By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Book Marketing
There are countless ways authors can promote their books- from traditional methods like book signings, tours, and media appearances to more modern, technology driven methods. (You can further explore some of those classic promotional tactics in an article I wrote here)
As technology continues to evolve, digital promotion has become a highly effective tool for authors. It’s fast, accessible, and offers the potential to reach a global audience at the click of your fingertips. Platforms like Google Books empower authors to showcase their work and drive sales by building online visibility.
What is Google Books?
Google Books is a vast digital library where users can search, preview, purchase or borrow from a collection of over 10 million titles. Each book has its own reference page complete with relevant information such as reviews and web references, making it easy for readers to find the content they’re looking for. Google Books sources through two main avenues: the Partner Program, which features titles provided by publishers and authors, and the Library Project, which consists of digitized works from major libraries worldwide.
Here’s how authors can tap into the power of Google Books:
Google Play Partner Program
Authors and publishers can submit their work free of charge via the Play Books Partner Center, allowing them to sell books on the Play Store and offer previews on Google Books. Or, if you do not wish to list your book for sale on Google Play, it can still be previewed through Google Books. To check if your publisher has already submitted your book, simply search by title or author name. If it appears in the results, it has likely been added to the site.
The Library Project
The Library Project provides users access to rare, out of print, or multilingual books that are generally unavailable outside of the system. Even if your title is no longer in circulation, it can still participate in Google Books through this initiative. To make your book searchable to users, it must be scanned and converted to a digital format. If you choose to opt out of scanning, only basic bibliographic information- similar to a library catalog entry- will be displayed on the platform.
Accessibility and Protection on Google Books
If you designate your book as public domain, Google will make the text freely accessible to readers from start to finish. Otherwise, the system will only allow users to see blurbs limited to the keywords they search. To ensure your title is protected, publishers should implement your preferred level of digital rights management (DRM) and publish an official copyright notice to clearly state your ownership. Google uses copyright protection to prevent unauthorized use of eBooks, and the extent of access to your book (ranging from 20% to full access) is dictated by the rightsholder.
Linking Your Personal Website
While Google Books does not support direct links from individual book pages to external websites, you can utilize the Partner Program to provide a link to your site when listing a book for sale. You can also add your website link to your author profile to help readers discover more about your work.
Do I need an ISBN?
An ISBN is a 13-digit code that uniquely identifies a book and its specific edition, whether it’s hardcover, paperback, or eBook. While you do not need one for independent print sales, an ISBN is required for distribution on online platforms such as Google Books. Also, it can open more doors for your book by improving discoverability to maximize sales potential.
If you want to maximize sales on Google Play Books, focus on non-fiction—self-help, business, technical guides, and travel books tend to perform best. That said, genre fiction like romance, thrillers, and sci-fi can thrive with strong promotion. Audiobooks are also an option, but only for select partners.
The key to success? Optimize metadata, run promotions, and target Android users across dozens of countries. While Google Play has less competition than Amazon, it still demands active marketing to generate sales. In general, non-fiction outshines fiction in performance.
A smart approach is to experiment with free series starters and bonus content to boost visibility.
Where does Google Books fit into the big picture?
Here’s a breakdown of market share of the top booksellers:
- Amazon – 50% of all book sales.
- Barnes & Noble – 5-10% of the market.
- Books-A-Million – 1-3% share.
- Walmart – 5-7% of sales.
- Target – 2-4% of the market.
- Indie Bookstores – Collectively 5-7% of book sales.
- Apple Books – 3-5% of the market.
- Google Play Books – 1-3% share.
- Audible (Amazon-owned) – 60% of audiobook sales.
- Book Depository (Amazon-owned) – A global book retailer with a niche market share.
The Bottom Line
Don’t miss the chance to expand your reach- submit your book to Google Books! Start leveraging this powerful platform to connect with readers and make your work seen.
#Authors - Don’t miss the chance to expand your reach- beyond Amazon. Sell your book on Google Books! Start leveraging this powerful platform to connect with readers and make your work seen. #amwriting #writingcommunity #IARTG… Click to tweet this article to your friends and followers! 𝕏About Book Publicist Scott Lorenz
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Book Marketing at https://www.WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or 734-667-2090. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award-winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net
