How to Sell Books on Amazon: A Failsafe Guide
Selling books on Amazon can be an easy and cost-efficient way to make money. Millions of people of all ages use Amazon, making it a great place to reach a wide range of readers. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a self-publishing author, or a book lover on a mission to make some extra cash, here is your failsafe guide to selling books on Amazon.
Find the Right Platform
The first step to selling books on Amazon is to decide which platform you will use to do it. There are two options available: Individual Selling or Professional Selling.
Individual Selling
Individual sellers cannot purchase an inventory or use any popular shipping methods like Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). Sellers are charged a per-item fee for each book sold and are responsible for customer service and shipping.
Professional Selling
Professional sellers can purchase an inventory, use FBA, and enjoy discounted shipping rates. Sellers are required to pay monthly fees, but they are more likely to make more profit than individual sellers because Professional sellers can list the same book at a higher price without the per-item fee.
Choose a Niche
Once you have chosen your platform, the next step is to choose a niche (or genre) for your book-selling business. When selecting a book niche, take into account factors such as:
Popularity: Choose a niche that is popular and in demand.
Competition: Look for a niche that is not flooded with too many sellers so you can stand out.
Profitability: Make sure you will make a profit after all fees and expenses have been taken into consideration.
Gather Inventory
Now that you have chosen your platform and your niche, it’s time to gather your inventory. You can source your books in a few different ways.
Thrift Stores and Garage Sales: Shopping at thrift stores and garage sales and flipping them on Amazon can be a great way to get inventory cheaply.
Book Fairs and Conventions: Attending book fairs and conventions can also be a great way to get inventory at a good price.
Online Sources: Alternately, you can purchase books from online sources like Amazon or Ebay.
Create Product Listings
Once you have gathered your inventory, it’s time to create your product listings. This is a critical step, as it will determine how many people will view your listings and how often they will purchase your books.
When creating your product listings, make sure to provide detailed, accurate information about each book. Include features like:
The book’s title
The author’s name
The publisher
The ISBN
A book description
Be sure to also include high-quality images and a reasonable price.
Set Shipping & Fulfilment
The next step is to determine how you are going to ship & fulfil orders. You have a few options available to you:
Individual Selling: If you are an Individual Seller you can use media mail to ship books. However, this is slow and does not insure the package against damage.
Professional Selling: Professional Developers can benefit from discounted shipping rates and FBA, which will handle all orders for you.
Choose a Price
Once you’ve set up your shipping and fulfillment, the next step is to choose a price for your books. This can vary depending on your niche, the condition of your books, and the availability of other sellers’ books. As a general rule, price your books slightly lower than your competition to draw in more customers.
Promote Your Business
The final step is to promote your business. You can do this by:
Creating a website
Creating social media accounts
Writing blog posts
Paying for advertising
Using online forums
Selling books on Amazon can be an excellent and cost-effective way to make money. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can get started selling books on Amazon quickly and easily. So what are you waiting for? Get started today!
