{"id":1940,"date":"2018-07-05T06:30:08","date_gmt":"2018-07-05T13:30:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.blurb.com\/blog\/?p=1940"},"modified":"2023-11-06T09:40:47","modified_gmt":"2023-11-06T17:40:47","slug":"sell-book-amazon-step-step-easy-setup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blurb.com\/blog\/sell-book-amazon-step-step-easy-setup\/","title":{"rendered":"How to sell your self-published book on Amazon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Selling your self-published book<\/a> can be a great side hustle or a secondary income stream. When selling your book<\/a>, you have plenty of distribution options\u2014from local bookstores to online spaces. And Amazon<\/a> is undeniably one of the most popular platforms to make your work more accessible, reach a larger audience, and capture more sales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following a few easy steps, you can turn your self-published volume into a marketable product on Amazon. Here’s how you can do it with Blurb!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Why sell your book on Amazon?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You should consider selling your self-published book on Amazon for two reasons: First, you can tap into a massive marketplace. Second, you\u2019ll have access to robust distribution and marketing tools to reach more of that marketplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon has 300 million active user accounts worldwide and is the most popular online store in the U.S. That means your book potentially has millions of readers. You can leverage your book page on Amazon to capture and build an engaged audience through book reviews and customer feedback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second advantage of selling your self-published book on Amazon is how easy it is for you to get started and the tools you have at your fingertips. You can also utilize their marketing tools, like Amazon Advertising<\/a>, to get your book in front of a wider audience, optimize your campaigns and keywords, and track how your book is selling through Amazon\u2019s analytics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ready to start? Here’s precisely how to sell your book on Amazon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steps to selling your book on Amazon<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Decide on your book format<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are two types of books you can sell on Amazon with Blurb: photo books<\/a> and trade books<\/a>. Pick a photo book for museum-quality printing in hardcover or softcover and many page options. Use a trade book if you want to price your book more competitively (while still creating a bookstore-quality book).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your format will change the way you sell your book on Amazon. Photo books sold on Amazon<\/a> go through the Blurb-to-Amazon program and the Amazon Marketplace. Trade books sold on Amazon<\/a> are distributed via Ingram’s Global Retail Network to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and thousands of other online retailers worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note: All books in distribution need an <\/em>ISBN<\/em><\/a>. Photo books listed via the Blurb-to-Amazon channel get a free ISBN if you don\u2019t assign one during photo book creation. Trade books have ISBNs by default. If you plan to use your own ISBN, do not assign it to your book until after you\u2019ve ordered and reviewed your proof copy or you are certain you won\u2019t need to make any changes.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Order a proof copy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once you list your book in the Amazon distribution channel it can’t be edited or fixed, so you\u2019ll want to ensure the book you\u2019re sending is exactly the book you want your customers to read. That’s why you should always order a single proof copy<\/a> of your book before you start the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you get your proof copy, check for the usual error suspects: margins, page numbers, copy, and image resolution. A second pair of eyes doesn\u2019t hurt when it comes to typos. If you have a willing friend or paid editor<\/a>, ask them to proof your book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice any issues, edit your book file and upload the new book. Then order another proof and do the process again! You’ll want the proof in your hands to be perfect<\/em> before you list it on Amazon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Complete your Blurb profile and book details<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once you have your perfect proof, it’s time to set up your Blurb profile and book details. Spend some time writing a catchy, enticing description of your book\u2014complete with keywords people might use to search for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You’ll also need to provide some additional information. This can include an author bio and photo. All of the above will be shown to your potential buyers, so make sure it\u2019s exactly how you\u2019d like it!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Set your retail price<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The next step is to set your retail price for your self-published book, also known as the list price. This is how much your customers will be charged for the book. Finding the balance between making a profit and keeping the price competitive is an age-old challenge that authors have always faced. Learn more in our ultimate guide to pricing<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re selling a photo book, remember that Amazon charges a flat fee per book plus a percentage of your list price. You control the profit amount but can\u2019t control the Amazon fees or the cost of manufacturing your photo book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to trade books, you still set the overall list price, but the markup system is a little different when distributing with Ingram’s Global Retail Network. You can also adjust the wholesale discount<\/a>, which changes how much a retailer pays for the book. The more you discount your book, the more retailers will pick it up, but the less profit you’ll make.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you set your price, submit your book! But be patient; it can take 3 to 14 days on average for your Amazon listing to appear, depending on your book and channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Create an author page on Amazon<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once your listing appears, you should create an author page with Amazon, as your Blurb profile won\u2019t carry over. First, go to Amazon\u2019s Author Central<\/a> and create an author account (yes, even if you already have an account on Amazon). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow all the instructions, ensure your author name is the same as the name you entered on your book listing, and search for your book. When you find your book cover, select that book and confirm you are the author. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look out for an email from Amazon confirming your account. From there, you\u2019ll be able to customize your author page with photos, biography, upcoming events, and links to your website and blog!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Promote your book<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your book is live on Amazon, so it’s time to promote your book<\/a>! Here are some steps you can take to get the word out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n