Blog

Vervante • June 23, 2021

How is your latest project going? If you're writing a book, or creating a new product like a card deck, daily planner, or journal, sometimes a little help getting started is what you need. Or maybe you're in the middle, got stuck, and not sure what your next step should be. No matter what you need - ideas, instructions, inspiration - you can find it on our website. Free resources written by our expert team that detail every step and every angle of the process, all free, easy to access, and available right now. Just click on the images below for access to everything you need to give your books and products the advantage as you bring your ideas to life.   FREE GUIDES FOR AUTHORS                                           DETAILED VIDEOS                                                 PRINT SPECS, SAMPLES & MORE                        

Vervante • August 27, 2020

There's a lot of media and news swirling around USPS these days and how the pandemic has affected shipping rates. We've heard from many of you, so we checked our numbers to give you an idea of how shipping times are being affected. This chart shows the average number of days it took for packages to be delivered both in the U.S. and internationally using USPS services between June 1, 2020 and August 20, 2020. Bottom line? Packages are still moving, but it's always good to include some extra time into your plans as the holiday and end-of-year sales season approaches. For more information on shipping, postage and setting up your shopping cart click HERE. If you have any questions or need help, we're here for you at [email protected].

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 • April 28, 2020

Launching a new book or product can be very exciting – and also very scary. One of the best things you can do to support a successful launch is find a way to capture attention and capture sales at the same time. That’s why we’ve gathered up three creative launch ideas you can you to help you stand out from the crowd. #1: Launch Date Landing Page As you prepare for your official launch date, create a dedicated landing page. You can add bonuses as incentives for your customers such as free downloads or extras if they buy on that specific date. You can then have the Buy Now button either go to your Amazon link or your personal shopping cart – and ask customers to provide proof of purchase to receive their free extras. In addition, connecting with customers this way allows you to collect their contact information to add to your list for future communication. For a fun and creative example of using a launch landing page and bonuses to promote a book launch check out Scott Stratten’s “The Jackass Whisperer.” #2: Exclusive Print Run People love a VIP experience. Another great idea to boost your book or product launch is to do a special 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. #3: VIP Boxes Speaking of VIPs, you can take your exclusive print run to the next level by adding products to create VIP boxes. Add other products to the package that complement your book. Use special packaging that features your brand and design, so they know they are getting something unique and interesting. 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!

Vervante • February 4, 2020

The coaching industry has never been hotter than it is now! The problem with big growth, however, is facing the challenge of how to stand out among your peers. No matter what type of coaching you offer – business, life, health, fitness, finance, relationships – most experts agree that focusing on 3 strategic elements is the key to elevating your presence in the industry: 1) You, 2) Your Audience and 3) the Unique Results You Get. If you are a coach and you want to stand out from the crowd, we have exactly what you need to shine a spotlight on these 3 things and give people a taste of your unique brilliance. #1 (YOU): NOTHING IS MORE PERSONAL THAN A BOOK If there was just one perfect place to share your thoughts, ideas, strategies, tips and everything that makes you “you,” then it would be a BOOK. As a coach, you are a huge part of your business brand, especially when you’re starting out, that’s why it’s important to differentiate your brand based on how YOU are different. One way to share “You” is to let people experience you in a format that’s easy to share – a book. Books and booklets are still one of the best ways to establish your authority, create a product for generating leads, support business growth, and so much more. “Free Plus Shipping” offers providing readers with free books for just the price of postage are just one of the ways to leverage a book to grow your coaching business. #2 (YOUR AUDIENCE): WOW THEM WITH A CURATED VIP BOX Another way to differentiate your coaching business is to strategically identify and connect with your audience. You must show them that you are in touch with what they need, understand their desires, and can help them reach their goals. A great product to help you connect with your audience in a very personal way is a VIP or SUBSCRIPTION BOX. Custom printed boxes filled with items can be used for a 1-time gift, an introductory offer, to welcome a new member of a program, or as an entry-level product to let people get to know you better. These boxes will wow as your clients or customers will be treated to a carefully curated assortment of goodies you decide on. Here at Vervante we can help you create a customized box with beautiful graphics on the outside, and products that can be included such as journals, daily planners, notepads, stickers, USB flash drives, card decks, and more. #3 (YOUR UNIQUE RESULTS): DAILY PLANNERS NEVER FAIL Every coach has their own “secret sauce,” that special way they connect with people and help them take action and get results. It’s your secret sauce that can help you stand out big time, and inspire people to work with you more.   One of the best products we’ve ever seen for sharing a message, helping others to take action and get results, and letting your own style and personality shine through is a DAILY PLANNER. A daily planner is easy to make, share and sell. We’ve helped hundreds of coaches create their own, or customize our unbranded ones, and help them set up to share and sell through Amazon and their own website. Daily planners are great for showing how you work, providing support for action and goal-getting, and sharing your special sauce throughout in the way you do it. Daily planners are great for establishing your authority as someone you can trust. It not only provides your clients with space for daily planning but also keeps your coaching front and center in a positive and memorable way. If any of these ideas strikes your fancy and you’d like to learn more, we’re here to help. For questions email our publishing pros at [email protected]. For brainstorm sessions, schedule a 1-on-1 phone call with our CEO, Cindy Tyler, by clicking HERE.

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 • June 18, 2019

As an author, you’ve fulfilled your dream of writing and publishing a book. But your book is only the beginning – not the end! Because you can take that book and create products that will make you not only an author, but also an entrepreneur. Whether it’s your first book, or you’re a seasoned author, you can leverage the content you’ve already created to make products that increase readers’ enjoyment, expand your audience, and add new revenue streams – all without a lot of extra work. Because you’ve already done the heavy lifting by writing the book!   Books can be the foundation of a thriving business model. Our CEO, Cindy Tyler, loves brainstorming with Vervante authors to help them choose the right products that will complement their books, and boost their income. We’ve gathered up her best tips here, to give you a head start: Choosing types of products Take a look at your book and consider what else your readers might need that would add value to the book and to the readers’ experience. Remember, this is not about creating more work for you. It’s about repurposing great content you’ve already written into products like:   Workbooks Journals Planners Notepads: Shopping lists, exercise routines, learning course tasks, etc. USB flash drives Card decks: Educational flash cards, recipes, exercises, daily affirmations, etc. Children’s books and fiction can do this too. Products that go great with fiction and children’s books include: Coloring books Small journals Stickers Card decks: Educational flash cards, games, character cards Creating and selling themed products Products that continue the theme of your book can also help to increase book sales by packaging them with the book and offering as bundles. This increases the value of what you are providing – and allows you to charge a higher price. Once you’ve chosen the type of product you want to create, remember that you don’t need to write something brand new. Use the content from your book to create the product, then send us a print-ready PDF. Here are a few ways you can transform your books into a complementary product: Workbooks: Restate lessons from each chapter, leaving space for readers to write down thoughts, ideas, questions, answers, actions and next steps. Coloring Books: Remove the color from illustrations in a children’s book to create a coloring book. For adult coloring books, use images that continue the theme of your main book. Card Decks: We are rule-breakers here at Vervante – we’ll create a deck of cards in any amount you want and any design, front and back. So don’t feel like you have to do exactly 56, and the backs don’t need to match, either. Cards can contain daily affirmations, training tips, daily tasks, recipes, exercise routines, writing prompts, gratitude mantras, meditations, and more. The sky's the limit - as long as you can fit it on a card!  If you want to design some of these products yourself, Canva is a great graphic design program for creating your own card decks – and it’s free! Short on time and want a team of professionals to help? We have great designers, writers and editors we are happy to recommend to our customers. If you love to write and dream of making a living with your writing, it’s all about creating multiple streams of income. Check out our online catalog for ideas, and let us know if you have any questions or ideas at [email protected].

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 • March 19, 2019

We know how important it is for authors to have access to resources and guides that they trust. That's why we're excited to share with you the new Expert Guide Resource Library on our website. Think of this as your own personal publishing library, filled with a wide range of FREE ebooks to inspire, educate and support your journey creating, sharing and selling books and other printed products with Vervante. There are currently 24 ebooks in the library with plans for more coming soon. Here's a few highlights of our most popular ebooks: Bleed and Crop Marks Guide: What you need to know when formatting print files Word Count Conversion: How many words does it take to make a book? Copyright Permissions & Fair Use guide: Answers to one of the most common issues all authors face How to Create Audiobooks: When you want to give your book a voice. How to Self-Publish: The complete guide for authors & entrepreneurs Helpful Hints for Retail Distribution: Understanding the sales and fulfillment process From Retail Sales to Royalties: How authors get paid Book Publishing Checklist: Keeping you on track from the first draft to the finish line. How to Create Custom Card Decks: One of the hottest products in publishing today. And so many more... We hope you bookmark this page and come back to visit often as we're constantly adding new ebooks to provide the support and resources our authors and clients need. For questions, free quotes, or more information please email or schedule a phone call with one of our publishing pros via the Contact Us page.

Vervante • February 4, 2019

Have you heard of “free plus shipping” offers? Internet marketing gurus like Russell Brunson, Dean Graziosi, Brendon Burchard and Perry Marshall have mastered the sales funnel and free plus shipping offers – in fact, it’s one of the biggest trends in publishing right now – which is why we wanted to share a little bit about how it works and how we can help you use it too.  What is Free Plus Shipping? Free plus shipping offers are when a product is offered for free and the buyer is only asked to pay for shipping costs. It’s a great way to excite your audience, create lots of new customers, and grow your list with minimal cost to you. While you don’t make money, or maybe just a small profit, initially from free plus offers, it’s the conversion of leads into additional sales of products, programs or services that these offers lead to that make this method profitable. You don’t need a huge list for free plus offers. In fact, this is a great way to GROW your list. You can begin by printing a small print run to get started. As demand grows, you can order larger batches of the product, reducing your initial costs while increasing list growth and future revenue potential. How to set up a free plus shipping offer: FIRST: Create a product for your free offer. This could be a condensed version of a larger product or program you can promote or upsell. Some of the more popular products are saddle-stitched booklets and perfect bound books. NEXT: Contact Vervante at [email protected] for free quotes for your product. We can give you print-on-demand quotes (for printing them one at a time) and bulk order quotes for 50, 100, 1,000 or however many you want to start with (the more you print, the lower the cost per unit). ORDER A PROOF: For any product you create, we recommend that you order one (or a few) as a sample to make sure it’s exactly how you pictured it. PRINT FREE PLUS PRODUCT: Once you’ve approved the product, let us know how many you’d like to print for your initial order. We can keep your products in our warehouse with no inventory fees. FULFILLMENT: We receive order information, pull the product from stock, and ship them to the customer. We include tracking numbers and customized packing slips free of charge. 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 information about how we handle order processing and working with ALL shopping cart systems, click HERE.  INVENTORY MANAGEMENT: You can see how many products you have in storage in our warehouse, plus order status, tracking information and more in your Vervante Author Dashboard account.  RETURNS: We accept returns. We do not charge you for handling a return. You will receive an email when we receive a return. Returns can be sent to our headquarters in Utah, or you can modify your packing slip to have returns sent directly to you. Whether you choose to have returns sent back to us or to your office, we recommend that you include your return policy on the customized packing slip included with each of your orders. If you love this idea, we’re ready to help you get started. For questions, ideas or free quotes reach out to our publishing pros at [email protected] or schedule a phone call with us by clicking HERE.