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Vervante • February 8, 2022

(Part 2 of our "How to Create a Product From Start to Finish 5-part series) How to Create a Product with Vervante: Part 2 In the second installment of this special series of articles, we will guide you through the next steps once you’ve defined the product you want to create. How to get printing cost quotes Once you've defined exactly what you want to create, you can reach out to our team to find out what it will cost to print it. We provide free quotes, all you need to know when requesting a quote are general specifications. Here are a few examples: Books: Size of book, number of pages, cover type, binding method Card decks or greeting cards: Size of cards, number of cards, packaging Planners or journals: Number of pages, page size, tabs, covers, binding, etc. To request a quote, go to the Vervante website and click on “Get a Quote” in the top right-hand corner. Fill out the required information and you will receive an email response with the quote information. Create a Vervante author account To upload files and order products, you need to create a Vervante author account. It’s free, quick, and easy. Just go to our website and click on Sign Up. Once you’re set up, you can access your Author Dashboard, which is where you can upload files for printing, place orders, and access everything from sales reports to invoice details and everything else you need to manage your account. Writing and creating content No matter what kind of product you are creating - books, planners, card decks, children's books, coloring books, etc. - it's guaranteed that you will need some amount of written content for that product. Content is just as important as design when it comes to creating a product that is both attractive and functional. Here are a few of our tips to give you a head start as you create content for your product: Writing productivity tips: Facing a blank page can be hard, but we've put together a few articles that can help you get into the zone, including: "How to overcome writing obstacles," a fun guide to zombie-proofing your book or product, and our National Novel Writing Month writing productivity guide. The importance of copy editing: Nothing can be more damaging to your products and your reputation than publishing a book or other written product that is filled with typos, errors, and incorrect information. A few mistakes here and there aren't that big of a deal, but consistent misspellings, grammar errors, and incorrect information will distract your reader and leave them with a negative perception of you, your expertise, and the message or information you share. Check out this article to learn more about the different types of editing and how important it is for the success of your product: "The Importance of Copy Editing." Understanding legal issues: Understanding how to protect your unique work and the rules you need to follow is an essential part of being an author and entrepreneur. We've published several resources and multiple blog articles about the most common issues, answering many FAQs that our customers send our way. We've included links below to articles and free guides you can access that will give you a good working knowledge of the do's and don'ts as you create your new product. What to put on your book copyright page: The copyright page is found at the front of the book, usually right after the title page. The format can be varied as there is no single accepted template for copyright pages. Generally, they will contain things like: copyright notice, ISBN, publisher information, contact information, rights and permissions, country book is printed in, author website, credits and disclaimers. Follow the link to this story, "What to Put on Your Copyright Page," and you'll see lots of examples you can use for inspiration.   FREE RESOURCES Our Help Page offers a variety of free resources including product videos and guides on everything from design tips to copyrighting.  Below are links to just a few of the many guides available: How to Use ISBN, LCCN, and Copyright "Can I Use That Quote?" What Authors Need to Know About Fair Use & Permissions Copyright Permissions and Fair Use How to Write a Children's Book Word Count Conversion Chart Custom-Designed Card Decks How to Create Your Own Coloring Books 7 Steps to Create the Perfect Planner In this section of our special 5-part series, we hope we shared information that has inspired and motivated you to move forward with your idea for a book or special product. Next week, we will cover what you need to know about designing your product, with insider tips to help you through the process. Links to Full Series Article #1: Getting Started Article #2: Creating Your New Product (this article) Article #3: Design and Print Files Article #4: Publishing & Printing Article #5: How to Share & Sell

Vervante • February 3, 2022

As part of our mission to help you have the best publishing experience possible, we’ve created a special series of articles to take you through the process from inspiration to creation to completion. Whether you're new to Vervante or have worked with us in the past, we think this will be such a valuable series for clarifying everything you need to do, step-by-step, to make your big ideas into reality. (If you miss anything, just check the links at the end of the article.) Creating a New Product: Getting Started 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 gathering your thoughts and ideas and defining what exactly you want to create can be one of the hardest things you do. We’ve been there and helped thousands of customers get started, so here are our best tips: FIRST: Define your product A great place to start is to look at other similar products like the one you want to create. Determine what you like about them and start writing down details such as: size (physical dimensions), number of pages, fonts, colors, type of binding, and any special treatments. NEXT: Watch product videos A great place to get ideas and see how things look in real life is by watching the videos on our Video Vault web page. These videos spotlight a variety of products close-up and in action, narrated by our CEO, 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. THE NEXT STEP: Order samples Holding a sample product in your hand is one of the best ways to decide if you’re choosing the right specifications. We have a Samples Page on our website filled with products you can order to help you make your final decision. One of the most popular samples is our Paper Sample Notepad that includes eight of our most popular paper options – a great way to test the look and feel of the type of paper you’ll want to use. 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. DOWNLOAD: Product catalog We do books ... and so much more! From books to other products such as daily planners, card decks, calendars, notecards, journals, CDs, and DVDs, we've got you covered. Get to know the wide variety of products, packaging, and publishing solutions we offer by downloading our detailed product catalog. (Just go to our home page and click on "Catalog" in the top menu.) FINALLY: Explore our extensive free resources EXPERT GUIDES: Free downloads for everything from how to get started to how to sell and even in-depth technical advice for setting up print files and shopping baskets. BLOG: Hundreds of articles, updates and even highlights of other customer stories that will inspire and assist. FAQs: We have an entire page on the website dedicated to answering the most frequent issues our customers have. Start there are you’ll probably find what you need. FREE BOOK: On the Expert Guide page, you'll find a link to download our free book "How to Self Publish." It's a complete guide for printing and publishing books and products and gives you everything you need in full detail for your next project. We know we’ve given you a lot of information, but this moment where you’re just getting started really is that important. Here’s a final thought… The most important move you will make right now is to choose the right company to work with. After more than 30 years in the publishing industry, we’ve seen up close and personal what you need – and what you don’t need – in order to pick the right company to help you. And we know that no matter if you choose to work with a large corporate publisher or specialized boutique organization, these are universal truths that will help you make the right decisions to ensure that your publishing experience is valuable, productive and, above all, stress-free. So click here to download “The 7 Things You Must Look For in a Publisher,” and be sure to reach out to us if you have any questions. In the next few weeks, we’ll be publishing more articles and information, so soak it in and get ready to create the amazing, inspiring, and business-building products you’ve been dreaming of. Links to Full Series Article #1: Getting Started (This article) Article #2: Creating Your New Product Article #3: Design and Print Files Article #4: Publishing & Printing Article #5: How to Share & Sell

Vervante • November 11, 2021

If you plan on selling products this holiday season, this is one of those emails you need to keep on hand. No matter what you need - from extra print runs to calculating postage and shipping - we can help. CHOOSING SHIPPING METHOD Vervante gives our customers the ability to choose the best shipping method for your needs. Our shipping system will automatically default to Media Mail for domestic shipments. However, if you want your orders to arrive by Christmas, we don't recommend Media Mail after November 30. If you want to set a specific shipping method for a product, you can do this from your Author Dashboard. 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. (Remember, if you want your packages to arrive by Christmas, we don't recommend using Media Mail after Nov. 30). 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: Don't forget to save your changes) For more details and tips on things like using Media Mail and making sure you're choosing the best shipping method, be sure to check out our article on the blog here: "How to Set Up Shipping for the Holidays." CALCULATING POSTAGE We offer a postage calculator on the Vervante website for our customers. Here’s how to use it: Log into your Vervante account Scroll down to the Support section and select Calculate Postage You will see your products listed and their weight Below your product list you’ll see a USPS shipping calculator.  You can then enter information such as destination, dates, weight, etc to calculate shipping costs. PRINTING TURNAROUND TIMES Be sure to allow time for your products to be printed as you plan your holiday sales deadlines. Turnaround time for products printed on demand is usually 5-7 business days.  Due to increased volume in December, orders may take an additional 2-3 business days to print. HOLIDAY SHIPPING Did you know that because Black Friday falls on Nov 26 this year, you only have less than a month to make sure all orders make it to your customers on time? For that reason, it’s a good idea to get familiar with shipping deadlines. UPS: If you use UPS, check here for their November and December deadlines US POSTAL SERVICE: For USPS, you can check here for shipping deadlines and postage information 2022 DAILY PLANNERS If you’re planning on selling a daily planner for 2022, here are some important dates and information to know. Turnaround times for hardcover planners is approximately 4-6 weeks. For all other planners (laminated, board covers, poly paper, etc.), turnaround time is approximately 4 weeks.  If you are planning on selling a hardcover planner, we are still accepting orders, but cannot guarantee that they will be finished and shipped in time for the Christmas holiday. Please email our team at [email protected] for questions or assistance. FULFILLMENT HELP If you already printed your products and need an easy to manage distribution resource for the holidays or for any time of the year, we can help. Here’s how: Store your products in our modern warehouse facility located in Utah Provide us with order information and we will pull the required products from inventory, package and ship directly to your customers This can be done for individual orders or bulk orders Click here to learn more about our Fulfillment Services Click here to learn more about our Warehousing and Inventory Management Services

Vervante • September 14, 2021

Every author  needs a website. Especially self-published authors. Social media is great. But when it comes down to it, an author website that you control is the best way to promote your books, boost your sales, and create a loyal following that will support your future endeavors too. As a self-published author you should have a website, at least one social media account, and an Amazon Author Page that works together in harmony to connect and promote. But the mistake that many authors made is building them – then forgetting about them. An active website can do wonders for sales and engagement. An outdated or stagnant one will do the opposite. Luckily, it’s easy to improve your author website so that you can make sure it’s supporting your goals. If you’re thinking to yourself “Gee, it’s been a while since I’ve checked in to my own site,” we’ve rounded up a few tips for making your author website all it can be. 5 Things You Need for An Author Website First, let’s cover the basics. You should have the following 5 things on your author website. Author Bio Your Books and Products Mailing List Sign Up Contact Info Blog or Calendar Tips for improving your author website TIP #1: AUTHOR BIO: Make sure your bio is up-to-date, and that it includes a clear call-to-action at the end. If a reader feels connect to you, give them a way to stay in touch. This can include pointing them to your email/newsletter sign-up (see Tip #3), buying a book, or even just following you on an active social media account. TIP #2: BOOKS & PRODUCTS: All of the books and products you currently have available for sale should be listed and have easy-to-find links for purchasing. If you have multiple products or lines, make sure this page is well-organized and easy to read. Many readers will go to your website to find your books, and if you make it easy for them to click and buy, you’ll make them very happy (and get more sales!) We encourage you to sell directly from your site using any shopping cart, then let us print and ship the product to your customer.  Selling direct allows you to collect the customer data, specifically their email address, and build your subscriber list. You can then sell your products on Amazon as a secondary distribution channel. TIP #3: MAILING LIST SIGN UP: Start collecting email addresses even if you don’t have a newsletter yet. Building a database of interested followers and loyal fans is a very powerful way to boost future sales, connect with your readers, and create a community that will support you for the long term. (You can read more here about how a contact list can support your next book or product launch.) TIP #4: CONTACT INFO: Don’t leave them hanging. You don’t have to share your personal email or phone number, but be sure that readers have a way to stay in touch including an email/newsletter sign-up, social media, or even how to follow you on your Amazon Author Page. TIP #5: BLOG or CALENDAR PAGE: A blog is a great way to let people know more about you, share your world, announce new books, launch campaigns, and give them a place to connect in a deeper way with you. A calendar is also a great method of announcing events such as book signing, online live streams, holiday promotions, etc. TIP #6: MAKE IT SPECIAL: Offering incentives can go a long way toward creating a loyal and enthusiastic following. Lead Magnets Pre-Sale / Pre-Launch Offers Discounts Bonuses VIP Status Free Content Swag (Stickers are fun -- Custom card decks too!) If you’re gearing up for a book or product launch for the holidays, now is the perfect time to update your author page. Having one more support system updated and ready to go will streamline your launch and help with smooth sales throughout the year ahead.

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 • July 20, 2021

One of the most addictive things we love to watch on social media are “unboxing” videos. How fun is it to watch people open their packages and see not just what they ordered, but all the extra fun and special stuff inside? The packages you send out can be just as fun for your customers to open (and maybe end up starring in their own unboxing videos) by adding just a few “extras.” The beauty of this idea is that it’s very customizable. You can create as much as you want, add any products you like, and customize the design and details – and we can help you make it happen. How to add fun extras to packages This works for any type of packages including Subscription Boxes, VIP Boxes, Book Launch Boxes, Planner Debut Boxes, and even just single-purchases such as books or journals. FIRST: Decide what extras you would like to include in your package The secret to really impressing your customers is to choose items to add to your box that will complement the product ordered, or that will add value to the event or program your customer signed up for. We can produce some types of items such as: Thank you postcard, notecard or letter Wallet card flash drive Card decks Golden tickets, coupons, or bookmarks Notepads / Notebooks / Journals Stickers (see our online catalog and samples for more ideas of products we can help you create) You can also send us supplied items and our fulfillment service team can include them in your packages for you when we ship out your orders. Some ideas include: Pens, pencils, markers Apparel Crystals Bags for card decks Tissue paper to wrap the planner/book/journal Colored crinkle paper to sprinkle in the box Athletic accessories (fitness bands, supplements, etc.) Tote bags, pouches or pencil cases NEXT: Decide on box specs and presentation SIZE: If you would like a custom printed shipping box, we need to determine the correct sized box based on the content. Or, you can use one of our white shipping boxes and we’ll use the correct size. When you speak with our team about putting together your special packaging, consider how you want it presented. Do you want the products nestled inside layers of colorful tissue paper? Add a touch of glamour with confetti? Carefully positioned in shredded packing paper or bubble wrap in colors that match your brand? Take a look at unboxing videos for similar products to yours for ideas on presentation, then let us know what you’d like to do. Also, be sure to check our video vault page to see live examples of how this can work: Creative shipping boxes Creating custom printed boxes Add extra items to your packages FINALLY: Set up for warehousing, fulfillment and shipping Special boxed items like these involve multiple parts that need to be assembled, packaged and delivered just right. Here at Vervante, we provide the storage, assembly and shipping services you need for all types of boxes. If you're ready to create a box that provides an extra special experience for your customers, here are your next steps: Start by sending an email to [email protected] for a free quote. Let us know the products you plan on using, the box size and anything else you want for this project and we'll help you get set up. Better yet, put your head together with our CEO, Cindy Tyler, and she'll provide the advice you need for the box you want to create. (Schedule a phone call by clicking here) P.S. Creating special boxes like these can also be a great opportunity for a collaboration. Send this email to a friend or colleague and work together to create something special!

Vervante • July 7, 2021

Some authors come to us to self-publish one book. But most authors end up creating multiple books and products, as it’s hard to turn off inspiration (and your audience keeps asking for more!). No matter what kind of books you’re writing – from fitness to finance to fun cozy murder-mysteries – there’s something that everyone should understand early in the process: The benefits of publishing imprints for self-published authors. What is a publishing imprint? A publishing imprint is the name assigned to an ISBN. It will be the name listed as publisher on your book copyright or imprint page, on the back cover of your book, and in retail descriptions such as Amazon. Benefits of creating a publishing imprint Authors who publish their works under imprints set themselves apart from other self-published authors who have no imprint and are publishing under their own names. Having your book listed with a publisher name that is different than your own creates a level of professionalism that can overcome bias that many still have against self-publishing. Having an "official" name on the back of that book gives it a professionalism that many readers are looking for. It also helps you create continuity with your branding, and gives you more flexibility in marketing and sales. How to create a publishing imprint When you work with Vervante, you have the flexibility to choose between using us (Vervante) as your imprint, or creating one for yourself. Using Vervante as your imprint: If an author uses an ISBN purchased through Vervante, then Vervante will be listed as your imprint. Using Vervante ISBNs and listing Vervante as your publisher adds credibility as we are an established, respected publisher who has been in business for 21 years. Another benefit to using our ISBN is that you, as the author, retain full rights to your ISBN and content (a benefit that many other publishing companies do not offer.)  Creating your own imprint: If you already have a business brand name and your book is a part of that business, you might choose to create an imprint that is consistent with your business. For example, if your brand is “Fitness International,” and you are writing a series of books about nutrition, health and wellness, your publishing imprint could simply be “Fitness International Press.” If an author wants to create and use their own imprint, they must purchase their ISBNs directly from Bowker. When you purchase your ISBN directly from them, you can set up the publisher name that will be attached to it. PLEASE NOTE: If you purchase ISBNs from Bowker, you don't need to purchase barcodes as well. There are a number of free barcode generators online that you can use. An imprint is a great way for self-published authors to brand their works and elevate their credibility by having a professional publishing name associated with their books. If you have any questions about using Vervante as your imprint, or creating your own, please email our team

Vervante • June 8, 2021

If you’re looking for a secret weapon to support your Amazon sales, here it is – Amazon Author Pages! Authors who sell books on Amazon automatically have access to this very cool – and free – resource, but often don’t know they can use it, or forget about it with all the hustle and bustle of a sales launch. Amazon Author Pages help you to connect with your readers by providing detailed information about you, your books, and any other links or products you’d like to promote. There’s even a way for people to “Follow” you on Amazon so fans can be alerted when you debut new items. If you haven’t used this resource yet – or maybe set one up but forgot about it – it’s not too late. Here’s what you need to do:   How to set up an Amazon Author Page Get started by going to Amazon Author Central and log in to your account. If this is the first time you're logging in to Author Central, follow their directions for verifying your account and linking to your existing books for sale on Amazon. Once you've done that, Amazon will walk you through the rest of the setup steps. Here are a few pro tips to make sure you are using this resource to its best: Amazon Profile: Start by uploading a current photo.  Biography: Sharing your story helps readers make a stronger connection with you. Blogs: Link to your blog so updates will be posted on your Author Page as well. Photos & Videos: Upload event videos, book trailers, speaking highlights, interviews, etc. Once you’ve filled in all the information, check that all of your books are listed on your Author Page. If any of your books are not listed, go to the Books tab and click Add more books. To see how your Amazon Author Page looks to other people, click on the link provided in the Profile section. You'll also see a tab at the top called "Reports and Marketing," where you can: Use the Sales Rank feature to check how your book is performing in Amazon. Check Customer Reviews under the Reports + Marketing tab  Want to see how other authors are using Amazon Author Pages? Here are a couple you can check out for inspiration: Melanie Beckler Judi Holler Amazon Author Pages are free to set up and a great opportunity you don’t want to miss. We hope this inspired you to get started on your own, and please let us know if you have any questions.

Vervante • May 25, 2021

When you place an order and open your package, what is the first thing you see? Often, it’s the packing slip inside! This simple piece of paper is often overlooked, but can be customized to make it a useful, interesting, and value-adding part of your customer’s experience. Think of the packing slip as a valuable piece of 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 time frames or refunds Business address and contact information (PLEASE NOTE: Prices are NOT included on our packing slips.) Here at Vervante, we provide the ability to customize packing slips – and you can even print out a sample to see how it will look from your customer’s perspective. Here’s how to get started First, log into your Vervante author account, then select “Customize My Packing Slip” on your Author Dashboard. From this page, you have options to customize in the following ways: Add a logo Input your business address Add a personal greeting, instructions, return policy, or other message Include a custom return address if needed When you make a change to your packing slip, be sure to click on the “UPDATE” button at the bottom of the page to save your changes. Then you can click on the “PRINT SAMPLE” button to print out a copy and proofread your changes. Too often, the value of these small slips of paper that come with packages are overlooked. We hope this gave you some great ideas and useful info for customizing your packing slips. And if you have any questions, please let us know. We're here to help at [email protected].

Vervante • May 16, 2021

You’ve created the perfect planner, now the big question is how much to charge for it? It’s like a scary math problem where the answer isn’t always clear. Price it too high and no one will buy. Price it too low and you devalue your work and your profits. Finding the right price doesn’t have to feel like a guessing game, though, especially if you follow these steps. (btw, these work for any product – books, journals, card decks, etc.) STEP #1: Research similar products and see what they are charging. This will give you a starting price range and an idea of what customers are willing to pay. A note about pricing: If your community is relatively small and you’re planning on printing a small batch, for example less than 500 planners, don’t compare your product and price point to planner industry leaders Emily Ley or Erin Condren who both print thousands at a time, making their costs significantly lower.  STEP #2: Calculate your costs including printing, production, and fulfillment to get a break-even baseline. If you plan to sell on Amazon, remember to add in 15% commission for Amazon.  If you sell from your own site, include fees such as credit card processing and other merchant fees. STEP #3: Consider the value your book, planner or product is offering to your customer. Will this product help them save time, money, stress? If you deliver a lot of value, this in turn raises the value of your product and the price you can charge. STEP #4: Set a price that feels right to you. If you think you’re charging too little, then you’ll feel resentful and that will come through. If you think you are charging too much, you might feel nervous, unsure or scared to put it out there. STEP #5: Poll beta testers. Reach out to friends, colleagues, anyone who might fit your target customer demographic and ask for feedback.  A soft-launch is a great way to test the water.  Pre-orders are another great way to test your product, price, and even help determine how many to print. The other added benefit of pre-orders is that it helps offset the cost of the print run. STEP #6: Relax that this isn’t set in stone. Pricing can be nerve-racking, we know, but you can always adjust. You might start out with an introductory price to test the waters and then adjust it to fit demand. Coupon codes, special packaged deals, and other similar methods can be used until you’ve got it just right. STEP #7: Add value to support your price: Make the price you set a no-brainer by adding so much value that your customer is excited to buy! Create packages to make it unique and different than anything else – and add value with extra products that complement it. For example, for daily planners you could include extras like pens, clips, bookmarks, notepads, stickers, card decks, or even experiences like an introductory coaching session or limited-time membership in a mastermind or online program. Adding a little something extra like this will elevate your planner's value in your customer's eyes. Yes, there might be similar products with lower prices (that are most likely bulk-produced in China), but you have the ability with self-publishing services to create something unique, elevate your customer's experience, and make yours the choice they want.

Vervante • April 28, 2021

No matter what type of product you have, there are always ways you can make it better. Even just the smallest little extra can be the key that inspires customers to hit the "buy" button and choose your product over the rest. We've rounded up a few ideas below for popular products that you can easily add for your products.  Card Decks Custom-designed card decks are fun, valuable, easy to use, and very memorable. A great way to uplevel your card deck presentation is by creating custom packaging. Many people provide bags for card decks that we can package them in, but did you know that we can also print custom-designed boxes and packaging for cards? Check out our expert guide, "How to Create Custom Printed Card Decks," on our Expert Guide page to learn more about card decks and the packaging options we offer.     Spiral or Wire-o Binding Journals, planners, coloring books, and workbooks are just a few examples of products that increase in both function and value when you have the ability to lay them flat. When it comes to spiral and wire-o binding, we have a lot of options. Plus, we can help you list and sell spiral-bound products on Amazon - something most other print-on-demand publishers don't offer. Spiral binding can be used for:  Soft Covers Poly Paper (water and tear resistant) Hard covers Laminated Soft Covers 2-Ply Board Covers We offer a range of colors for spiral and wire-o that have the power to deliver a high-impact first impression, as well as a reliable binding option for your customer. Your product, already packed with value, becomes awe-inspiring and unique with the simple addition of a color or metal option. Plastic spiral binding (50+ colors) Metal spiral (3+ colors) Metal wire-o (7 colors) For more information about using spiral or wire-o binding for books, journals, planners, coloring books and more, see "How to Sell Spiral Bound Products on Amazon" on our blog.   Custom Labels or Custom Printed Boxes Custom labels are an excellent way to maximize your brand, logo, or message. Take advantage of this valuable – and often overlooked – brand-boosting opportunity by creating a fullcolor label that features your unique design. Custom labels are a simple, yet vastly effective way of dressing your letter and packages for success, and making sure that your brand is the one that stands out. A custom printed box stands out from the crowd. Add your message to the outside and inside of the box and wow your customers! For more information about custom printed boxes, watch the video "Custom Printed Boxes" on our video vault page on the website.   Printed Newsletters Direct mail pieces such as newsletters are a great way to connect to your readers at a deeper, more emotional level. Sending them in a standard white or brown envelope is great, but sending them in a clear mailing envelope is a great way to let your newsletter shine through and wow your readers before they even start reading them.   Check out our expert guide, "The Secret Weapon to Successful Newsletters," on our Expert Guide page to learn more about creating, mailing and packaging printed newsletters.  For more product and packaging ideas that will help your products stand out from the crowd, be sure to watch the videos in our website Video Vault. We are also happy to provide free quotes and answer questions about any of the products mentioned here,

Vervante • April 13, 2021

We're very excited to share with you today a new expert guides now available on our website Expert Guides page. It's free, easy to download and print, and we can't wait for you to see it. New Free Guide: Amazon Images & "Peek Inside" Feature This expert guide shares how to provide images for your listing, and how to add a popular feature  that shoppers love. We can use single images of a book cover, or we can use designed images (like the one here with multiple products). We can also help you set up something similar to Amazon's popular "Look Inside" feature so customers can get a taste of the book or product you're offering for sale. We offer this service for both Amazon and Vervante Bookstore listings, called "Peek Inside." You're invited to check out our new guide, recently posted to the Expert Guides page on our website, for details. If you'd like to set this up for your listings in Amazon or the Vervante Bookstore, just following the easy direction in the user guide. And we'll be here at [email protected] if you need any help. You can view and download this guide, and many others, on our Expert Guides page on the website.

Vervante • October 6, 2020

Mark your calendars and get ready, Amazon Prime Days (October 13-14, 2020) are just around the corner! This is a great opportunity for everyone – whether you sell on Amazon, on your own website, or anywhere else. If you haven’t started planning yet, it’s not too late, especially if you use these Prime Day-inspired ideas to add some sizzle to your sales. #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 Debut new daily planners If you love the idea of selling a daily planner, but aren’t sure how to get started or worried it’s too late in the game, we can help! Use the already-designed and formatted 2021 daily planner we recently released and sell it as your own! All you need to do is download the InDesign files for our daily planner, make any changes you want, then use it as your own to sell or share. In just a matter of days you can start marketing and sales for your very own daily planner. (Learn more about our 2021 Daily Planners including full access to images, files, etc by clicking HERE.) #3 Prime Days “free-plus-shipping” specials "Free-plus-shipping" offers are great for Prime Day. 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.) #4 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. 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 • September 3, 2020

Want to know the best time to promote your new product? Before it's officially available! Preselling is a powerful marketing strategy that everyone can benefit from. The presale period is so important, in fact, it should be the centerpiece of your marketing and promotional campaign. What is a presale? It's that period of time when you're in the final stretch, polishing up your new product and preparing for the big launch, but not quite ready to print and ship. Presales offer several big benefits #1: Takes the guesswork out of knowing how many books, etc to print ahead of time if you want to use bulk printing #2: Helps offset the cost of printing, marketing, etc. by collecting payment for the product before you officially launch it. #3: Generates good "buzz" to support stronger sales How to generate interest in preorders Preorders work wonders for building buzz and building excitement about your upcoming launch. They can lead to more sales initially and lead to sustained sales over time as well. But how can you convince readers to buy a product when it isn’t available to read yet? Offer free swag: This is a popular strategy, and it works! Give readers an extra incentive to preorder and something that offers instant gratification to hold them over until official launch day. Send a digital gift pack: If you're on a budget, this is a more economical version of swag. Send them downloads, recordings, exclusive short stories, extras they can print and add to the planner, etc. Form a fan squad: If you have a group of friends and fans who are excited about your upcoming launch, harness that power by asking them to be your official launch team. Send them early copies so they can leave reviews and recommendations. Let them share details about the new book on their own social media and give them special links to let their followers pre-order. Use your social media: Give your social media images an update by adding information or images about your upcoming launch. Have a strategy that takes readers on a journey to get them invested and excited such as cover reveals, printing snapshots, excerpts and more. Send an email to subscribers: If you have a mailing list, (every author should), then you already have a group of people who are interested in what you are doing. Send them updates, build the excitement, and give them exclusive offers to support your presale offer. How to set up your products for presales It's easy to offer presales, here's what to do: Set up a landing page and allow customers to pay you for the product ahead of time. Be sure to communicate clearly when customers should expect to receive their purchase. At the close of the presale window, let Vervante know how many you need printed. Send us an export from your shopping cart of all presale orders and we'll ship your planner or product to each of your customers. Each person's situation might be different, so if you are planning on offering presales, it's always a good idea to consult with our publishing team so we can make sure you're optimizing each step. Just reach out at [email protected] or schedule a 1-on-1 call using our online scheduler.

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 • 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 • May 20, 2020

COVID-19 has created a lot of chaos and disruption in the world, and finding easy ways to organize and track tasks, home schooling, and all the changes in our lives is as important as ever. All of this might explain why planners are so popular right now, with an insatiable market filled with people who want the perfect planner for keeping their life, business, finances, relationships, food, fitness and pretty much everything else on track. If you’ve ever thought about creating and selling your own planner, now is the perfect time. You can get a head start creating versions for 2021, or you can create undated planners that work anytime, anywhere. Choosing the right publisher to help you create your planner is one of the first and most important decisions you need to make. Why? Because who you use to create your planners will affect how your planner will look and function in so many ways. Many people make the mistake of thinking planners are just like books, so they turn to the brand most often associated with books – Amazon. And yes, Amazon is good with printing perfect bound books (the classic style with the glued binding), but planners aren’t really books. Customers do not want a planner that is like a paperback novel. Planners must be functional and durable, which means a sturdy hardcover that will hold up to months of use, spiral or wire-o binding so they can lay flat and be written on, with tabs and pockets and stickers and all the extras that make them so unique and perfect. When it comes to creating planners, here's a list of the exciting options we offer: beautiful, durable hardcovers with printed covers, faux leather or linen spiral and wire-o binding no pre-set page sizes custom printed die-cut tabs mixed color and black & white printed pages kiss-cut stickers paper pockets foil stamp metal corners ribbon markers custom packaging  printed and shipped from our warehouse in the U.S. If this gets you fired up to start creating a planner, we’re excited too! We are here to offer guidance and support for every step, so please feel free to email or set up a call for your next steps. Watch for a fun, new planner option we’re announcing in the next few weeks!! We will be sending photos and a new video shortly. And, we’ll be making our InDesign files available for a new 2021 planner available soon too.

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 • December 17, 2019

A successful book or product launch needs one thing: An Audience You can have fancy social media, dazzling design and over-the-top content, but if you don’t have an audience, you won’t make the sales. 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. If you're looking for a New Year resolution, this is it! Start building your audience contact list now.   We're talking about much more than just posting on social media. With algorithms that are constantly changing, you can't rely entirely on social media for keeping in touch with your audience. Recent changes to Facebook and Instagram algorithms resulted in influencers with thousands upon thousands of follows realizing their posts weren't getting seen. A few small technology tweaks and they'd lost access to audiences they'd spent years building up. The answer is simple - creating and maintaining a contact list for fans and follows that allows you to reach out directly - through email, phone or mail - gives you both control and confidence that you can always reach out whenever you need to. You already have the tools for creating an audience at your fingertips, you just need to use them. You can use any number of services (free or paid) to keep track of and communicate with your connections such as MailChimp, Constant Contact, Infusionsoft, and many others. Once you have this set up, you can grow your audience using: Social Media: Ask fans and followers to sign up for your newsletters or opt-in for important updates via email. Live Events: Speaking from the stage, networking meetings, holiday celebrations - these are all great opportunities to connect with and invite potential clients or customers to join your list. Partnerships: Telesummits, joint ventures, any opportunity to put your heads together to reach more people is golden for growing everyone's list together. Current and Past Clients and Customers: Don't forget about the fans you already have. If someone purchased your book or product, invite them to join your VIP list for a backstage pass to current events and future launches. Vervante Customer Access: Don't forget about the unique opportunity we offer all Vervante customers: complete access to your customer's contact information for list and audience growth. The best audience member is a loyal, satisfied client and we give you full access to that. As you plan for 2020 and future book or product launches, prioritizing list growth is one of the best actions you can take right now. And using Vervante for your print and publishing needs will help you accomplish your goals with access to satisfied clients and customers as part of a loyal and active audience.