How to Monetize Backlist Books

Your Author Backlist Could Be a Goldmine

As authors and publishers, it’s easy to get caught up in what’s new and what’s next. After all, there are always eager readers waiting for the next blockbuster novel or the next installment in a fan-favorite series to come out. But what about all of the books that came before? Your catalog of previous titles shouldn’t be ignored, and in fact, could be a treasure trove of valuable content just waiting for you to capitalize on. Backlist books – titles published more than a year ago – actually account for the majority of book sales, exceeding new release sales (also known as frontlist sales). And the value of backlist titles isn’t just monetary, either. Focusing on improving your author backlist can have significant benefits for your overall branding and marketing strategy as well. Not sure where to start? In this blog post, we’ll get into all of the details, including what is a backlist book, why they matter, and how to cash in on this valuable asset.

What is a Backlist Book?

The term backlist books comes from the early days of publishing, when books were printed in sales catalogs and marketed to bookstores. The newest, hottest books were displayed in the front of the catalog and earned the moniker “frontlist books.” Books from past seasons filled the back of the catalog and were thus dubbed “backlist books.” Today, when we ask what is a backlist book, the term refers to books that have been on the market for at least a year but are still in print and available for sale. While major bookstores and retailers typically focus on selling frontlist books, you can find backlist books in both independent bookstores and online.

Why Backlist Books Matter

Without a doubt, one of the biggest benefits of backlist books is that they offer authors a reliable income stream. In fact, according to a survey by The Author’s Guild, 50% of author income comes from backlist and back-in-print sales. But the advantages to cultivating your author backlist don’t stop there. By building and promoting your author backlist, you can expand your audience and reach new readers. Backlist books also help build your credibility and author brand, showcasing your body of work and your writing style, and encouraging readers to explore more. And when you invest in your backlist titles, they become an effective book marketing strategy, which we’ll explore more below.

How to Monetize Your Author Backlist

There are many ways to monetize your author backlist. Whether you’re looking for some quick strategies to boost your author backlist visibility or you want to spend more time updating your book backlist catalog, our suggestions below will help you get the most out of your backlist books.

Low-Effort Backlist Book Monetization Ideas:

Cash in on your backlist titles without even needing to touch the book itself.

Price drop or price promotion: Perhaps the easiest way to generate reader interest in your backlist catalog is to offer reduced pricing through discounts, deals, and other offers.
Metadata enhancement: This is especially important for older book titles, where the metadata was created back when the concept was still new for publishers. Taking the time to revisit the metadata for your backlist titles and see what can be improved is a worthwhile exercise. This includes reviewing keywords, BISAC code selection, book descriptions, ISBN information, and author bios.
Social media marketing: The key to breathing new life into old books is promoting them on social media. Using platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Goodreads, and more, you can get your backlist titles in front of both new audiences and your core fans. Make sure your posts are eye-catching and include a clear way to purchase your backlist books.
Email Marketing: Just like with social media, you want to get the word out about your author backlist, and that includes utilizing your email list. Include excerpts from your books, reviews of backlist titles, anything that might pique your fans’ interest. Make sure to include links to where readers can purchase your backlist books or find out more about your author backlist collection.
Author Website: When thinking about monetizing your author backlist, there’s no better resource than your author website. Create a dedicated page featuring all of your backlist books where fans, both new and old, can explore your writing and purchase your work.

Capitalize on Backlist Book Updates

Small changes can make a big difference when it comes to your author backlist.

New or updated cover design: Sometimes, all it takes to breathe new life into an old book is a refreshed cover. Take a look at the current market in your genre and what the book covers are like. Would your backlist books benefit from a makeover? Tweaks to the cover, including changes to the color scheme, font, illustrations or artwork, and more, can move the needle when it comes to driving sales of backlist titles.
New foreword, preface, or intro: Especially for backlist titles that were published many years ago, adding fresh content at the start of the book can be a helpful marketing tool. Publishers can then use excerpts from the updated intros to promote your backlist books, billing them as ‘New!’ or ‘Just Updated!’.
New book blurbs: Book blurbs are a powerful tool for selling books. Just as you want to review your book cover to ensure it’s resonating with current audiences, read through the blurbs of your backlist titles and determine if any of them need a refresh.
Add an additional format: While revisiting your author backlist as a monetization tool, it could be a good time to see if it makes sense to add additional formats for any of your titles. Maybe some of your older titles would be good candidates for creating audiobooks, a format that has been gaining popularity over the last decade or so.
Go all-in on a book relaunch: If you end up making significant updates to your backlist books, celebrate them with a full book relaunch! Showcase the book’s fresh look and content, promote it on all of your channels, and attract a whole new audience along the way. Book re-launches are also a great way to celebrate milestones, such as selling a certain number of book copies or reaching a significant publication anniversary.

Whether you give your old tiles a full makeover or simply promote them to new audiences, taking the time to monetize your author backlist is a worthwhile exercise for any author. Discover what your backlist books can do for you – grow your revenue, boost your brand, expand your fan base, and more. Don’t wait to get started – tap into the goldmine that is your author blacklist today!