Sell Kids Books
Selling kids’ books involves a blend of creativity, strategic marketing, and building strong relationships with your target audience, which includes parents, schools, libraries, and, of course, children. Whether you’re an independent author or a publisher, there are various effective ways to sell children’s books online and offline. Here’s a comprehensive strategy to help you sell kids’ books successfully:
1. Define Your Niche and Target Audience
- Age Group: Children’s books cater to different age groups (toddlers, early readers, middle-grade, young adults). Tailor your books and marketing approach to the specific needs of each group.
- Picture Books (Ages 0-5): Simple language, colorful illustrations, interactive elements.
- Early Readers (Ages 5-7): Short chapters, basic sentence structures, fun themes.
- Middle Grade (Ages 8-12): More complex plots, relatable characters, themes like adventure, friendship, or self-discovery.
- Young Adult (Ages 12-18): Deeper themes, complex characters, real-world issues, and more mature writing.
- Themes: Decide if your books focus on specific themes like adventure, friendship, diversity, moral lessons, or education. Themes like STEM, mindfulness, social-emotional learning, and multiculturalism are increasingly popular.
2. Choose the Right Selling Platforms
Online Stores
- Amazon: As the world’s largest online retailer, Amazon offers excellent exposure. Be sure to optimize your book listings with proper keywords, compelling descriptions, and high-quality images.
- Etsy: If your books have unique or handcrafted elements (like illustrated covers or signed copies), Etsy is a great platform for indie authors.
- Ordefy: As discussed earlier, Ordefy is a comprehensive commerce platform that allows you to set up your own online store, manage sales, and integrate social media for direct sales.
- Barnes & Noble: You can list your children’s books on their website for greater exposure, particularly if you want to target parents who shop for books in both online and physical stores.
Author Website
- Build a Brand: Having a dedicated website allows you to control your brand. Create a visually appealing site with easy navigation, a secure payment system, and interactive features (like sample chapters or free activity sheets).
- E-commerce: Set up a shopping cart, integrate with payment systems like PayPal or Stripe, and offer various formats (e.g., paperback, hardcover, e-book, or audiobook).
Social Media Sales
- Instagram: Create visually appealing posts that show off your book’s illustrations and content. Consider doing “Instagram Lives” or posting fun reading clips. Use Instagram’s shopping feature to sell directly from your profile.
- Facebook: Create a business page, engage with your audience by sharing book updates, educational content, and promotions. Facebook also allows you to run targeted ads to reach the right parents and educators.
- TikTok: BookTok has become a major trend for promoting books, including children’s books. Create short videos that engage kids and parents, such as fun readings or “behind-the-scenes” processes of writing and illustrating a book.
3. Use Digital Marketing
- Email Marketing: Build an email list by offering free downloadable content (like printable coloring pages or story activity sheets) in exchange for email subscriptions. Send regular newsletters about new book releases, promotions, and events.
- SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Optimize your website and product listings with keywords like “children’s books,” “picture books for kids,” or “STEM books for children” to improve search engine rankings.
- Paid Advertising: Use Facebook or Google ads to target parents, teachers, or other individuals who may be interested in your books. Fine-tune your ad targeting based on interests, age groups, and location.
4. Partner with Schools, Libraries, and Educators
- School Book Fairs: Reach out to local schools or libraries and offer your books for their next book fair. Many schools are eager to support authors, especially those offering educational or diverse books.
- Teacher Discounts: Offer discounted rates for educators, especially if your book has an educational element. Providing bulk discounts or free resources (lesson plans, activity guides) can make your book more appealing to teachers.
- Library Readings & Events: Partner with libraries for readings or special events. This gives you a platform to showcase your books, and libraries are often willing to host author events, especially for children’s literature.
- Book Donations: Donate copies of your book to local schools or libraries to gain visibility and credibility within the community.
5. Create an Engaging Online Presence
- Blogging & Content Creation: Create a blog where you share related content (book recommendations, parenting tips, or discussions about the themes in your books). This content can drive organic traffic to your website.
- Videos & Readings: Upload video readings of your book on platforms like YouTube or Facebook, or record a snippet and share it on Instagram. Engaging with children through interactive storytelling videos helps build excitement.
- Interactive Features: Create games, quizzes, or downloadable activity sheets on your website or social media that relate to your book’s themes. For example, if your book is about animals, create an animal-themed quiz or drawing challenge.
6. Leverage Reviews & Testimonials
- Book Reviews: Reach out to bloggers, parenting websites, and influencers who specialize in children’s books. Positive reviews from established sources can help boost your credibility.
- Reader Testimonials: Collect testimonials from parents, teachers, and kids. Positive feedback on your website or social media will encourage new customers.
- Goodreads: Encourage readers to leave reviews on platforms like Goodreads. This site is trusted by book lovers and can help spread word-of-mouth.
7. Host Book Launches and Events
- Virtual Book Launch: Host a virtual book launch via Facebook, Instagram, or Zoom. Use this opportunity to read a passage from your book, discuss the inspiration behind it, and engage with your audience.
- Giveaways: Host book giveaways on social media to increase visibility. You can ask people to share a post or tag friends for the chance to win a free copy. This will help expand your reach.
- Collaborate with Other Authors: Team up with other children’s authors for a joint book event, or co-author a book bundle to cross-promote and tap into each other’s audiences.
8. Offer Special Editions and Bundles
- Personalized Books: Offer personalized copies where the child’s name is included in the book, which can be a great gift option.
- Book Bundles: Offer discounts for customers who purchase multiple books at once. For example, if you’ve written a series, you can offer a discount for parents who buy the entire series in one go.
- Signed Copies or Limited Editions: Some customers love having a signed copy or limited edition book. Consider offering these for special promotions or as an exclusive online offer.
9. Consider Print-on-Demand and Crowdfunding
- Print-on-Demand (POD): Platforms like IngramSpark or Lulu allow you to print books as you sell them, so you don’t need to worry about upfront printing costs or excess inventory.
- Crowdfunding: Platforms like Kickstarter or Indiegogo can help you raise funds for printing your children’s books if you’re self-publishing. Crowdfunding also helps build a community of supporters who are invested in your project.
Final Thoughts
Selling kids’ books requires building relationships with both parents and children. Focus on creating engaging, high-quality books that resonate with your audience. Use the right combination of online and offline marketing, collaborate with educational institutions, and engage with your readers through various channels. With a solid marketing strategy, you’ll not only boost your book sales but also foster a community of young readers who love your stories.
Do you have a specific book or series you’re planning to sell? If you want, I can help you brainstorm more tailored marketing ideas!