How to find a profitable book topic.
Thread.
Thread.
1. Define 'profitable book topic'
Firstly, what is a profitable book topic?
One where we're likely to make good sales if we publish a book.
If there is enough evidence that others are making good money, then it's a good topic.
Firstly, what is a profitable book topic?
One where we're likely to make good sales if we publish a book.
If there is enough evidence that others are making good money, then it's a good topic.
What evidence do we need?
• 2-3 self-published books with a BSR under 100k
• At least one book with a BSR under 10k
• Exact keyword in the title of the book
We'll need the Bookbeam Chrome extension for this.
• 2-3 self-published books with a BSR under 100k
• At least one book with a BSR under 10k
• Exact keyword in the title of the book
We'll need the Bookbeam Chrome extension for this.
2. Scrape Best Seller lists
Now, we must find a long list of topics and check them against that criteria.
What's the best way of finding a lot of topics that are selling well?
Amazon's Best Seller lists.
Now, we must find a long list of topics and check them against that criteria.
What's the best way of finding a lot of topics that are selling well?
Amazon's Best Seller lists.
Go onto the Amazon.com books best sellers list.
'.com' because the US is the biggest market and 'books' because you will make most money from paperback sales (as opposed to Kindle).
'.com' because the US is the biggest market and 'books' because you will make most money from paperback sales (as opposed to Kindle).
3. Choose a category
Once there, choose a category in the left-hand column.
It doesn't matter where you start, you should check them all.
Some good ones to start with:
• Business & Money
• Cookbooks, Food & Wine
• Crafts, Hobbies & Home
• Health, Fitness & Dieting
Once there, choose a category in the left-hand column.
It doesn't matter where you start, you should check them all.
Some good ones to start with:
• Business & Money
• Cookbooks, Food & Wine
• Crafts, Hobbies & Home
• Health, Fitness & Dieting
As an example, I will choose Business & Money.
The top books in 'Business & Money' have too many reviews to compete with.
So I will go TWO levels lower: 'Investing' > 'Options'
Here, the books have <1000 reviews.
The top books in 'Business & Money' have too many reviews to compete with.
So I will go TWO levels lower: 'Investing' > 'Options'
Here, the books have <1000 reviews.
4. Collect the keywords
Now we're in 'Options', we need to:
• Scroll through the books
• Find the 'self-published' books
• Make a note of any with BSR under 100k
Track all of them in a Google Sheet.
Now we're in 'Options', we need to:
• Scroll through the books
• Find the 'self-published' books
• Make a note of any with BSR under 100k
Track all of them in a Google Sheet.
When we make a note, we want the keyword, not the title.
For example, this book is 'self-pub' and is titled 'The Only Technical Analysis Book You Will Ever Need'
But the keyword is 'Technical Analysis'.
For example, this book is 'self-pub' and is titled 'The Only Technical Analysis Book You Will Ever Need'
But the keyword is 'Technical Analysis'.
5. Check for profitability
Once we have 50-100 keywords, we must check for evidence of profitability.
To do this:
• Open Amazon.com in private browsing
• Type the keyword into the search bar under 'Books'
• Open the Bookbeam Chrome extension
Once we have 50-100 keywords, we must check for evidence of profitability.
To do this:
• Open Amazon.com in private browsing
• Type the keyword into the search bar under 'Books'
• Open the Bookbeam Chrome extension
Firstly, rank the table by the 'Ranking' column, smallest to largest.
Then, we want to see how many books there are with a BSR under 100k.
(CreateSpace is the same as Independently Published)
Then, we want to see how many books there are with a BSR under 100k.
(CreateSpace is the same as Independently Published)
6. Repeat
Do this over and over until you find a super profitable keyword.
Caveat: 'Technical Analysis' is a good keyword but highly competitive with 20k search results.
Aim for topics under 5k.
Do this over and over until you find a super profitable keyword.
Caveat: 'Technical Analysis' is a good keyword but highly competitive with 20k search results.
Aim for topics under 5k.
Recap: How to find a profitable book topic.
1. Define 'profitable book topic'
2. Scrape Best Seller lists
3. Choose a category
4. Collect the keywords
5. Check for profitability
6. Repeat
1. Define 'profitable book topic'
2. Scrape Best Seller lists
3. Choose a category
4. Collect the keywords
5. Check for profitability
6. Repeat
Thanks for reading.
If you found it useful, repost the first tweet so others can learn.
Follow @JamesAllwinton for more publishing tweets.
If you found it useful, repost the first tweet so others can learn.
Follow @JamesAllwinton for more publishing tweets.
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