prepare for holiday product launches and sales (yes, it's that time already!), one thing to consider is where you're selling your products online. While Amazon is often the first place many people think of, that doesn't mean it's the ONLY place. In fact, after taking a close look at your business and goals, the best place might be one that you control yourself. Using your own website gives you great control over your sales - and often greater profit. But if you don't want to deal with processing credit cards, or are looking for a secondary place to sell where you have more control, the Vervante Bookstore might be the perfect solution. The Vervante Bookstore is an online storefront solution we offer exclusively to Vervante customers. It allows you to direct customers from your website or social media to your own product page in the Bookstore. We will process the credit card transactions and manage fulfillment and distribution. This is a valuable option if you just don't want to deal with credit card processing and a merchant bank. All you need is a simple landing page and we take care of the rest.   Here are a few highlights of the advantages and rewards the Vervante Bookstore provides:  Online Storefront: Vervante authors can have product pages created for all their products  Author Bio Page: Similar to Amazon’s author bio pages, connect with your customers by sharing your story. Always In Stock: If you are using our print-on-demand (POD) services, your book or printed product is guaranteed to always be in stock. Peek Inside: Just like Amazon’s “Look Inside” feature, customers can see a sample of your book’s interior. Easy Sales Solution: You don’t need to set up complicated shopping carts or sales pages, we handle that for you. Database Growth: You have full access to your customer’s data. Higher Profits: You set the retail price for your product and pay us a 10% transaction fee. The buyer selects and pays for the shipping and postage. These are some of the best royalty numbers in the industry!  Full Access: You can login to your Bookstore account at any time to view activity, including customer data and email address. Book Launch / Pre-Order Support: Planning for a big holiday launch? Debuting a new daily planner for the New Year? You can use the Bookstore for pre-orders. Shipping estimates can be changed to show pre-order status and expected ship dates. How to set up your sales pages in the Vervante Bookstore Log in to your Vervante author account on our website, then navigate to the Vervante Bookstore page under the Services Menu. On that page you will see information about pricing and sales, a calculator to help determine royalties, and directions for submitting books or products to be listed in the Bookstore.   Once your listing is ready, each product will have a unique URL that you can use to direct online traffic to the sales page. If you would like to revise the product descriptions or your author page, please send requests with the final, approved content to [email protected].    If you like the idea of additional places to sell your products instead of (or in addition to) Amazon, the Vervante Bookstore provides an easy, effective and streamlined way to connect with your customers, streamline credit card sales, and get your books and products where they need to be. If you're interested in using this resources, or need help activating this option for products you already produce with Vervante, email us at [email protected] or set up a call using our online scheduler.

Vervante • July 6, 2022

Mark your calendars and get ready, Amazon Prime Days are just around the corner! This is a great opportunity for everyone – whether you sell on Amazon or not. If you haven’t started planning yet, it’s not too late. Here are a few ideas to help your business get some attention during Prime Days this year. #1 Offer a special "prime" deal for your audience Nobody promotes quite as well as Amazon. Shoppers are excited and anticipating epic deals as Prime Day gets closer, so why not take advantage of the excitement and offer your own “Prime” deals for products you sell on your website, too? The best way to do this is to reach out directly to your loyal customers and fans. This means sending emails to your list and posting updates to your social media. Offer special "prime day" packages where for a limited time several products are bundled for one low price. If your clients love packages, take it a step further by creating a subscription service and launch it on Prime Day with free extras or a special reduced rate that will catch people's attention. Record a special audio podcast or video tutorial as an extra for one of your books or products and offer it as a special bonus on Prime Day. Offer a special personal coaching session or limited-time memberships to your masterminds or coaching groups, with any Prime Day purchase. #2 Get attention with “free-plus-shipping” specials "Free-plus-shipping" offers are great for getting attention during Amazon's Prime Days. It’s the process of offering your book or product for free for a limited time, and the customer only needs to pay for shipping. (This is a very powerful way to build your email list, too!) (Learn more about how Vervante can support your free-plus-shipping offer by clicking HERE.) #3 Build anticipation with sneak peeks Here's one more tip to give your Prime Day deals some extra oomph: Be sure to share "sneak peeks" of the specials you'll be offering in your newsletters, social media and emails. It's a great way to spread the word, build anticipation and join in all of the Prime Day fun everyone is having. Get started soon, though, because Prime Days will be here before you know it. The key here is to be creative - and add value. You don't need to reduce your prices, just give in a way that will excite your customers and make them feel like they got the best prime deal out there!

Vervante • August 24, 2021

If you’re planning on a holiday launch, or would just like your product to arrive by the end of December, one important aspect is shipping. Delivery speed, cost, and customer satisfaction are all affected by the way your products are shipped to your customers. Here at Vervante, we make sure that you have total control of this important part of your product sales process by offering the ability to choose the best shipping method for each of your products.   Our shipping system will automatically default to Media Mail for domestic shipments. If you want to set a specific shipping method for a product, you can do this from your Author Dashboard. If you want to make any changes, here's how: STEP #1: Log into your Vervante Author Dashboard and select the link that says "Select Specific Shipping Methods." You will see a list of your products, their estimated weights, and the default shipping methods. Initially the shipping methods are set to the default of "Best Way." This means that we will use Media Mail unless you change (or have previously) changed the shipping method to something else. STEP #2: FOR INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING please click on the link at the top of the page for International Shipping Methods. STEP #3: TO SET DEFAULT SHIPPING METHODS for each of your products, select the desired method you prefer in the right hand column, then click on the "Update Ship Methods" button at the bottom of the page to save your preferences. ***(VERY IMPORTANT TIP: Don't forget to save your changes)***   You can also include the shipping method in your order notifications.  If you are using Zapier or another automated order processing format as outlined HERE, you can include the shipping method on the order.  This is only applicable for those order notifications in a format such as the text-only email, API or Shopify formats.  ABOUT MEDIA MAIL PLEASE NOTE: Media Mail is the default shipping method. If you do not want to use Media Mail, you must select another shipping method on that page. Media Mail is often the least expensive postage option for most products, but it is also slower than other methods such as First Class or Priority.  To learn more about media mail, please see "The Pros & Cons of Using Media Mail." We suggest that you use First Class (if your product weighs less than 13 ounces) or Priority Mail (over 13 ounces) for orders shipped after Thanksgiving if you’d like them to arrive by the end of December. We have found that orders shipped via Media Mail the last six weeks of the year may take a few weeks longer because of the holiday shipping. If you have a new product or dated product such as a planner, we recommend using Priority Mail the last six weeks of the year, and then if you’d like to switch back to Media Mail in January to save money on postage, just log back into your account and change the shipping method. HOW TO CHOOSE BEST SHIPPING METHOD Not sure which method is best? If an order weighs less than 6 pounds then USPS is generally the least expensive shipping option. We have created a USPS postage calculator so you can view your different USPS shipping options. From the author dashboard, scroll down to Support > Calculate Postage You will see a list of your products at the top of the page with the estimated shipping weight. In the USPS Postage Calculator enter Vervante's zip code (84042) and the zip code we will be shipping to. Most products ship as a package.  If you have any questions, we're here to help at [email protected].

Vervante • July 27, 2021

In a recent article we talked about a wide variety of items you can add to a package to enhance your customers’ experience. Today, we would like to focus on just one of those – Postcards. Creative postcards added to your product packages are guaranteed to get attention. They are simple, budget-friendly, and offer a surprising among of flexibility. As the first thing your customers will see when they open their packages, postcards add value and set the tone for each customers’ experience. And here’s the fun part… Your postcards can say anything you want. From a photo with a simple thank you, to a full-length mission statement, mantra, or take-action message, you can share a personal, intimate glimpse into you and your company in a way that can create instant connections. We’re not talking about those “wish you were here” travel postcards you see on vacation, but strategically created cards with branding and content that fits what you need. The key is to keep it simple, be real, and share something you know will resonate with your audience. Love this idea? We do! Here are a few ideas for how we’ve seen our customers get creative with postcards: Welcome Get Started Instructions Mission Statements Mantras or Affirmations Offers for Free Items Discount Codes Contact Information Invitations to “secret” pages on your site or forums for customers only Tickets to special events Postcards can be printed any size and shape, but generally range from playing card size to traditional postcard size. They are printed on heavy stock, can be on both sides, and in color or black & white. There’s a lot of power in these little cards. We’d love to help you harness it! If you’re interested in creating a batch of custom postcards to include with the packaging of your Vervante-created products, let us know at [email protected]. We can give you a free quote for creating the cards, and let you know how we can include them in all of your future mailings. You provide the design, we’ll get it to your customers, as easy as that.

Vervante • March 30, 2021

We get this question a lot: “What’s better, print-on-demand or bulk orders?” The right answer depends on a number of things – your business model, your budget, the type of product, and your customers to name a few. Here’s how each one works and the benefits they offer. Print-on-demand (POD) To put it simply, printing-on-demand is when we print only the amount ordered, at the time we receive the order. You pay only the cost of printing plus postage for shipping. While other publishing companies often require costly minimum orders in large numbers, here at Vervante we offer POD print-on-demand services for any size order, printing only when you need it, to meet your budget and demand. How print-on-demand works An order is placed for a book or other product. We print the exact amount ordered. The order is then shipped to the person who ordered it (either you or your customer). Benefits of print-on-demand Get only the amount you want, when you want it. You sell the product from your site, your Etsy store, or we can list it for you on Amazon. When we receive an order, we’ll print and ship it to the buyer.  Print-on-demand products NOTE:  Products with softcovers, poly paper covers, plastic spiral binding, metal spiral binding, perfect binding, and saddle-stitch binding are all available on demand. Here is a quick list of products we can print on demand:  Paperback books Spiral bound books Coloring books Children’s books Saddle-stitched books Planners Journals Workbooks Binders Notepads Calendars Card decks Greeting cards Posters Post cards Certificates Newsletters Bookmarks Bulk printing Placing orders for large amounts of books or products to be printed at once can be a benefit for businesses that anticipate large amounts of orders - as well as lowering your printing costs. We can print in bulk and send to you, or we can store them in our warehouse to use for future orders from your account. How to get bulk pricing quotes When you request a quote for printing costs, we always provide a print-on-demand price, but you can also request bulk costs as well. The more you print, the lower the price per product.  How to use bulk printing Once you’ve received your quotes and are ready to proceed, please email [email protected] to let us know you would like to place an order. Contact our customer service team to make the order and they will set it up so a discount will apply when you place the order. You can choose to have your order stored in our warehouse for free, or shipped directly to you. You can then send us individual orders for fulfillment.  We’ll pull your product from your stored inventory in our warehouse and drop-ship it directly to your customer. Storing bulk orders in our warehouse Even if you don’t anticipate all of your printed books selling right away, you can still take advantage of the lower pricing by placing a bulk order and storing it in our warehouse. Bulk orders can be printed and stored in our secure warehouse, ready to be pulled and drop-shipped when you need them.  Tracking your inventory When a bulk order is placed, if you choose to store your order in our warehouse, you will see a category on your Vervante Author Account Home Page that says “Inventory Report.” This is where you can find an accounting of how many products remain in inventory. You will need to track your inventory and let us know when and if you would like another bulk order printed. We hope this helps clarify the differences and benefits for both POD and bulk printing when it comes to books and many other products. If you have any questions about using POD or bulk printing for your current products, or new ones, we’re here to help. Just email us at [email protected].

Vervante • March 10, 2021

One of the most important steps for any project is the first step. Decades of experience in the publishing industry has taught us that just the act of getting started and gathering your thoughts and ideas can be one of the hardest things you do. So for anyone who has a vision for a new product, and needs a little guidance for what steps to start with, we’re gathered these tips for you. Define your product Gathering your ideas is the first step toward turning an idea into the real deal. A good place to start is to look at other similar products like the one you are about to create. Determine what you like about them such as size, number of pages, fonts, colors, type of binding, and any other special treatments. Then take those ideas and incorporate them as you plan out the details for your product. Watch product videos A great place to get ideas and see how things look in real life is by watching the videos on the Vervante Video Vault web page. The videos spotlight a variety of products close-up and in action, narrated by our CEO, and showing ways to create and elevate your products. Currently there are videos for binders, planners, journals, card decks, calendars, custom printed boxes, greeting cards, stickers, book cover treatments, and more. We’re always adding something new, so be sure to check back often for lots of ideas and inspiration. Find useful guides on our blog Our blog is absolutely packed full of information, updates and how-to’s for all of the products and services we offer. Here are just a few examples that can prove very valuable for illuminating and guiding you through your project: How to Sell on Amazon, Etsy & your own website all at once Step-by-step guide for creating custom card decks How to use ISBN, LCCN, and Copyright How to create a 2022 daily planner How to prepare your files for printing How to create customized journals Steps for setting up pre-sale offers How to set up shipping & postage Order samples If you’re unsure how some thing will look in person, we offer samples that can be ordered to try out. We have a Samples Page on our website filled with products you can order to help you make your final decision. Our newest and most popular sample is the Paper Sample Notepad that includes eight of our most popular paper options. We also offer samples for books, book binding, calendars, card decks and greeting cards, posters, binders, printed boxes, pocket planners, newsletters, notepads, certificates and more.  Get a free quote Finally, did you know that you can get a free quote estimating your printing costs before you are ready to print? This will help you plan for budgeting and costs as you design your product. All you need to know to get a quote are general specifications. Here are a few examples: Books: Size of book, number of pages, hardcover or soft, binding type, color or b&w Card decks or greeting cards: Size of cards, number of cards, color or b&w, packaging Planners or journals: Size of planner, number of pages, page size, tabs, covers, binding, etc. To request a quote, go to the Vervante website home page and click on “Get a Quote” at the top, right of the page. Fill out the required information and we will send you an email response with the quote information.    We hope this helps you to avoid that “I’m not sure where to start” feeling. And we’re excited to help you create and share books, planners and products that you’ve always dreamed of. For questions or ideas, you can always reach us at [email protected].

Vervante • December 15, 2020

As we approach the end of 2020, there's a lot we could say, but here's what is most important ... we made it! We stuck it out together. And we're so grateful to be here with you as we look toward a New Year, new possibilities, and a future that we can make brighter together. Even though most of us are pretty happy to see 2020 in the rear view mirror, there were some good things. And since a lot of you might have been a bit distracted for a few months, we thought it would be fun to round up some of the best of what we put out this year - new products, enhanced services, ideas that can help you share your talents in a bigger way. So here's our Best of 2020, wrapped up with a sparkly bow! #1 Pandemic Pivots The world changed quickly this year, and we all did our best to roll with the punches and change with it. Working from home brought new challenges and new opportunities, and we did our best to support you throughout. Shipping During the Pandemic Best Products to Sell During the Quarantine Working from Home Tips from the Vervante Staff #2 Planners Galore Planning for the future is always fun, but there was just something about this year that make it feel absolutely essential. Daily planners exploded as one of the hottest products to make, and we make sure to give you everything you need to create planners (and journals!) that help your customers find the success they deserve. How to create customized journals How to turn a planner into a complete collection 2021 Planner Debut (planners you can still order and customize to sell as your own) #3 Author / Entrepreneur Empowerment Our bottom line is to help you succeed, so we are always looking for new ways to educate and empower our customers with guides, how-to's, and everything you need to take action, turn your ideas into products, and make the process and easy and lucrative for you as possible.  How to Set Up a Pre-Sale Offer Don't Want to Deal with Credit Cards? We can do it for you! How to Set Up Shipping & Postage How to Sell on Amazon, Etsy & Your Own Website All at Once Creative Ways to Launch a Book or Other Product #4 In the Know Knowledge is power and we did our best to share the latest and best to keep you in the know. From postal policies to new product to how-to guides, our team at Vervante headquarters makes sure you stayed informed. Paper Samples: We now have a notepad of paper samples available. It includes eight of our most popular paper options and is a great resources for helping to decide what type of paper you should choose for your books or products. The Vervante Video Vault: A page filled with videos highlighting products and inspired ideas Free Guide: How to Create a Coloring Book Our 3-Step Guide for Crushing NaNoWriMo Expert Tips for Creating Adult Coloring Books What to Put on Your Book Copyright Page Here’s to starting 2021 in a memorable and exciting way! We'd love to know what your thoughts and wishes are for the New Year, so please feel free to email us with your ideas for products or services we can add to continue to serve you best.

Vervante • August 15, 2020

If you’re getting ready to launch a new book or product, setting up your shopping cart and shipping methods correctly are an essential part of the process. We’ve gathered up some tips here to help you make sure you – and your customer – get the best results.   Q: How do I know which shipping method to use? A: We automatically ship all books and products using the least expensive shipping method based on the weight and zip/postal code used. However, you can always select a different shipping method that best fits your needs. NOTE: We do not default automatically to Media Mail even if this is the least expensive option. If you’d like your orders shipped via Media Mail you need to select this as your default. (For more details about Media Mail, and why we don’t use this as our default, please refer to “The Pros and Cons of Using Media Mail” on our blog. To designate a default shipping method for any of your products, click on the link for “Select Specific Shipping Methods” under the My Profile section on your Author Dashboard. There you will see a list of your products and a place to designate what shipping method you would like to use. If you make any changes, be sure to click on the "Update" button at the bottom of the page.  Q: How do I calculate shipping costs? A: We provide a postage calculator to help determine shipping costs. From your author dashboard click on the “Calculate Postage” link under the Support section. Your items and their weights are listed there for easy referral. All you need to do is use the official USPS calculator on that page to determine shipping costs. Q: How do I know what my product weighs? A: When we first set up a new item, we estimate the weight. That’s the number you’ll see in the “Est Ship Weight” column on the shipping methods page we referenced in the previous question. Once the item is in production, the final shipping weight can be viewed on the “Calculate Postage” page found on your Author Dashboard. Q: How do I make sure I’m using the best shipping method? A: Using the shipping calculator to find the best rates is usually the best way to do. However, for some of our customers who ship internationally, it’s good to review your accounts from time to time to verify the costs. Q: Do I need to worry about shipping delays due to the COVID pandemic? A: It's always a good idea to factor extended shipping times into your launch plans – especially this year with the disruption the pandemic is causing. Many shipping companies are struggling to maintain normal schedules during these uncertain times, so it’s a good idea to factor in the possibility of extended shipping times for product launches. Q: How much time will it take for my products to print then ship when they are ordered? A: Different products take different amounts of time for printing and production. Here are some examples of standard lead times for a variety of products we produce – and why it’s important to factor lead times into your holiday sales plans: Paperback books: 5 days Softcover spiral bound or saddle-stitched books: 5 days Card decks: 5-10 days Custom printed tuck boxes for card decks: 10-12 days Hardcover books, planners, journals:  4-6 weeks Custom printed corrugated boxes for VIP, membership and mailing: 10-15 days For example, if you're thinking of a Black Friday launch for a hardcover planner, you would need to begin printing October 19 in order to ship orders on November 30. Q: Does Vervante charge “handling” fees? A: For print on demand products, we do not charge handling fees. Here’s how we calculate charges: “Cost of printing book + Cost of shipping/postage = what we charge.” There are no other hidden costs. For products printed or produced in bulk, there is an order fee plus a pick fee to pull the item from inventory, plus postage. Order and pick fees only apply to individual drop ship orders pulled from inventory and shipped on demand.   Q: Can packing slips be customized? A: Every package we send includes a packing slip inside and you have the option of customizing it however you’d like. Think of this as valuable real estate perfect for sharing information like: A greeting or message that makes a personal connection Your logo for brand awareness Return policies that eliminate confusion about timeframes or refunds Business address and contact information Special holiday messages To add personalized content for your packing slip, click on “Customize My Packing Slip” on your Author Dashboard.  (If you’d like more information about using packing slips, handling returns, and suggested content you can adapt and use for your packing slip, click HERE to read more on our blog.)

Vervante • July 28, 2020

Amazon is often the first place you may think of for buying books. Etsy is the place people go to for creative products like notepads, card decks, and daily planners. But that doesn’t mean they are the ONLY places you can sell your books and products. In fact, the best place to sell online is your own website! The power of Amazon and Etsy are real, but selling online does not have to be an all-or-nothing choice. It’s not just your website, or just Amazon or Etsy. You can have it all by selling on all three!   First: Sell from your own website Your primary sales option for customers should be your own website. Selling your book or products online through your own website/shopping cart (or Vervante’s Online Bookstore if you don't have or want to process credit cards), means more profit, control and connection with your readers. Even if people don’t buy right away, by directing them to your website you’ve got a chance to create a connection, offer a free download, or opt into your newsletter. Anything that will put them on the path to staying connected, becoming more involved, and eventually become loyal fans that support your long-term success.   Next: Sell via Amazon or Etsy The online reach of Amazon and Etsy is impressive, and using them as secondary sales options is a great way to help people discover you and your products. That first sale on Amazon or Etsy is like an introduction that you can follow up with strategic communications that invite them to become a part of your tribe. But wait, how do I compete on Amazon / Etsy? Selling from your website is obviously the best option for bigger profits and business-building results. Just remember this - It’s not about competing – it’s about standing out! Give people a reason to shop with you vs. Amazon by creating an experience that makes you stand out. Exclusive offers, unique bonuses, VIP perks, and exceptional service are just a few ways to attract customers and create loyal, long-term fans. If you use your own sales pages and shopping carts in addition to Amazon or Etsy, and you’d like to attract more buyers to your own cart vs. Amazon, here are a few ideas: Exclusive Offers / Extras That Add Value Attract potential readers by offering exclusive extras they can’t get from Amazon such as limited access to programs, complementary products such as stickers, notepads, and bookmarks, or free downloads such as worksheet, templates, checklists or sneak-peeks with each purchase. Unique Bonuses How about creating a special box of goodies to include with the book order? You can create a custom-designed box/package and add a few products that elevate the reader experience. Top it all off by having it wrapped with colored tissue, stickers, and extras for a fun, hand-crafted “Etsy” type experience. You might even end up seeing your product as the star in a social media “unboxing” episode! VIP Perks People love a VIP experience. Another idea to help your sales page stand out from Amazon is to offer a special ‘VIP’ print run that will be sent to special customers, connections and influencers to help spread the word. You can autograph your books, include handwritten cards, bookmarks or stickers, and give your readers an early, exclusive peek. Exceptional Service When you run the show from the moment they arrive at your website to the moment they receive their book in hand, you’re able to control the content and amount of customer service they receive, so make sure it counts. Be personal, be positive, and shower them with the kind of service you wish you could get. Share helpful information in fun ways such as by including colorful branded postcards with content that shares everything they need. Personalize your packing slips, follow up with emails after the fact to make sure they are enjoying their purchase, and share more info to entice customers to continue to follow you.     Creating unique and satisfying experiences is the best way to get the right kind of attention for your book sales and keep customers coming back for more. If you have ideas for creating products or experiences to help boost your sales, let us know, we’re here to help! Vervante makes it super easy to sell on Amazon and Etsy! We've got the Amazon process automated and other than the 15% Amazon commission, our service is free. For Etsy orders, all we need is a copy of the order confirmation email - super simple and easy.   Sincerely, Your Team at Vervante p.s. If you’d like to learn more about your options for selling on Amazon AND selling via your own website, check out the following linked article on our blog where we lay it all out. (hint: You can do both – and you should do both! Read here to learn why: “Retail Book Sales Success.”)

Vervante • July 20, 2020

It’s that time of year again. No, we’re not talking about beaches and fun in the sun – we’re talking about the holidays! You read that right, if you’re planning on launching a new book or product for the holidays then NOW is the time to get started.   A lot of people joke about Christmas in July, but honestly, it’s the BEST time to start planning for holiday sales. You've got plenty of time to wrap up your book details, strategize marketing and sales, and give yourself a nice head-start for a stress-free experience.  First, let’s talk about understanding lead-time for products Different products take different amounts of time for printing and production. Here are some examples of standard lead times for a variety of products we product – and why it’s important to factor lead times into your holiday sales plans: Paperback books: 5 days Softcover spiral bound or saddle-stitched books: 5 days Card decks: 5-10 days Custom printed tuck boxes for card decks: 10-12 days Hardcover books, planners, journals:  4-6 weeks Custom printed corrugated boxes for VIP, membership and mailing: 10-15 days SCENARIO of a Hardcover Daily Planner Launch: If you're thinking of a Black Friday launch for a hardcover planner, for example, you would need to begin printing October 19 in order to ship orders on November 30. Let's get those products you want to launch and sell in the 4th quarter into the queue as soon as possible now, so we can minimize the stress of year-end and the holidays. Shipping During the Holidays Another element to factor into your holiday launch strategy is the possibility of extended shipping times – especially during this upcoming holiday season. Many shipping companies are struggling to maintain normal schedules during these uncertain times, so it’s a good idea to factor in the possibility of extended shipping times for holiday product launches. Holiday Book Sales Timeline AUGUST Finalize your book manuscript and send it to an editor to make sure it’s ready to go. Start gathering details such as print quotes, shipping timelines, etc. Assemble your self-publishing team. Some people you might need include:  Designer for the cover and interior formatting; Printer and publisher (like Vervante), Technical support for sales pages, shopping carts, etc,; a book launch expert or project manager; Launch “squad” made up of friends and colleagues who will provide early reviews and help spread the word. SEPTEMBER Upload print-ready files for the book and order sample copies for quality and proofreading checks. Coordinate with Vervante for your book retail listing: Amazon, Vervante Bookstore, or your own shopping cart. Vervante can list your book for sale on Amazon and add it to the Vervante Bookstore online (free for Vervante authors). If you sell from your own website, start working on your landing and sales pages, set up shopping cart, plan marketing strategies. OCTOBER / NOVEMBER Put marketing plans into action. Announce special promotions, early bird sales and specials. Attend book signings. Promote, promote, promote! Boost your book launch by creating complementary products that will get attention and ignite interest. Check out these ideas: Creative Ways to Launch a Book DECEMBER Confirm Vervante holiday shipping deadlines. Attend book signings. Continue promotions, especially for New Year / 2021 products. Announce surprise last-minute deals. JANUARY Continue to promote New Year products. 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 • March 11, 2020

We’re not going to beat around the bush here, the best way to publish your book or product is to FIRST sell from your site, THEN use Amazon Marketplace to pick up a few more sales. We suggest that you drive all of your social media promotions, advertising, email campaigns, etc. to your site so that you process the order and have access to all information - including who your customer is. We’ll take it from there to print and ship your book or product to your customer. Building a Strong Author Platform To put it very simply MORE PEOPLE = MORE SALES. You need to develop and nurture an audience filled with interested and loyal fans who will buy from you, promote for you, and sustain your sales both during a launch and for the long-term. Successful authors understand the importance of building an audience BEFORE they launch – and keeping their audience active and involved for sustained sales and growth when it comes to their books, products and business. Vervante is the only publisher that encourages our authors and customers to sell directly from your site so that you process the transaction, make more money, and more importantly – capture the customer data and build your email list. (Amazon DOES NOT share that info with you. When you publish using Amazon’s program KDP, they consider the person who buys your book as THEIR customer, not yours, so they don’t share.) For more details about how this works see: The one thing you need for a successful book launch Easy Book Sales & Processing We set up your listing on Amazon, we receive orders directly from Amazon, we process, print and ship those orders quickly and efficiently. All the details (except the email address because Amazon doesn’t share this with us) are posted to your Author Dashboard so you can check anytime and from anywhere. You can be confident that the entire process is being handled by professionals, and devote your time and attention to what matters most (writing your next book, nurturing your author platform, playing with your kids, etc.) For more details about how this works see: How order processing and shipping works with Vervante Bigger Royalties We can list your book using the Amazon Marketplace option, which offers much better royalty rates than using Amazon’s publishing program KDP. While KDP takes a 40% commission, Marketplace only takes 15% commission. We also have a strict policy against marking up postage or charging inflated “handling” 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. More Control SELL WHERE YOU WANT: Using Amazon Marketplace gives you the ability to also sell your book in other locations like your own website or other online bookstores. Keeping control of your book sales in this way gives you the ability to have the best of both worlds: A listing on Amazon that establishes your professionalism and credibility The freedom to be creative with special events and sales offers on your own website through bundles, coupons, promotions, etc. (also great for building your author platform). CUSTOM PACKAGING: The Amazon smile box is nice, but we can ensure your book stands out from the crowd with 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. GLOBAL SHIPPING: Don’t hold back! We can ship your book anywhere in the world and keep you up to date on its status. Shipping confirmation emails are sent to recipients with tracking information. And all order information such as status and tracking numbers are posted to your account online. If you have more questions about how Vervante can help you list and sell your book through Amazon in a way that benefits you - the author - we're here to help. Email us at [email protected] or schedule a call with one of our publishing experts using our online calendar.

Vervante • September 24, 2019

The world has become obsessed with planners and here’s why: In a society where people dream big but feel like they have little time or can’t get organized, the idea of a tool that can help them clarify their goals, focus their thoughts, and prioritize their actions is something they can get behind. Add to that all kinds of options catering to specific types of goals, projects or personalities, and you’ve got the makings of an obsession.   Creating a daily planner to sell as part of your own business is a great idea. But standing out from the crowd can be hard, especially if you’re just getting started. While most daily planners start with a very similar foundation, it’s the extras that transform them from just another planner to an entire experience – something that your customers will feel an emotional connection with and know that THIS is the planner that will support their success and THIS is the planner they must have!   Want your planner to be “extra” special? Here’s a few ideas: Specialized content: Create a planner that makes your ideal customer say to themselves “they know me, they really know me!” Customize it to fit specific personalities, passions, dreams and ideas by adding focused content like lists, affirmations, challenges, recipes, workouts, projections, formulas, charts, horoscopes, etc. Paper Pockets: 2-sided pockets can be added to any size planner and used for holding extras like receipts, notes, etc.  Foil embossing: A great way to add extra flair Plastic slide-in bookmarks: Works great for spiral or wire-o planners Binders: Another planner binding option is to use 3-ring or 6-ring custom printed binders. They allow for a lot of flexibility in customizing, adding, and editing planner pages as they are used throughout the year. Great for ongoing subscription or membership programs. (Binders can be made in several sizes with a custom printed sheet wrapped to create a professional turned edge binder.) Stickers: Colorful, customized stickers make everything from holidays to reminders to celebrating success so much more fun! Notepads: Matching designs make them fun, ability to take notes on the go make them practical. Colored binding: Spiral binding is available in 50 colors. We stock black and white, but any of the other 48 colors available can be special ordered. Wire-o binding is available in 8 colors including black, white, blue, red, green, gold, silver and bronze. Tabs: Design colorful tabs that allow quick access to any section. Elastic closures: A great way to keep everything secure. Excited? Inspired? We are too! If you’re ready to create – or update – your daily planner, our newest planner just debuted and you can check it out here: Vervante 2020 Planner. If you have a vision, we can help. Start by sending an email to [email protected] and let us know if you have questions or need help with customizations. We can provide free quotes or free advice to help you get it done.

Vervante • August 13, 2019

While you're probaby still enjoying time on the beach, or just starting to think about shopping for school supplies, there's something that might not be on your radar right now, but should be - planning for holiday product sales!  Honestly, the BEST time to start planning for holiday sales is RIGHT NOW. You've got plenty of time to envision, create and plan your marketing and sales campaigns, and this little head start will help you create a stress-free, successful experience. 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: Planners: Wow, planners are the superstars of self-publishing right now and we've got everything you need to create the perfect planner for your audience. Journals: Timeless treasures perfect for just about anyone. Books: Small books that can be sold or used for free-plus-shipping offers are very popular during the holidays. Calendars: Calendars are also a great option for client and customer appreciation gifts and to use as lead generation freebies. 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: These are great sellers, make great gifts, and can be easily customized and configured to fit your business and audience needs. Card decks, note cards, and postcards are popular, or get creative and try tarot cards, affirmation cards, or health and wellness program cards. Planning a Holiday Sales Timeline Once you’ve picked your products, it’s time for action: AUGUST / SEPTEMBER Decide on products to sell. Make a list of ideas for how you will make them unique and start writing or designing. 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 a print-ready file to your Vervante account, then order a 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 and add it to the Vervante Bookstore online (free for Vervante authors). If you sell from your own website, start working on your landing and sales pages, set up shopping cart, plan marketing strategies.   OCTOBER / 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 / 2020 products. Announce surprise last-minute deals.   JANUARY Continue to promote New Year products. If 2020 planners were a hit, think about removing dates from planner and sell "undated" versions that 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 • July 9, 2019

Mark your calendars and get ready - Amazon Prime Day (July 15 and 16) is just around the corner! If you have a book or product on Amazon (or for sale anywhere else!), this is a great opportunity to add some sizzle to your sales. Here's how: Offer a special "prime" deal for your audience Shoppers are excited and anticipating epic deals as Prime Day gets closer. You can take advantage of their attention by offering special deals directly to your audience if they purchase from your website (not Amazon!). The best way to do this is to reach out directly to your loyal customers and fans. This means sending emails to your list and posting updates to your social media. Want to stand out from the crowd? Creating special offers and promotions will get their interest - and provide real value your customers will appreciate. This is your chance to get creative by offering value-boosting extras and irresistible promotions such as: "Free plus shipping" offers where for a limited time only customers can get your book/product for free and only need to pay shipping. (This is a great one to use on social media and will also help add emails to your list). Special "prime day" packages where for a limited time several products are bundled for one low price. If your clients love packages, take it a step further by creating a subscription service and launch it on Prime Day with free extras or a special reduced rate that will catch people's attention. Record a special audio podcast or video tutorial as an extra for one of your books or products and offer it as a special bonus on Prime Day. Offer a special personal coaching session, or limited-time memberships to your masterminds or coaching groups, with any Prime Day purchase. The key here is to be creative - and add value. You don't need to reduce your prices, just give more in a way that will excited your customers and make them feel like they got the best prime deal out there! Build anticipation with sneak peeks Here's one more tip to give your Prime Day deals some extra oomph: Be sure to share "sneak peeks" of the specials you'll be offering in your newsletters, social media and emails. It's a great way to spread the word, build anticipation and join in all of the Prime Day fun everyone is having.

Vervante • April 30, 2019

Not sure what print on demand means? We get asked this question a lot, and we're happy to share more about how Vervante provides Print on Demand services to help authors, entrepreneurs, business owners and more share and sell books and products on their own terms. Printing on Demand (POD) uses digital printing methods to print books and other products only in the amount needed, when they are needed. While other publishing companies may require costly minimum orders in large numbers, here at Vervante we offer Print on Demand services for any size order, printing only when you need it, to meet your budget and demand. How does Print on Demand work? An order is placed for a book or other product. We print the exact amount ordered. The order is then shipped to the customer. It’s that simple. For example: If you list your book for sale on your website and a customer orders one book, we print one book and ship it to your customer. If you have a speaking event coming up and need 25 books, we will print 25 books and send them to you. Print on Demand pricing For books or products printed on demand with Vervante, you pay only the cost of printing plus postage for shipping. With Vervante’s Print on Demand services, there are no set-up fees, no monthly minimums, no management fees and no minimum run lengths. Why use Print on Demand? No more garages filled with towering boxes of books, gathering dust and taking up space until your customers order them. No more late nights assembling shipping packages, filling them with orders and packing materials, then adding each unique address. No more hours spent in line at the post office trying to figure out postage and best shipping methods for each order. No more waste. And no more stress! Using Print on Demand with Vervante We offer Print on Demand services for books, planners, journals, information products and much more. Here is a sampling of products we can print on demand. If you don’t see what you want, please ask us about it. We love to go the extra mile for our customers!  Paperback books Spiral bound books Coloring books Children’s books Saddle-stitched books Planners Journals Workbooks Binders Notepads Calendars Card decks Greeting cards Posters Post cards Certificates Newsletters Bookmarks

Vervante • April 8, 2019

If you’re looking for a way to make it easier for your readers to find and buy your book – or any product you create with us – the Vervante Bookstore has exactly what you’re looking for. The Bookstore is a free online storefront solution we offer exclusively to Vervante customers. It allows you to direct customers from your website or social media to a page in the Bookstore that showcases your books and products and manages credit card transactions, fulfillment and distribution. Here are a few highlights of what the Vervante Bookstore provides Author Bio Page: Similar to Amazon’s author bio pages, connect with your customers by sharing your story. Peek Inside: Just like Amazon’s “Look Inside” feature, customers can see a sample of your book’s interior. Easy Sales Solution: You don’t need to set up complicated shopping carts or sales pages, we handle that for you. Database Growth: You have full access to your customer’s data. Higher Profits: You set the retail price for your product and pay us a simple 10% per transaction fee. The buyer selects and pays for the shipping and postage. Full Access: You can login to your Bookstore account at any time to view activity, and we send monthly statements to always keep you in the loop. Book Launch / Pre-Order Support: You can also use the Bookstore for pre-orders. Shipping estimates can be changed to show pre-order status and expected ship dates. To list your book or product in the Vervante Bookstore Log in to your Vervante author account on our website, then navigate to the Vervante Bookstore page under the Services Menu. On that page you will see information about pricing and sales, a calculator to help determine your royalties, and directions for submitting your books or products to be listed in the Bookstore. Once your listing is ready, each product will have a unique URL that you can use to direct online traffic to the sales page. If you would like to revise the product descriptions or your author page, please send your requests with the final, approved content to our customer support team. You can then promote your products from online locations such as your website, social media, blog, etc., using a link back to your unique Bookstore page. Your customers can then purchase from that page. No matter if you're new to online sales or looking to add another distribution channel to your current sales strategies, the Vervante Bookstore provides an easy, effective and streamlined way to connect with your customers and get your books and products where they need to be.