Selling books online can be a great source of income or start a profitable online business. Whether you’re selling these Jane Austen books, children’s books, or even your original ready-made e-book, selling books on Amazon is a great place to start.
Amazon.com is a popular store, and with the seller’s tools available, you can start selling in a matter of hours. Whether you want to sell new or used volumes, certain titles or certain genres, our step-by-step guide will help you succeed.
How to start selling books on Amazon in 2022? Step-by-step guide
People love to read books. Even with all the modern competing entertainment media, books are fortunately still in demand. While you may want to consider other options when it comes to selling your books online, here are some of the benefits that bookstores on Amazon enjoy:
- Firstly, get started with just a few books (no need to have a large stock)
- Secondly, choose from a variety of genre categories
- Thirdly, Sell books for cash or on credit
You choose how to sell the books:
- Merchant Fulfilled Network (MFN) – Is the DIY Route. List books on Amazon, then pack and ship orders to customers yourself. (This is often referred to informally as Fulfillment by Merchant or FBM.)
- Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) – Is the Do It For Me Route. List books and have Amazon store, pack, and ship to customers for you
Moreover, you can sell regular book formats, such as hardcover, paperback, or eBooks on Amazon. If you want to place and sell books from your physical store, resell already read books of scientific literature, stand out with your favorite comics, list rare collectibles in bindings or get rid of children’s books, look no further.
Remember that some books sell better than others. Research to find books that are in high demand can pay off. Bestsellers in your book list can help you find popular current sales-based titles.
Here are the popular types of books you can sell on Amazon:
Sell new books online
Some customers like to hold a new book in their hands. Usually new books can be found through wholesalers, distributors or publishers. However, if you want to sell new books, be aware that you may have to buy large volumes in bulk.
Sell used books online
Used books are usually easier to find, cheaper to obtain, and can be more lucrative if you find great deals locally or online. Moreover, you can sell old books right off your shelf, but you can also find them at local bookstores, second-hand shops or real estate sales. You can also check out online markets, local libraries and even find books on sale at your neighborhood farm.
Sell textbooks online
Have you used the school textbooks that take up space? If they are in good condition, you can get them off the shelf and make money by selling them on Amazon. Be sure to provide accurate information about the status of the book. The best time to sell textbooks is usually in the spring and fall of each year.
Sell books without ISBN
The International Standard Book Box Number (ISBN) is a registration code that can be found on the cover. If the book was published before 1970, it may not have an ISBN. If so, you can apply for dismissal.
Sell collectibles or rare books online
Antique books can be an attractive market niche for lovers of literature. Due to the nature of old collectibles, it is important to honestly list the condition of each book.
7 quick tips for selling books online
To increase your chances of success in starting an online business and selling your books, follow these tips:
№1 – Explore which genres and categories sell best on Amazon
Investigate what types of books sell well. It will take some time to find a sweet spot between the books you can find for resale and those people who want to buy, but it’s worth the extra effort. Take a look at Amazon’s annual bestseller lists to find models of popular books for sale online.
№2 – Check the book’s bestseller rating
As a bookseller, get the most out of your investment by placing books in high demand. Checking a book’s bestseller rating (BSR) is a good place to start. Almost every product on Amazon is assigned a number when the product has been sold at least once. The better it sells, the smaller the number. BSR is a good indicator of how well a product is selling in a comparable category. To find BSR books, find the book, scroll down to the product description, and you will find the number listed there.
№3 – Be 100% honest about the condition of your books
Build trust with customers by being completely transparent about the status of each book. Typically, you can choose from these categories:
- New
- Like new
- Very good
- Good
- Acceptable
Collectible and hardcovers with supercovers have additional conditions. Be sure to read Amazon’s guidelines for book conditions.
№ 4 – Be careful during packaging and delivery
Follow all delivery instructions and securely pack your books so that your orders reach your customers in excellent condition.
- Books can be abused during transportation, but a few steps can help ensure that orders arrive in the best possible way:
- Use several packaging materials. Suitable packaging may include a combination of bags, kraft paper or bubble wrap.
- Protect book corners, edges and supercovers.
- If you are delivering more than one book, consider packing each one individually or using one book box for protection. For multiple books, you can place pieces of flat cardboard between each book.
- Books should fit snugly in a soft envelope or box so that there is little room to move.
№ 5 – Always place orders on time
By the way, if you deliver goods directly to customers, help build trust and increase your chances of resale by delivering goods on time and in the best condition.
№ 6 – Maintain competitive prices
Track prices in the categories and titles you place for sale to stay competitive and increase sales.
№ 7 – Monitor sales performance
Manage your orders accordingly and stay up to date with sales to track performance. Also, check out the many business tools Amazon offers, including useful tutorials such and creating an online store on Amazon. These resources will help you learn how to track feedback and performance and grow your online store.
Here we are for today! Stay tuned on Amaz.Markets for the next piece where we are going to discuss 7 MOST important and DETAILED steps to start selling books on Amazon!
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