Most self-published authors sell the majority of their books through online outlets such as Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and AuthorHouse.com. These outlets are important to self-published authors, because they provide a simple sales model with a level playing field in the “shelf presence” of a book. In essence, the Internet has become the storefront of choice for self-published authors. When a customer orders a book online, the book can be printed individually and shipped directly to the customer.
When you publish your book through AuthorHouse, your book is automatically included in the company’s online bookstore, AuthorHouse.com and sent to Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. Customers can order your book directly from any of these sites, and AuthorHouse handles all of the details of fulfillment, from collecting the payment and processing your author royalty, to printing and shipping the book to the customer. Although other online sites have their own submission and sales policies, most handle all sales, collection, and fulfillment responsibilities, enabling you to benefit from the sale, while avoiding the mechanics of taking and filling the order.
Working with Bookseller Programs
Each site offers its own programs and features that enable you to tell potential buyers more about your book and promote its unique value in the marketplace. You should view every online bookseller listing as both a sales and promotion opportunity.
Each online bookseller offers its own selling programs. Amazon.com, for example, offers its Advantage program, which provides twenty-four-hour shipment on most books, access to Amazon marketing programs, and easily tracked accounts information, in addition to other features. Amazon’s Buy X Get Y program also enables you to pair your book with another title at a reduced rate to the buyer, potentially boosting sales and providing more visibility for your book.
The online sales outlets offer readers numerous advantages as well. For example, an internet-based book search can allow readers to find your book and look at a few of the inside pages. As millions of readers look for information online daily, it is critical that your book’s content is indexable and appears on two of the most prolific online book search tools available: Google™ Book Search and Amazon® Search Inside the Book™. These search tools attract potential readers by allowing them to preview sample pages from your book, including the table of contents and the back cover. To maximize your book sales through Amazon and Google, you can participate in AuthorHouse’s Book Search Program.
Soliciting Reader Reviews
Most online outlets also offer reviews and ratings, from both professional reviewers and the book’s readers. These reviews offer you another great way to improve your book’s sales. Have family, friends, and associates write and post reviews of your book, to help discuss its strong points and to generate more interest in the book from would-be book buyers who are browsing the online bookseller’s site. The reviews needn’t be “over the top” in their praise to make a difference in your book sales. The more solid, positive reviews you have, the more likely would-be buyers are to take notice of your title and, perhaps, go on to buy it.
If your book receives positive reviews in print, online, or on a radio or television broadcast, be certain to send that review to the online booksellers with which you sell your book. Most will allow these reviews to be posted on your book’s information page. Check with each site’s submission policy for details.
Finally, both Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com enable readers to create and post lists of their favorite books. You can help publicize and promote your book by creating a list of your own; include your book’s title along with those of similar books. When anyone searches for the titles of any book on your list, the entire list—including your book—will appear as a search result. This simple step gives your book added publicity and can lead to improved online sales.
By managing your book’s presence on online booksellers and ensuring that your book maintains a high profile, you can drive online customers to your book and help generate book sales.
