Increase eBook Sales—5 Best Strategies
“The self-published author wears many hats, from writer to publisher to marketer, but the rewards can be great.” – J.A. Konrath
Are you an indie author looking for straightforward advice to help increase ebook sales? If you don’t care about book sales—you can skip this blog. Also, if you’re looking for a quick fix—this isn’t it. While the advice in this 5-part series is easy, it does require a little time and effort. So, if you’re ready to start increasing ebook sales, read on to find out how.
First, take a look at these stats posted on WordsRated by Nicholas Rizzo in 2022:
- 30-34% of all ebooks sold are self-published
- 300 million self-published books are sold each year
- $1.25 billion worth of self-published books are sold each year
- Amazon pays $250 million in royalties to self-published authors each year
How can you start receiving a bigger share of the $250 million Amazon pays out each year?
According to Derek Murphy at Creativindie, who gives advice without any hype: “You need to know your market, and you need a book that will satisfy them, and you need to present it in a way that lets them know that, and you need to get it in front of them.” This is excellent advice, especially for new authors.
Let’s take a closer look at Derek’s straightforward advice for each of the four areas he mentions (our rephrasing of them): market research, genre expectations, covers, and advertising. We’ll dive deeper into these four strategies, plus keywords and categories, in the other parts of this series on increasing ebook sales.
Do Market Research to Increase eBook Sales
Market research is about knowing what’s currently selling and what’s trending. When you’re doing market research, look especially at what’s selling for indie authors. Look at the current titles, cover designs, topics, and themes. Are zombies in or out? In romance, are “Save the Ranch” stories popular? Part 2 of this series goes into detail on methods of market research.
Meet Genre Expectations
Know the readers’ expectations for your genre. And use basic conventions or tropes in your ebook. If you haven’t included the reader’s basic expectations for the genre, then it’s time to do some revision. Make sure your ebook meets the basics that readers want, especially the cover. Part 3 goes into detail on meeting genre expectations to help increase ebook sales.
Cover That Fits the Genre
Readers also expect your ebook’s cover to look like it belongs in the genre. It’s a bit like a family photo showing the family resemblance in each person. If you put your ebook’s cover alongside other covers in the same genre, does it look like it belongs? Cover elements to consider include the cover design and layout, colors, fonts, and images. The combination of these communicates the genre to potential readers.
Get Your Ebook Before Readers
As Derek also said, “Nothing about your book matters until someone can see it.” Strategies for getting your book before readers include using effective keywords and categories for your ebook. In addition, advertising can help do it. In the last part of this 5-part series, we’ll take a much deeper dive into keywords, categories, advertising, and promotion. We’ll look at the best ways to find keywords and categories, along with some tips and tricks. We’ll also look at the best advertising and promotion strategies.
Naturally, what works best will depend on your ebook’s genre. Part 4 covers how to use keywords and categories to increase ebook sales. Part 5 dives deeper into advertising and promotion to get your ebook before potential readers and increase sales.
Working with each of these strategies in order can help you build an overall plan for increasing your ebook sales. Although it does take time, it’s worth the effort to increase sales.
Don’t wait. Start today!
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FAQs
How can I effectively price my eBook to maximize sales?
Answer: Consider using a tiered pricing strategy where you initially set a lower price to attract readers and gather reviews, then gradually increase the price as your eBook gains visibility and reputation. Researching the pricing of similar eBooks in your genre can also provide valuable insights.
Is it beneficial to offer my eBook for free for a limited time?
Answer: Offering your eBook for free for a short period can be a powerful strategy to increase visibility, gather initial reviews, and attract new readers who might purchase your future works. This approach is particularly effective as part of a larger marketing campaign.
How important is reader engagement on social media platforms for increasing eBook sales?
Answer: Engaging with readers on social media is crucial for building a loyal reader base, receiving feedback, and promoting new releases. Interaction can range from responding to comments, sharing behind-the-scenes content, or hosting live Q&A sessions, thereby increasing visibility and interest in your eBook.
Can updating the eBook cover after publication affect sales?
Answer: Yes, updating your eBook cover can significantly impact sales, especially if the initial design did not resonate well with your target audience or failed to meet genre expectations. A new cover can rejuvenate interest in your eBook and attract a wider audience.
How does participating in eBook bundling promotions work to increase sales?
Answer: Participating in eBook bundling promotions, where your eBook is sold alongside others at a discounted rate, can expose your work to readers who may not have discovered it otherwise. This strategy can increase sales and readership, especially when bundled with books of similar genres or themes.
