Here are representative (not all) responses from the survey we took among APSS members about three weeks ago. If you did not participate in the survey, but would like to do so, please go to http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07ea5fqxapi2nq262b/start

What current APSS membership benefits do you find most helpful?

Book distribution (53%)

LSI printing discount (51%)

Discount on Bowker products and services (42%)

Ebook conversion and awards (39%)

Shipping discounts (37%)

What additional membership benefits would you like to have offered?     

Strategic marketing        

Referrals to good marketing resources (these may be found on the APSS home page)

Discount on book printing (this is already a member benefit -- through LSI)

Make it easier to purchase service you already offer

Would you take advantage of any of these programs if offered at an additional charge? Top 3: 

Personal book-marketing consulting (64%)

Consulting on personal branding (38%)

Group brainstorming on marketing topics (32%)

What additional products or services would you like APSS to offer?    

Any method of contact or introduction to producers

Sales reps for special market sales; not just advice, but actual sales help     

Better marketing and follow-through with pending sales to non-bookstores

A free submission to the non-bookstore program          

Better Internet, book show and appropriate market- advertisement  

How could the monthly newsletter The Sales Informer be improved?                     

Better design   

Make it much shorter, possibly by breaking it into weekly issues   

I enjoy it as is  

Maybe you could discuss a membership feature of the month to remind us of benefits (we have implemented a weekly email featuring one benefit)          

How can APSS better help you?          

A question and answer forum to address little things that pop up from time to time would be helpful (we are planning to do this)    

Skype meetings or hold them at more convenient times and locations.         

A "community" of people working through marketing their books and sharing tips, resources, ideas and help (this exists in the Idea Marketplace at http://tinyurl.com/lzcykvp and on the APSS Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/bookapss )

I've gotten a few good things from some of the free webinars, but can't always attend them as scheduled. I so appreciate when the recordings are offered afterwards. (a list of the recordings of all 24 webinars held in 2014 may be found under the “Marketing Tips” tab at www.bookapss.org )

Follow through with special sales orders and inclusion in special sales flyers