Missed our Webinar? Watch How to Get Noticed by International Publishers on DropCap Marketplace
This post features a transcript that has been auto-generated and lightly edited for readability. Some errors or minor inaccuracies may still be present.
Hello. Welcome to the next installment of our latest MasterClass series. Today we're talking about how to get noticed by international publishers.
I’m Lindsay Jones. I’m the CEO of DropCap. If you'd like to pop into the chat and let us know who you are, where you're from, please do. I know we’ll have some authors with us today who are already utilizing DropCap and looking to make the most of it. And I know we’ll have some authors that are completely brand new to us and to rights licensing. I'll try to go over things from both perspectives today.
What Is DropCap Marketplace?
DropCap Marketplace is a rights marketplace primarily serving independent authors. We've built a platform where authors, some independent publishers, and even literary agents can list books that are then being perused by foreign rights buyers around the world.
We have over 2,700 rights buyers who include foreign publishers, foreign rights agents, audiobook publishers, and a few film agents. Our mission is to provide those buyers with content from independent authors. Our bread and butter is foreign rights—that means books that are being translated into other languages. Sometimes they’re adapted for other countries but remain in English. There’s a wide range of foreign rights that can be licensed, and that’s what DropCap deals in.
How Buyers Discover Books
There are three primary ways that rights buyers discover books in DropCap Marketplace.
1. Advanced Search and Filters
Like any retail site, buyers can search and filter listings. Many of them have something specific in mind—maybe a trending topic in their market like mindfulness or romantasy. They can filter by topic or genre to find the types of books they’re currently looking for.
This is why it’s so important that your book is discoverable in search. Trends can change quickly, and being listed means you might be the exact match for a buyer who is searching for something new.
2. Weekly Email Pitches
Books are also matched to rights buyers' criteria and pitched weekly via email. We look at what our buyers typically acquire—their genres, trends in their market, what they’ve licensed recently—and we use a smart algorithm to recommend books that might interest them.
We’re not sending your book to all 2,700 buyers. We’re using targeted, curated logic to suggest your book only to the people we think will genuinely be interested. We have a very engaged buyer base that knows DropCap and trusts our recommendations.
3. Buyer Dashboards
Rights buyers also log into their own dashboards, where they see curated lists of books based on categories, trending titles, and recently licensed books. Titles that are generating a lot of interactions rise to the top. This is another highly targeted way for books to be discovered.
The first thing they see is your book’s cover, title, and categories. And while they may eventually change the cover if they license it, the current cover is what grabs their attention and gets them to click.
Making Your Listing Stand Out
Cover and Categories
A professional, eye-catching cover is critical. It's the first impression. Even though foreign publishers may redesign it, your cover is what buyers use to decide whether to click and learn more.
Equally important are the categories you choose. For example, a nonfiction book titled Mindfully Successful should be categorized under Mind-Body-Spirit or Self-Help, not Memoir or General Nonfiction. The more specific, the better. Choose two to three relevant categories. Avoid listing too broadly—specificity helps with targeting.
Description
Have a concise, scannable, and well-formatted book description. Buyers often make decisions quickly, especially at book fairs where we’re pitching a dozen books every 30 minutes. Use bolded endorsements at the top if you have them, and consider using bullet points.
If you're writing fiction, include comparable titles or phrases like “for fans of Sarah J. Maas.” Give buyers a quick frame of reference for what your book offers.
Endorsements and Awards
The Awards and Endorsements section is often left blank—but it shouldn’t be. Even if you haven’t won any major awards, listing a finalist mention, longlist, or any third-party praise adds credibility. Solicit blurbs from other authors or experts in your genre.
If you've received a paid editorial review (for example, from Clarion by Forward Reviews), you can include a quote from it. Any positive mention helps build trust with buyers.
If you’ve had success on platforms like Wattpad, or if you’ve done media appearances, list those too. These details help signal traction and audience engagement.
Author Page
Authors often overlook their author page, but rights buyers want to know who you are. Include a professional headshot, social links, your website, and a full bio. You can also include achievements not directly related to the listed book, such as prior bestseller status or professional accolades in your field.
This is especially helpful in nonfiction categories—if you’re writing about child psychology and have credentials or awards in that field, list them here. It helps demonstrate expertise.
Additional Listing Features
Lifetime Sales
You can now include a sales range (not exact numbers) for your book. Even if you’ve sold fewer than 500 copies, it’s okay. The point is to show that you’re building an audience. Rights buyers use this to evaluate domestic performance.
Interior Sample
Always upload a sample or full PDF interior. DropCap protects this file with watermarks and only allows access to authenticated buyers. If a buyer likes your book, they’ll want to see inside. Without a sample, they may move on.
Mistakes to Avoid
Vague or overly broad book descriptions
Walls of unformatted text
Low-quality covers
Covers that mismatch the genre
Leaving listing fields blank
Skipping interior sample upload
Forgetting to update your listing with new awards, endorsements, or marketing wins
Extra Marketing Opportunities
DropCap offers paid marketing options beyond the standard platform:
Book Fairs
We attend major international book fairs including Frankfurt, London, Bologna, Guadalajara, and partner events in Shanghai and Beijing. We meet face-to-face with buyers and bring physical copies of your book to show them.
We pre-schedule over 100 meetings per fair. While digital marketing is great, there’s no substitute for someone holding your book in their hands.
Digital Campaigns
We also run seasonal showcases and targeted promotions. These are opportunities to give your book extra visibility. If you’re not receiving emails about these, let us know and we’ll make sure you’re on the list.
Q&A Highlight
Q: Do I need to wait until my book is published to list it on DropCap Marketplace?
No, you don’t. It’s actually better to list your book before it launches. That way, we can build on your initial launch buzz and marketing momentum. All you need to get started is a title, description, and cover image. Even without an ISBN, you can begin setting up your listing. Add more over time as it becomes available.