Whether you have a book collection that needs to be scaled down or you've published your own books, there are many ways to sell books. Do your best to keep the books in perfect condition, do a little research, and your books will sell well and you'll have money in your hands.
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Method 1 of 2: Selling Used Books
Step 1. Fix the damage to the book
If you have a book that a lot of people like that you want to try to sell, the first thing you need to do is make it look perfect. You'll get a much higher price for a book that isn't torn, has warped pages, has writing, or isn't well-groomed. While not everything can be repaired, do your best to repair any damage to your books. Straighten the folds and remove any old bookmarks or sticky notes, tape the edges so they don't fall apart and glue any visible tears.
- For textbooks that are quite expensive, you may be able to purchase book repair materials that librarians can use.
- If and have written in your book, delete it if possible or use a correction solution (such as tip-ex).
Step 2. Determine the price of your book
It may not be easy to determine the price of a book, but you can try to find a rough price range before selling. That way you will know the price or whether you received a good price quote from a potential buyer. Check prices for books in similar condition online; if prices vary, take a few that seem 'normal' and use their average price to determine the price of your book. If there are no other books like yours on the market (an antique book or textbook), look at similar books to gauge the selling price of your book.
A damaged book will not be of high value, regardless of its contents
Step 3. Try selling books online
If you want to sell quickly and easily, your best option is to sell online. Look for a shop/vendor that specifically sells your type of book – textbooks. Antique/vintage, cookbook, fiction, etc – follow the online registration process. There are two common ways of selling online: selling directly to wholesalers, or posting your book for people to find. The former sells faster, but the latter gives you the power to set prices and target buyers.
- Check out websites like Amazon or Ebay to see the process of selling them.
- If you don't want to pay for shipping, try selling locally on a website like Craigslist.
Step 4. Check used books in your area
While chain bookstores tend to be sought after by book readers these days, there are plenty of used bookstores around for the thrifty. Used bookstores get stock from people trying to sell their books. You walk into the store, leave the book you want to sell, they look up the price for the book they want, and give you the total offer. Used bookstores are fun because you can get rid of your books quickly even if they don't necessarily want to buy all of your books.
- Now used bookstores more often give credit (like vouchers) for shopping at the store, rather than cash, to buy your book. Make sure you check the policies before you exchange your books.
- Keep in mind that used bookstores can sell quality used books at a higher price, so if you want to get rid of warped and damaged books, they may not want to buy them.
Step 5. Try selling your book by setting up a bazaar in your yard (yard sale)
If the air is good and you have a lot of books you want to get rid of, maybe you can make a sale in your yard. Here, you can quickly set up a shop and sell lots of books. Yard sale is a favorite place for book lovers to hunt for books, because of the great tendency to get cheaper books. Display your books, put them at a low price, and people will try to get their hands on them faster than you put them together!
- Place an ad on your page a few days in advance to make it visible to passers-by. Place an ad in the local paper, or place signs around the house so people can know where to buy books.
- If and have friends who also want to sell their books, and can attract more people by making big yard sales. bring more stock of books from your friends so that people are more interested in coming than just displaying a few books on the table in your yard.
Method 2 of 2: Selling Self-Published Books
Step 1. Make sure your books are in perfect condition
The biggest mistake you can make selling a self-published book is to market it while it still has a lot of errors and needs editing. Make sure your book is well-edited, properly formatted, and has a cover and look that fits the story. Books that look good and clean will sell more than books that have lots of mistakes and cover designs that are too obviously designed by hand.
- It's better to hire a professional editor or book cover designer to have your book ready for sale.
- Don't rely solely on friends and family for opinions/help editing your book. It will be obvious that you are lazy and looking for the easiest way to get your book ready for sale.
Step 2. Advertise on social media
You need to get as many people as possible about your novel, which means using social media platforms to get the word out. You should be posting about your book regularly to get people other than your close friends and family involved. Try using social media like:
- Blogs/Tumblr
- Goodreads (like Facebook but for books/authors)
Step 3. Create local events and book signings
If you appear where your book buyers will come, it will help sell a lot of books. Check out bookstores, radio stations, local libraries that will accept you for interviews and book signings. If you appear in public, display your charm and witticism to encourage people to buy your book, you will be able to get more buyers than sending your book for sale somewhere.
- If you get a book contract at a local store and a book signing event, of course, you'll have more luck.
- Getting publications from blogs or online magazines can be a great way to spread the word about your book. Check out the blogs/magazines that novel readers tend to read and ask if you can be covered on their pages.
Step 4. Create a mailing list
If you can get a group of fans to sign up for a mailing list, you'll be one step closer to getting your book in the hands of people who have never heard of you before. Get people to sign up so you can send them a letter or email (email is more popular these days) when you're hosting an event or you need their support. Using a mailing list strategically will help build a stronger relationship with your fans, using it too often and not professionally will cause people to unfollow news about you. Do your best to get people interested in the mailing list, and your fans will be more willing to pass it on to people other than just their friends and family.
Step 5. Do a lot of marketing
Marketing is not easy; there is a reason this field is at the university to study and get a degree from it. But if you handle your book like a business and do a lot of marketing, you'll sell more books than other self-published authors who don't do marketing. Hire a marketing agency to help launch your book to the world, or do your own marketing research. In the end it will be worth the time and money you spend, as you open the reader's eyes to the books you write.
