Does the idea of using a traditional publishing company to sell your books leave you cold? If so, you’re not alone. More new authors are choosing to self-publish through the power of online sales with every passing year. In fact, the online self-publishing industry is one of the fastest-growing in the digital marketplace. While there are a plethora of tools, services and systems marketed toward authors with a desire to publish their own work, it’s not always easy to know which ones you actually need. Before you invest valuable time and money into unfamiliar sales systems, take some time to research your options. You may be surprised to find that the most effective and efficient options can also be the least expensive.

Understanding What You Need to Sell Your Books

Knowing what you need in order to successfully sell your books is only half the battle; you also have to know what you don’t need. For instance, one of the biggest expenses taken on by authors new to self-publishing is a costly, custom website designed by a professional. The truth is, you can have the same impact with a simple, inexpensive template site you build yourself, or even a free blog site. If you can cut and paste, you can turn a low-cost web space into an effective sales portal. All you need is the right dedicated system for the job.

Comprehensive eCommerce platforms like PayLoadz.com roll everything you need into a single virtual package. Payments are processed through names both you and your customers trust, like PayPal and Google Wallet. Your files are hosted securely, and delivered to your customers instantly upon completing a transaction. Your eCommerce solution is seamlessly integrated into any web space with simple HTML code. Choosing a high-quality system is still a comparatively low-cost solution, and will even give you access to valuable marketing tools to help you spread the word about your products.

How Quality Marketing Helps You Sell Your Books

You can’t sell your books, no matter how impressive your content, if no one knows they exist. Selling online gives you access to a global pool of potential buyers, but you have to stand out from the crowd in order to capture their attention. Prepaid marketing systems, including banner ads and sponsored social media posts, are essentially a gamble. You pay up front for the potential for traffic, and you’ll pay the same amount whether those ads result in one sale or one thousand.

Affiliate marketing networks, which are built in to top-notch eCommerce platforms, allow you to take the risk out of online marketing. You’re connected with promotional partners who essentially work on commission, collecting only a small portion of the proceeds from the sales they close. This means you’re never gambling with your limited marketing budget, or paying before you see results. With a single service provider and a sales portal, you’re able to sell your books without a publisher, retain all your creative control and keep more of your earnings.