Another place where authors can expose their book to millions more potential buyers is eBay, the auction Web site. eBay has millions of book buyers constantly browsing the site for new, interesting items.
One of eBay's weaknesses in bookselling relative to Amazon is that it provides few product recommendations or reviews. Still, eBay can be a useful tool for raising awareness of your title, even if it doesn't result in a substantial amount of sales on eBay itself.
One particularly effective tactic is to periodically auction a single copy of your book for sale in one or more relevant subject categories. Buyers who are interested in your book but don't want to wait until the end of the auction will look for a copy elsewhere for immediate purchase.
Here are some tips for getting the maximum number of lookers on eBay:
Start your auction at 1 cent. That will attract early and frequent bidding, which creates more interest. Some eBay users scan for only those items with several bids already, on the theory that frequent bidding is a sign of an interesting or unique find. You can also sell your book at a fixed price on eBay, but auctions attract more eyeballs.
Extend your auction to 10 days, instead of the usual seven-day auction. You'll get more lookers and bids for a nominal fee. The extra three days allows bidding to rise and gives impatient buyers an incentive to purchase immediately somewhere else.
Mention the ISBN at least twice in your auction description so impatient browsers and losing bidders can buy elsewhere. Use every possible keyword in your description. A small excerpt from the introduction can drive visitors to your listing. It's not necessary to limit your description to the back cover copy.
Try a #Featured Plus# listing to get more exposure. The extra fee is $20, but can be offset by the final bidding price, increased sales outside eBay, and word of mouth.
Include a link from your auction listing to a page on your Web site where readers can download your table of contents, introduction and sample pages.
List your book under multiple categories on eBay, not just "books." Let's imagine your book is about doll making. You could list under #nonfiction books#, # collectibles#, #toys#, #hobbies#, and perhaps five other related categories. You'll pay additional listing fees, but gain exposure among people interested in your topic, but not necessarily searching for a book about it.
Another tactic for eBay selling is to differentiate the book listing from what's available from Amazon and other retailers. You could sell autographed copies of your book, in eBay's "collectible" book category or in the book's subject area. You could also develop a package deal, selling your book with a bonus pamphlet or report.