6 tips to sell books online successfully
Ask any six successful self-publishing authors for their secrets and you’re likely to get six different answers. Here’s what worked for Steff.
Great cover
Whoever said “don’t judge a book by its cover” is very, very wrong. We’re drawn to books with great covers that suggest the type of story we want to read or offer to answer our questions. When selling online, think about how your cover looks in small “thumbnail” format — make sure the fonts are easy to read and the colors stand out.
Intriguing blurb
After the cover, the short description or “blurb” is the next biggest selling tool, so tweak it a hundred times until it shines. The key is to refrain from giving away the whole plot in the blurb but to give readers a taste of the initial conflict and how it could escalate.
Fascinating title
Choose a title that gives your reader an idea of what to expect. Check out other titles in your niche and follow the trends.
Brand your books
To successfully sell books online, make sure you have a cohesive author brand across your books, your website and all your design and content. You want readers to glance at a book cover and instantly be able to tell it’s one of yours. Katie Cross is one example of a writer with excellent branding.
Team up with other writers
Make friends with other writers in your genre to run promotions, cross-promote in your newsletters and reach more readers. You may even consider placing fellow author’s books in your store to earn affiliate income.
Use your mailing list
Offer books, short stories or bonus chapters for free with newsletter signup. Encourage readers and those visiting your store to sign up for these freebies. When you release new books or have a sale, your mailing list is a vital tool to help push those numbers.
Steff Green
