Nonfiction Book Sales: 2 Quick Edits To Boost Sales

Got a nonfiction book which isn’t selling? There are few things more frustrating than spending your time writing a book and then discovering that sales are slow or non-existent.

Over the past couple of months several writers have talked about slowing sales, so let’s look at ways you can boost sales of your nonfiction book with a couple of quick edits.

Your nonfiction book: sometimes you can generate sales with a few simple edits

You may be able to boost sales with a few minor adjustments when you review:

• Your book’s categories/ genre; and
• The blurb (book description.)

Let’s start with categorization.

1. Shelve your nonfiction book: research its category

If your nonfiction book isn’t selling, the solution may be simple. Perhaps you’ve “shelved” the book incorrectly: the readers who need the book can’t find it.

So it’s time for a little exploration. Check out Amazon’s top 100 sellers in nonfiction (paid and free.)

Go to the page. See the sidebar on the left?

As you can see in the image above, on the left sidebar you’ll find the major sub-categories of nonfiction. Choose the sub-category most appropriate for your book and click it.

Let’s say you wrote a book related to cooking.

As you can see in the above image, when you click the Cooking, Food & Wine link, you reach the Best Sellers in Cookbooks, Food & Wine page. You can choose the Paid or Free tab.

Let’s pause for a moment.

In your clicking journey, you’ve gone from the top category of Nonfiction, to Cookbooks, Food and Wine, and as you can see, that sub-category has sub-categories of its own.

Undertaking this “category journey” for your nonfiction book is important because Amazon shows you what’s selling via its categories (nonfiction) and genres (fiction.)

Secrets revealed: Amazon shows you what’s selling with via the categories and genres

What problem does your book solve?

Everyone has problems. No one escapes. If your book isn’t selling, chances are good that the people who need it can’t find it.

You may be able to increase sales easily when you make it easier for readers to find your book.

Check which categories you chose for your nonfiction book. You can edit your book’s page via your KDP Dashboard. Select your book, then choose Edit Book Details if you need to make adjustments.

2. Review your book’s product page: “don’t make me think…”

Your nonfiction book’s product page may be killing sales. When we’re browsing Amazon or any online retailer, we don’t want to THINK.

On your book’s product page on Amazon, check:

• The book’s blurb (book description); and
• The categories to which Amazon has assigned your book: check Amazon Best Sellers Rank, under Product Details.

A powerful blurb is vital.

When a reader reaches your book’s page he should immediately realize that your book is exactly what he wants.

Your blurb should cover:

1. The reader’s problem and why it’s a problem;
2. A solution your book provides; and
3. The results for the reader: happiness.

(Check out Blurbs Sell Your Books.)

You can sell your nonfiction book, even in a crowded market

Try it. Research categories. You may be able to spend just a few minutes and sell many more copies each day.

Good luck. 🙂

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