About

Hey, I’m Claudia!

I’m glad to meet you, and look forward to getting to know you! For now, here are a few pieces of me and my story, so that you can know me better.

“I’ve worked with Claudia for almost 20 years and it’s always been an absolute pleasure to do business with her. I greatly appreciate her sincerity, expertise, professional manner, valuable advice and kind and friendly nature. Thanks for all the great jobs thus far, Claudia, and keep up the good work with The Wittmann Agency. I look forward to continuing our great partnership.”
Ruth Chitty | Founder & CEO of RapidCommunication | UK & Germany

The Wittmann Agency's ClaudiaWittmann_TheThinkerPose

“Many thanks for your outstanding work. Your enthusiasm, positive attitude and commitment are unique.”
Silke F. | Foreign Rights, Licensing & Acquisition | Germany

Following my Bachelor’s Degree in Publishing & Business Administration and Management, where I specialised in book packaging and international co-editions, I began my career in international book publishing with a period of employment with Reader’s Digest Children’s Publishing in England, UK.

Then I continued my successful corporate career with various well-known publishing houses in Germany, among them Falken/Mosaik, Random House and Herder.

Before setting up my own business in 2011 I was last responsible for the collectors’ editions at Weltbild as head of their non-fiction direct mail programme.

International book publishing and I were an immediate love match.

But I noticed that foreign rights, licensing and global marketing in book publishing weren’t an especially pleasant experience – not for the hard-working publishing pros, not the creatives nor the prospects.

I thought that perhaps I could create the kind of real and professional business that creatives and entrepreneurs would actually like and enjoy while exploring great works to full potential without worrying about global marketing, industry lingo and legalities.

While my high powered corporate days saw me launching major and successfull campaigns for Europe’s largest media company, flexing my marketing muscles for multiple 8-figure revenues…the shift into “being my own boss” was anything but “high powered.”

After rough first years I doubled down, gave myself permission to pivot and learnt how to do it at scale.

I discovered that building my own dream business, was by helping others achieving theirs.

Today The Wittmann Agency is ranked in the top tier of leading agencies worldwide and has been featured in the Publishing Perspectives Magazine and international licensing and merchandising magazine Total Licensing and in many other publications.

What’s The Wittmann Agency? and other FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for „The Wittmann Agency“ services.

Are these „FAQs“ really frequently asked?

Yes. Qui. Sí. Ja. Да.

What is The Wittmann Agency?

The Wittmann Agency is your source for help with:

• Developing an outstanding, results-getting, money-making online marketing strategy for your independent, modern book publishing business to be more attractive for a global audience

• Representing you as a successful author/publisher and your book(s), to break out of your local market to become more globally known, to prospects in an eyeball-grabbing, “you had me at hello” piece of presentation

Here’s my RISE & SHINE Foreign Rights Licensing Representation Schedule

• Identifying value-seeking prospects and licensees around the globe for you and your book(s)

• Avoiding common legal mistakes in global book publishing (online and offline) when it comes to selling, contracting and managing book rights worldwide

• Assisting you to promote and market your book publishing business efficiently in a rapidly changing marketplace and the tough, increasingly virtual world

How does The Wittmann Agency help with all that?

The Wittmann Agency helps committed beginners and evolving businesses who want direction, clarity and skills to master online marketing as well as marketing subsidiary rights in book publishing on a global scale.

Choose one of these three ways to work with me to overshoot your goals in international book publishing.

Who’s The Wittmann Agency? and What’s with the name?

It’s me – Claudia Wittmann (née Beneke) – supported by a wonderful team of freelance professionals who understand publishing (especially for creative pros!) and who do some of the writing, translations, photos, graphic design, legal and more.

The name The Wittmann Agency as a tax strategy – in Germany your name must be part of the enterprise – was recommended by a colleague, who works as Foreign Rights Manager and Editor, before I formed this company in 2011.

Does The Wittmann Agency offer freebies?

Yep – to get you started grab one or all of them.
Download these free guides and attend the masterclass I created just for you!

1

FREE Masterclass

How To Pitch Your Books & Rights Online (And Sell)

2

FREE Workbook

5 online Mistakes Even Smart Publishing Professionals Make And How To Fix Them Quickly

3

FREE Guide

25 Digital Marketing Tools And Services Modern Publishing Entrepreneurs Can Trust

And don’t forget to join my list to get my hands-on tips for your digital book publishing business with my widely popular Love Letter To Bookworms where I regularly share insights around online and offline marketing for book publishing creatives and on building a sustainable successful business in global book publishing you’ll love.

Who’s The Wittmann Agency perfect for?

The Wittmann Agency is for big-hearted creatives like established and aspiring publishing business owners, publishing pros and modern entrepreneurs.

Who’s The Wittmann Agency not perfect for?

The Wittmann Agency is not right if you’re looking for a one-on-one business coach on a daily basis.

This service is not right if you’re looking to go global and market your modern publishing business or your sub-rights of your published books yourself without support, advise or strategy or with the help of a scattered network of multiple co-agents around the globe.

It’s also not right if you consider yourself a fairly advanced international foreign rights and brand licensing or global online marketer.

If you’ve already mastered:

• international and domestic book rights selling of subsidiary rights
• evaluation of rights sale potential,
• global online marketing and marketing material creation on a high-end level,
• global networking and list building,
• liaising and negotiating of rights contract terms and conditions,
• drafting and finalizing rights contracts,
• being familiar with national and international copyright and tax treaties and regulations,
• being highly-experienced in co- editions and working in alignment with hidden rules and Do’s and Dont’s of traditional book publishing
• consider yourself an expert in free and paid sales traffic generation in international book publishing — this experience is not right for you.

If you hope to succeed by leaning back doing nothing this service is also not right for you. The Wittmann Agency is for action-takers who understand that real change happens with consistent, focused effort over time.

The Wittmann Agency is also not right for those looking for help with raising funding, book production (copyediting, design and layout, typesetting, proofreading, book printing, binding), public relation to promote companies or individuals via editorial coverage or book distribution.

The Wittmann Agency does not provide tax nor legal consultancy. For this purpose The Wittmann Agency has access to a qualified network of cooperating solicitor.

The Wittmann Agency is not right for someone looking for a cookie cutter “plug and play” system to make money fast.

The Wittmann Agency offers not a “get rich quick”, „get publishing grants“ or „how to survive in publishing“ program.

Going global is a strategy, not a tactic – a marathon not a sprint.

In The Wittmann Agency you’ll have a trusted and loyal “getting great over a long period of time” partner.

Okay, I’m in and want to join The Wittmann Agency.
Is this good company for me?

My exclusive partners and my community span over the entire publishing industry across 120+ countries and territories and is still growing.

From traditional publishers, to best-selling authors turned indie publishers, small presses, independent publishing business owners and book producing companies to creative and literary agencies, website and graphic designers, illustrators, language instructors, editors, proofreaders, translators, voice-over-artists, writers, and every flavour of speaker, author, coach and consultant — the range of rich and diverse creatives we have in The Wittmann Agency community is one of our distinct advantages.

I truly think you’re made to be a The Wittmann Agency Club Member.

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LOVE LETTER TO BOOKWORMS