How do you sell books directly to your readers via your website?

[J.G.]

I'm thinking of adding a direct sales option for readers who like signed copies of physical books. Any crowd wisdom on this? Suggestions for third-party services? Transaction advice? Thanks in advance.

[Marie Silk]

Paypal is probably your best bet :)

[Justin]

Yeah PayPal is great or you could create your own store on your site and still use PayPal. A store is good if you have other products that have your book on them or are associated with them.

[Amie]

With my Bookbaby agreement, I was offered an excellent, free author store that I could incorporate into my website. However, I chose not to utilize it in that first year, as I really wanted my sales to come through Amazon or the other distributors so I could get the ranking from it, verified sales, reader reviews, and help me work my way onto the Amazon algorithm. That's where I felt things were most needed. But the page was cool though and I think they offered like a 90% royalty rate on ebooks. I would have eventually tinkered with it.

Now I am switching over to try KDP select at the end of this month. So with them, I won't be doing it at all via my website, only linking to Amazon.

[W.]

yes.
grand total for 2 yrs = 3 books

[E.A.]

My site offers books for sale. However, the key is if they want to buy a "regular" unsigned and non-personalized version, my site links them through a redirect back to Amazon. The only books that I sell through the site are at a premium rate with a personalized autographed version.

How it's done? No clue. I leave that up to my website design/manager. I stay out of that area. I tell him what I want and he makes it happen. I find that during the holidays and for special occasions, people will order the signed copies. I've incorporated a way for them to customize the message. I like these requests because I sell them from my local supply. Even after the shipping cost (media rate of about $4) because I charge a premium for my time and effort, it has the biggest profit margin.

As I continue to grow, I hope that this option becomes a more frequent occurrence.

[Stephen]

I had a website link with a discount code for paperback purchases through my CreateSpace e-Store. No website visitors ever took me up on it. Since CreateSpace closed down authors' e-Stores, and took away our ability to offer discounts on direct sales through CreateSpace, I have been offering unsigned copies of my book at a discount through PayPal. When someone orders a book this way -- if anyone ever does -- PayPal will notify me and I will drop-ship the book to them from CreateSpace/Amazon. As for signed copies, I would have to ship them myself and sell them at a premium to make up for the shipping costs and costs I'd have already incurred buying the books from CreateSpace. I don't kid myself that my autograph would be much of a value-add to my novel.

[Lionelson]

My website is basically just my book catalog which redirects to amazon, a blog, and an email list subscription.

I think the book catalog gives a more aesthetically pleasing way of presenting my books while the blog improves my SEO, both of which helped me improve sales.

[Conrad]

We've always used Paypal through our website, and it's done pretty well. A few things are sold on Amazon, and for our new book we intend to push that a lot harder. The advantage of the website sales, other than making more money, is that we have the buyer's email and address and can nurture a closer relationship. In general, having more ways to do it seems to be the best.

[Colin]

Hi There
I have my books on Amazon for general sale. However, I also have my books printed for my use buy a different printed who is, I must say, much better at printing and their customer service is excellent.

By having my own copies, I sell on my website simply using a PayPal button. It is the safest way. People can buy from me if they'd like a signed copy (no extra cost). I already have the envelopes and postage stock ready and download the post. With my novels I squeeze JUST into "large letter" and it is just under 500g which means I can get 1st class for £1.74. My poetry collection is a teeny one by comparison, and posts easily for a little less.

I don't get many orders that way, but it does allow me the flexibility of, if chatting to someone online and they want a couple of copies, one as a gift or something, I might suggest they come through me, I'll post them, and knock the price down a bit lower for the multibuy. I can do that because my profit margin from books made by my printer is well over 5x that which I get from crappy royalties.

[Jay]

Interesting thread. I'm considering self-published, but was wondering about doing the Kindle paperback option too--except that the price feels way too high.

How many people actually like to buy autographed copies? Is that a big enough market to care? Colin seems have a figured a good way out with his printer (as in a printing agency rather than his own printer as I gather)

[Brenda]

Hi there,

On my site, I just have a link to my book on amazon along with the cover image.

[Christina]

I just have a listing of what's available and instructions to email me with inquiries. Payment is through PayPal. It's just far simpler than keeping up with a form or adding a POS on the site.