Sell Books Online: Platforms to Turn Your Writing into Sales

Even after spending months or years writing a novel, a poetry collection, memoir, guidebook or a children’s book, completing your manuscript is just the beginning. The tough part comes when you want to get your book in front of the people willing to buy it.

Luckily, these days authors can sell their books online without building a storage facility, working with individual bookstores or printing thousands of books upfront. There are many ways to sell your book online from Amazon, eBook distributors, POD (print on demand), direct sales and the author’s own website.

However, listing your book online won’t bring sales by itself. You will have to select the appropriate sales channels, prepare your book properly, set a proper price, create an appealing product page and have a way to get your readers back to your book.

This guide provides information about the most important book selling sites, explains how online book distribution works and shows how to make your writing a profitable business for yourself.

Table of Content

Why Sell Books Online?

E-book sales have altered the entire process of writing for independent authors.

In the past, an author would be highly dependent on publishers, distributors, bookshops, and physical stock. But today, with the advent of self-publishing and print-on-demand systems, writers are able to upload their books, market them online via retailers, and get their copies printed when ordered by the readers.

For instance, Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing provides royalty rates of 35% and 70% for e-books based on certain terms and conditions. For print books, Amazon’s KDP will print out copies as demanded and take away the cost of printing from the royalty.

The advantages of selling online include:

• Global reach: Your potential audience is not limited to your city.
• Lower inventory risk: Print-on-demand can eliminate the need to store large quantities of books.
• Multiple formats: You can offer ebooks, paperbacks, and hardcovers.
• Reader convenience: Customers can discover and purchase books from phones, tablets, computers, or dedicated e-readers.
• Direct audience building: An author website, newsletter, and social media can become long-term sales channels.
• Flexible publishing: Independent authors can make decisions about pricing, covers, metadata, formats, and promotions.

The important distinction is this: publishing online makes a book available; marketing makes readers notice it.

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Best Platforms to Sell Books Online

There is no single platform that works perfectly for every author. Your ideal combination depends on your genre, audience, format, location, budget, and publishing goals.

Here are the major options to consider.

1. Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing

Should your aim be the selling of ebooks on Amazon, then KDP is one of the platforms you need to know well.

Through KDP, an author is able to publish Kindle ebooks as well as print-on-demand paperback and hardcover books. The author uploads his/her manuscript and cover, enters book data, sets pricing, and publishes the book in Amazon marketplaces.

For some ebooks that meet the requirements, the KDP offers the 70% royalty in selected territories and 35% royalty in other territories. The terms for both vary.

Print books differ from ebooks and are calculated in different terms. In the case of KDP, a print book’s royalty is calculated based on 50% or 60%, among others.

Best suited for: Fiction, romance, nonfiction, poetry, children’s books, practical guides, and authors targeting Kindle readers.

2. IngramSpark

IngramSpark is yet another good choice to consider when your objective is not limited to one retailer.

It has a distribution system that links independent publishers with booksellers, libraries, schools, colleges, and even online sellers. IngramSpark claims that its distribution network spans to over 45,000 retailers and libraries, and its distribution system spreads to international markets.

This will especially prove helpful for authors who are hoping for more from their books than just Amazon.

IngramSpark also offers printing options for both paperbacks and hardbacks, and digital books as well.

Best suited for: Authors seeking broad print distribution, bookstore opportunities, libraries, and international reach.

3. Your Own Author Website

Your website can become more than an online biography. It can serve as your author-owned sales hub.

A website gives you space to:

• Present your complete author profile.
• Showcase every book in one place.
• Publish excerpts and sample chapters.
• Collect newsletter subscribers.
• Announce launches and events.
• Link readers to retailers.
• Sell signed copies or special editions where your setup supports it.
• Promote future books to existing readers.

The major advantage is ownership of the audience relationship.

A retailer can help you reach readers, but your website can help you turn those readers into a community.

4. Direct Sales and Social Commerce

Authors who have already built an audience can also make use of direct purchase links, e-commerce solutions, newsletters, social media, and QR codes to guide readers towards purchasing.

Ingramspark, for instance, offers Share & Sell links for those with the eligible account, making it possible for them to create a purchase link for their book and distribute it through websites, social media, newsletters, and at events.

This approach works particularly well during:

• Book launches
• Literary festivals
• Author talks
• School or university events
• Book signings
• Limited-time promotions
• Newsletter campaigns

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Sell Books Online: Choosing the Right Platform

Instead of asking, “Which platform is the best?”, ask a more useful question:

Where do my readers already shop?

A platform should support your specific publishing strategy.

Platform/Channel	Best For	Main Strength
Amazon KDP	Kindle + print	Large Amazon marketplace
IngramSpark	Print + ebook distribution	Broad retailer/library distribution
Author website	Brand building	Direct relationship with readers
Direct sales	Existing audiences	More control over customer experience
Multiple retailers	Wider discoverability	Diversified sales channels

You don’t necessarily have to choose only one.

A carefully planned multi-channel strategy can make your book available to readers who prefer different retailers and formats.

Note: Check exclusivity terms before enrolling a book in any program that restricts distribution to other platforms.

How to Sell Books Online: A Step-by-Step Process

Getting your book onto a website is relatively straightforward. Building a book that readers actually want to purchase requires more preparation.

Follow these steps.

Step 1: Finish and Edit Your Manuscript

Never rush directly from “first draft complete” to “publish.”

A professional book needs several stages of review.

Consider:

• Developmental editing
• Copyediting
• Proofreading
• Fact-checking where appropriate
• Formatting
• Final quality control

For fiction, pay particular attention to character consistency, pacing, dialogue, structure, and continuity.

For nonfiction, check factual claims, sources, examples, structure, and clarity.

For poetry, focus on typography, spacing, sequencing, punctuation, and the reading experience.

Step 2: Identify Your Target Reader

You cannot effectively market a book to “everyone.”

Define the reader most likely to care about your book.

Ask:

• What genre is it?
• What age group might enjoy it?
• What problem does it solve?
• What emotional experience does it provide?
• What comparable books might readers already know?
• What makes your book different?

For example, “a poetry book” is broad.

“Contemporary poetry about grief, healing, and starting over for young adult readers” gives you a much clearer marketing direction.

Step 3: Create a Professional Cover

Your cover is often the first visual encounter a potential reader has with your book.

It needs to communicate genre and mood quickly while remaining readable as a thumbnail.

A strong cover should work at multiple sizes:

• Online retailer thumbnail
• Smartphone screen
• Author website
• Social media post
• Printed promotional material
• Physical bookstore shelf

Don’t simply make a beautiful cover. Make one that signals the right reading experience.

Step 4: Format the Book for Each Edition

An ebook is not simply a PDF of a paperback.

Different formats have different technical requirements.

Prepare appropriate files for:

• Ebook
• Paperback
• Hardcover
• Large-print edition, if applicable
• Audiobook, if you plan to create one

Check each platform’s current file specifications before uploading.

Step 5: Obtain the Necessary ISBNs

ISBN requirements vary by country and publishing arrangement.

If you’re publishing in India, check the country’s official ISBN system rather than relying on outdated blog posts or third-party sellers.

The International ISBN system also identifies designated national ISBN agencies, and distribution services recommend that authors obtain ISBNs through the appropriate agency for their country.

Multimedia suggestion: Add an infographic here titled “Book Publishing Checklist: Manuscript to Online Sales.”

Suggested image alt text: sell books online publishing checklist from manuscript to sales

Step 6: Write Strong Book Metadata

Metadata is one of the least glamorous parts of publishing—and one of the most important.

Your metadata can include:

• Book title
• Subtitle
• Author name
• Description
• Categories
• Keywords
• Publication date
• Format
• Language
• Contributor information

Think of metadata as the information that helps both readers and platforms understand your book.

A vague description makes discovery harder.

A focused description tells readers what experience or benefit they can expect.

Step 7: Set a Strategic Price

Pricing should not be based solely on what you personally feel your book is worth.

Consider:

• Genre expectations
• Book length
• Format
• Production cost
• Competitor pricing
• Reader expectations
• Your royalty structure
• Promotional plans
• Target market

A ₹99 ebook, a ₹299 ebook, and a ₹999 hardcover communicate very different value propositions.

The goal isn’t necessarily to make the price as low as possible.

The goal is to find a price that makes sense for your reader, format, market, and business model.

Step 8: Build Your Product Page

When readers discover your book, the product page needs to answer their questions quickly.

Include:

1. A professional cover
2. A compelling description
3. Clear genre positioning
4. Author information
5. Format and edition details
6. Reviews when available
7. Sample pages or preview options where supported
8. Relevant keywords and categories

Imagine a reader has only 20 seconds to decide whether to investigate further.

Your page should make that decision easy.

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How to Sell Books Online Amazon: Optimizing Your Amazon Listing 

If you want to sell books online Amazon should be considered as part of your discoverability strategy, particularly if your target readers already shop there.

But simply uploading a book isn’t enough.

Optimize the Book Title and Subtitle 

The title and the subtitle of your book need to clearly indicate the expectations of the readers without overstating anything or resorting to keyword spamming.

Make sure that the title is catchy and the subtitle is informative, focusing on your book’s subject, genre or main advantage.

Improve the Book Description

Think of your description as a sales conversation.

For fiction, consider highlighting:

• The protagonist
• The central conflict
• The stakes
• The atmosphere
• The unanswered question

For nonfiction, explain:

• The reader’s problem
• What the book teaches
• What readers will gain
• Who the book is designed for

Avoid revealing the entire story.

Choose Relevant Categories 

Categories help platforms understand where your book belongs.

Choose categories that genuinely match the book rather than chasing unrelated popular categories. A romance novel shouldn’t be positioned as a business book simply because the latter category appears attractive.

Use Search-Friendly Keywords Naturally

You should use keywords that will help you get found easily through searches in your book’s title, subtitle, description, and backend keyword field without necessarily cramming them into every sentence. 

Choose search terms that are used by readers when looking for books within your genre, topic, or characters/ideas.

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How Much Does It Cost to Sell Books Online?

The cost can range from very little to a substantial publishing investment.

It depends on how much of the publishing process you handle yourself.

A DIY Approach

You may spend money on:

• Editing
• Cover design
• Formatting
• ISBNs where applicable
• Advertising
• Promotional graphics
• Website or ecommerce tools

Some platforms allow authors to upload books without paying traditional upfront publishing fees, while earning royalties after sales.

A Professional Publishing Approach

A full-service publishing arrangement may include:

• Editorial services
• Cover design
• Interior formatting
• ISBN assistance
• Printing
• Distribution
• Marketing
• Author support

The important thing is to understand what you’re paying for.

Before signing a publishing agreement, ask:

• Who owns the copyright?
• Who controls the ISBN?
• Where will the book be distributed?
• What royalty will I receive?
• Are there recurring fees?
• Are marketing services included?
• What happens if I want to leave?
• Who controls the final files?

Understanding the contract is more important than simply comparing package prices.

Book Selling Sites: What Should You Compare?

When evaluating book selling sites, don’t look only at the headline royalty percentage.

Compare the complete economics and reach.

1. Distribution: Where can readers buy the book?

2. Royalties: What percentage do you receive after applicable costs?

3. Production Costs: For print books, does the platform deduct printing costs from your royalty?

4. Exclusivity: Are you allowed to sell the same edition elsewhere?

5. Reader Reach: Does the platform reach your intended audience?

6. Payment Terms: How and when are royalties paid?

7. Metadata Control: Can you edit your title, description, keywords, categories, and other information?

8. Print Options: Does the service offer paperback, hardcover, color, or other formats?

9. Distribution Flexibility: Can you distribute through other retailers, libraries, and bookstores?

10. Reporting: Can you track orders, royalties, and sales trends?

This checklist is more useful than choosing a platform solely because another author recommends it.

Final Thoughts

Selling books online isn’t just about putting your manuscript up on an online bookseller.

The book should be professionally edited, appropriately positioned, findable, affordably priced, and have marketing follow through after publication.

You can use Amazon KDP for access to Kindle and print readers, or services such as IngramSpark to distribute across retail sites, libraries, and internationally.

Then you can connect with the reader community without totally depending on the marketplace.

If you’re ready to take your manuscript from a completed file to a professionally completed book, consider self-publishing possibilities, compare distribution strategies, and create a strategy that will work for you.

Your story deserves more than just a completed manuscript. Make it easy for people to find, read, and return for the next one.