Do you possess a book that you’d like to sell on Amazon in English? Or are you thinking about having it ghostwritten through Kindle Direct Publishing? You can’t pass up this chance for writers and makers.
Imagine the book sales you could make if your book were translated into other languages. These languages include German, French and Italian, the three most widely spoken European languages.
Making a purpose of content is the best way to get more value from the work you’ve already put in. It doesn’t have to be limited to producing an audiobook. With creativity, you can quadruple your impact on the market by repurposing your content differently.
Maybe you’ve thought about translating your book into other languages. Or perhaps you have no idea where to start. We researched for you and looked into the available foreign markets. So that you can take advantage of this opportunity now!
Amazon Launches New Ebook Platform for Foreign Readers
Amazon, as the world’s largest marketplace for digital content distribution, is still the most popular platform. It is best for selling ebooks and audiobooks. You can be a writer or creator of content and you’re not using Amazon as your book sales platform. Then it’s time to get with the program.
Until now, most of Amazon’s an advertising and marketing strategies have been focused on different English-speaking countries.
Amazon has just invested in several tools and services to help its users break into new foreign markets. Previously, several restrictions were placed on what authors could do and where they could market their books. But all that has changed now.
What is different now?
Not only does Amazon’s global shift give you more opportunities. But it also allows authors to control how they market their books.
The changes, along with the additions to Amazon services and tools, include:
They have opened their self-service display ads to authors from
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- the United Kingdom
- Canada
- Japan
The Amazon Author Central pages include an author’s biography and other books and products. They are now available to be published in multiple languages and territories.
Amazon’s algorithm tracks customers’ fundamental interests and recommends similar items. This will now be in different languages for the new book sales countries.
Sometimes Translating your book has been recommended to readers in other countries who are already interested in your subject area. These people whose language satisfies their preferred language; you’ve just earned yourself some international exposure. The ability of such a system for a small company is tremendous, essentially giving you free marketing.
How many potentials do Translated Books have in Foreign Markets?
Amazon is a multibillion-dollar company that doesn’t take expansion decisions lightly. There’s no doubt that these markets have significant present and future potential for Amazon.
While Amazon’s product line is extensive, your attention (and ours) is focused on selling ebooks and audiobooks. So, what prospects do you see in these regions?
The four biggest ebook market in Europe are France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.
In 2017, one in every five books sold in Europe was an ebook. However, we don’t have more recent figures on this number yet. Luckily, the growth rate seen in book sales for individual countries demonstrates that this number has gone up since then.
Italy has 4.5 million people who read ebooks every year– that’s potential for many more readers in just one country. A tiny slice of that number would have an incredible effect on your book sales numbers. The ebook market in France has increased by more than 50 percent every year from 2017 to 2019. If a market grows, it needs new offerings; otherwise, it becomes stagnant.
Germany is one of Europe’s most lucrative ebook markets, with $27 million annually on ebooks. Ebooks cost an average of $6.00 each, which translates to another 4 million potential German consumers.
Based on current data, the average publisher could earn $4,000 per month from sales in Germany. And $2,000 per month from sales your book in other places.
Why Do Global eBook Markets Have Different Levels of Development?
The countries, which include the United States and the United Kingdom, have a long history of being early adopters of new technology. In contrast, Europe and the rest of the world may have access to it.
But people on the street in these areas are typically slower to adopt new trends. This is frequently due to a love for tradition and an unwillingness to abandon historically successful techniques.
The popularity and usage of ebooks are also impacted in various regions. Majorly by the disposable income available to specific age groups. In general, countries with a higher adoption rate of ebook readers have extensive availability of disposable income. This is especially in younger age groups. Such younger age groups are also more likely to purchase ebooks.
There is one potential reason that Europe has been hesitant in the past to enter the ebook and audiobook market. It is because of its historical outlook. However, this appears to be rapidly changing. As data suggests that there is already a massive demand for these books, which is only growing larger.
Best Practices: How to Sell Your Books In Foreign Markets
Written a book in English? The first and most crucial step is to have it translated into the language. This will let you enter into the new markets you wish to target. This may be accomplished in one of two ways:
- If you’ve got a new book concept, hire a writer to ghostwrite it in English. Now have it translated into the languages of the markets you want to target in one go.
- If you already have a book written in English, it’s possible to get it translated into other languages too. Talk about this option with the translation service company you pick.
Authors Book Publisher offers new translation services: French, German, and Italian. Each service includes a writer with excellent language skills in your chosen dialect.
The editor and proofreader need to go over the final product. Your book will also be information to be KDP-compliant. So that you can take advantage of these new markets.
Start with the market or markets if you don’t have much money and can only afford a few translation jobs at once. This will let you be in the most successful way.
After you have a strong understanding of one market, use that knowledge to expand into others. You might feel surprised that some of your new readers are actually in different language markets.
Which Country First?
Determining which foreign market would be the most lucrative for your book is a must. You will need to research its popularity in the chosen country. For example, France’s bestsellers are mostly lifestyle and DIY books. Whereas fiction is more prevalent in Germany, with self-help titles in third place.
With young adult fiction and nonfiction being equally popular in Italy, the preference for one or the other is uncertain.
You might also consider your current network while deciding which countries to target. Check out your LinkedIn connections list. You will find it surprising how many international contacts you have. They all can help market your book.
What is the approach to Foreign Markets?
With a translated book, your next step is to figure out how to reach readers in different countries. You can easily opt for the same marketing strategies you’ve used before. But you will have to adjust to accommodate language barriers.
Here are our top three tips for breaking into foreign markets with your translated book:
- Amazon offers self-service tools to support your international marketing efforts, including powerful Amazon Author Central pages. Of course, you will want to limit your time investment in advertising across multiple markets. The good news is that Amazon’s translated tools make it easy for you to update your author page once. It also let you have the updates automatically populate in other countries.
- To better your book’s chance in the market, adjust your cover images and font. Since they are culture-specific, it is essential to consider what might catch a reader’s eye in one country versus another. Many ebook ghostwriting companies offer this service, so pick a creator who understands international marketing.
Promotion on various channels
Do not make assumptions about what a market wants based on your perspective of a nation or its citizens. Always seek counsel from an expert. Especially when it comes to altering the cover or the basis of your judgments on sound evidence.
On Amazon, reviews are critical. They are essential ways potential buyers may learn more about Translating your book. Through reviews in foreign countries, you must establish a reputation for yourself.
The best way to touch the heart of your global audience is by:
- getting your book reviews
- interviews on podcasts or YouTube channels
These platforms have access to analytics. They can tell you where their audience is, so you know who you’re reaching.
Contact podcasters and YouTubers who discuss similar topics as you. Invite content creators with audiences in your desired country to collaborate. Podcasters and YouTubers are usually open to interviewing guests about their book if it interests their listeners.
When working with another content creator, ensure that the agreement improves your brand and does not harm it. Research the podcast or YouTube channel before approaching them to ensure that your values are compatible.