Ever had a book that earned glowing reviews but mysteriously stopped selling? Recently an author friend emailed me with exactly this problem. Her book was praised as “life-changing” and “literary excellence,” yet sales slowed down drastically.
Sound familiar?
You’re not alone. Let’s dive into why this happens—and how to revive book sales.
Why Do Great Books Stop Selling?
Writing a book is a monumental effort. So it’s incredibly frustrating when sales suddenly dry up. Often, authors are left wondering what happened and how to reignite interest.
Two Common Reasons Your Book Isn’t Selling (and How to Solve Them)
- The concept isn’t tied clearly to a felt need.
Readers buy books to solve problems. Even fiction solves the “problem” of boredom or the desire for escape and entertainment. If your book isn’t explicitly addressing a real, felt need, readers won’t clearly understand why they should invest in it—even if the content is fantastic.
- Marketing stopped too soon.
Authors typically invest a lot in early promotions, then move on to other things. But often books that continue to sell are those with ongoing promotional efforts. Your book can reach new audiences continuously—but only if you keep putting it out there.
How to Revive Book Sales
My author friend, after hearing these tips, began developing fresh marketing ideas. She’s now considering a 15th-anniversary edition with bonus content, serializing excerpts on Substack, and leveraging niche communities online. She’s excited again—and her book has new possibilities.
Here’s how you can revive your book’s potential:
- Clarify your book’s core benefit. What real need or desire does it fulfill?
- Implement ongoing marketing strategies, like special editions, partnerships, or guesting on podcasts.
- Engage your audience regularly, highlighting how your book uniquely solves their problems.
Looking for more marketing ideas? Check out my favorite book on book marketing, Tim Grahl’s Your First 1,000 Copies.
What’s Next?
Ready to give your book a second life? Pick one idea from this post and try it this week. I’d love to hear how it goes!
[reminder]What’s one step you’ll take today to boost your book’s sales? [/reminder]
This week I will engage my audience with a solution for one or more of our books. I'll make contacts via Kit. Thanks for keeping us motivated. ~ Ann
You're so welcome, Ann, and thanks for commenting!
Thanks for the reminder to express the felt need in our marketing as well as in our content. As you've pointed out before, people need to know this is the solution they've been seeking. This week, I will review my book proposal to see if the need and my solution are both effectively communicated.
Sounds like a good move, Robyn! Thanks for commenting!
Great tips, Chad!
Thank you, Traci, glad to help. And thanks for commenting!