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Does anyone sell paperbacks of their own books from their websites?
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If you have an author page on Facebook, you can even put a "Shop Now" button that takes users directly to the Amazon page or wherever you sell them from.
I don't think you can if you are enrolled in kdp
Hi, Wendi! I think I read that exclusivity in KDP Select applies only to ebooks (not to paperbacks). I'll have to look that up to confirm, but I think that's the case.
KDP Select is only pertaining to ebooks. I sell my print books through my website as well as the regular amazon sales channels. You can check it out here if you'd like to see what that looks like.
Be sure to select all of the expanded distribution channels as well. They don't sell often, but they make it so that anyone can walk into a bookstore and order your book, which is pretty sweet. And the expanded distribution costs nothing, so there's no reason not to. Otherwise, talk to your local bookstore about consignment deals (you leave copies with them and they pay you and take a cut when any book sells).
I thought about doing this but I always felt it was way too complicated to set up. Also if your selling on Amazon, Createspace and all the other venues then there may not be a need.If anything, you could always sell them from your site to locals within your town that way you can separate the two, just a thought though.
It's actually not that complicated to do, but in truth almost no one buys from my direct sales links, most people buy through amazon and other online retailers. Still, it's pretty easy to set up. When folks order through my website they pay via paypal and then I just use Createspace to ship directly to them. No hassle at all. :-)
Virginia wrote: "It's actually not that complicated to do, but in truth almost no one buys from my direct sales links, most people buy through amazon and other online retailers. Still, it's pretty easy to set up. W..."Oh, that's nice. I didn't know I could ship directly to customers via Createspace. Thanks for that info!
It might make more sense to set up an Amazon affiliate link on your site. That way, in addition to your royalty, you would get a small commission for each sale that came from your link. You can actually do this with your ebook as well (even if enrolled in select because the link goes back to Amazon).
Christina wrote: "It might make more sense to set up an Amazon affiliate link on your site. That way, in addition to your royalty, you would get a small commission for each sale that came from your link. You can act..."Ooohhh!! I didn't know this. Can you explain a bit more about how one does this? (I particularly like the sound of it because then sales would also count towards your amazon sales ranking, I assume.)
I actually haven't set this up myself. I had one back in the old days of paperbacks though. Here's the link:https://affiliate-program.amazon.com
Also, if you still have your 'Your book is now available in the kindle store' emails from Amazon, there might be some more info there.
And yes, the sales count. All you are doing is putting a customized ad on your page and getting a click thru commission if they buy. I know a few authors who do this for pretty much every book they feature on their blogs as an added revenue source.
Ooh this is interestin. Christina with the news of the night! lol
Christina wrote: "It might make more sense to set up an Amazon affiliate link on your site. That way, in addition to your royalty, you would get a small commission for each sale that came from your link. You can act..."Agreed. Haven't done this myself (no web site yet even 'cause I'm a slug). But seems to me the best way online to sell them is via links to wherever they're already available.
Print books are best used, IMHO, for consignment to local bookstores, sales at book signings, sales at conventions and things like that.
April wrote: "Hi, Wendi! I think I read that exclusivity in KDP Select applies only to ebooks (not to paperbacks). I'll have to look that up to confirm, but I think that's the case."Oh, man. I must've misunderstood it. I didn't click any of the expanded distribution channels, because I thought I couldn't. No wonder I've only sold 1 paperback! haha
I find that I get very few sales from expanded distribution. And even when I do I only get like five cents so I may drop it
I've seen authors selling special signed copies direct from their own website, as that's something that people can't get when they buy off of Amazon etc. So if there's a reason like that to promote the sale from your site, I think it's a great idea. And with the Amazon affiliate program, it's not open in all states, or at least it wasn't when I lived in CT. Just an FYI. It'd be nice to double dip each sale though!! :)
Just want to premise, this is not a shameless plug. On my website: http://ellisonblackburn.com/ I use amazon affiliates, you can see the widget I created through the affiliates dashboard. You can add both your paperback and e-book to the widget. I am in KDP Select, this is not a violation of terms since the links are for purchase of my title on amazon.The reasons why I chose this was because of the sales commission and also because sales from my website directly effect my ranking.
However, if no one clicks on the links and purchases your book within six months, amazon will boot you out of the affiliates program. Therefore I suggest building the website audience first. I have yet to sell one book from my website and therefore have yet to earn the 3% sales commission.
I don't sell my book on my website, i point to Amazon. But, I actually should. I'll give it some thought.
I don't sell my books on my website, either. I just link to Amazon, Kobo, iTunes, etc. Haven't really thought of that.
I considered it for awhile, but it seems like a lot of trouble for just a few sales.
I'm getting ready to run my first printing of paperbacks in October. The paperbacks will be for sale on Amazon. Where else should I list them? I can sell them directly to readers from my website, right?