Selling books online has become an attractive small business opportunity in Nigeria.
With increasing internet and smartphone penetration, more Nigerians are purchasing goods online.
At the same time, a vibrant literary scene and robust education sector has led to growing demand for books.
This guide will provide an overview of the online book sales landscape in Nigeria and key steps for starting your own online book business.
Whether you want to sell as an individual or create a full-fledged digital bookstore, understanding your target customers, sales platforms, inventory and pricing is critical for success.
We’ll cover choosing sales channels, setting competitive prices optimized for profit, creating captivating listings, promoting your stock, order fulfillment and expanding your online bookselling venture over time.
So if you have books to sell or want to begin sourcing interesting titles, read on to learn proven tactics to sell books profitably online in the Nigerian market.
Choose Online Sales Platforms
When getting started with online book selling in Nigeria, a key decision is which sales platforms and channels to leverage. Here are some top options to consider:
Online Marketplaces
The largest consumer eCommerce sites like Jumia and Konga have dedicated book categories and attract massive buyer traffic daily.
Listing your books on these sites provides instant access to an established market at no upfront cost. The main downside is that commissions of 15-25% apply on sales.
Read this also: #7 Top Platforms to Sell Used Items Online in Nigeria
Social Media Platforms
Major social media sites like Facebook and Instagram are widely used for informal eCommerce in Nigeria.
You can easily create Shop pages to display and sell your book inventory.
Social selling helps forge direct customer relationships and avoid marketplace fees.
However, you’ll need to invest more in digital marketing and promotions to drive traffic.
Your Own eCommerce Website
Having your own bookshop website in Nigeria allows you full control over your online brand, products and customers.
But site development, traffic acquisition, and order management are now your responsibilities.
Startup costs are also higher unless you use simpler website builders or marketplaces that allow custom domains.
Steps to build own online store using WordPress and Woocommerce
To build your own online bookstore using WordPress and WooCommerce, follow these steps:
- Set up your online store platform: Choose a domain name, web hosting, and an SSL certificate for your online store.
- Set up your WordPress website: Install WordPress on your chosen hosting platform and configure the settings according to your preferences.
- Set up your WooCommerce store: Install the WooCommerce plugin on your WordPress website and follow the setup wizard to configure your online store settings.
- Set up payments for your online store: Choose a payment gateway and integrate it into your WooCommerce store to accept payments from customers.
- Add products to your online store: Create product listings with images, descriptions, and pricing information.
- Select and customize WordPress theme: Choose a suitable WordPress theme for your online store and customize it to match your brand and preferences.
- Extend your online store with plugins: Install additional WooCommerce plugins to enhance your store’s functionality and user experience.
Remember to research and choose the best hosting provider, domain registrar, and payment gateway for your online store to ensure a smooth and secure shopping experience for your customers.
Weighing the pros and cons of each approach will steer you towards suitable sales platforms as you grow your online book venture.
A blended strategy across multiple channels may balance out the limitations of any single option.
The optimal mix evolves based on your product specialization, target audience, operational capacity and marketing budget.
Pricing Your Books
The pricing model you adopt can make or break the success of selling books online in Nigeria.
Strike the right balance between maximizing profits and offering customer value.
Here are key factors to consider when pricing books for your online store or marketplace listings:
Pricing Factors
- Product costs – Base pricing on how much you acquire books for, including shipping, customs duties etc.
- Competitor pricing – Research prices for similar book titles/categories on Konga, Jumia and other platforms.
- Uniqueness – Higher pricing may be viable for rare, specialist or hard-to-find titles.
- Demand – Popular books can be priced higher, fast sellers can have margins lowered.
- Condition – Pricing must account for new/used status and physical quality.
| Pricing Strategy | Details |
|---|---|
| Cost-Plus Pricing | Set price based on product cost then add your target profit margin e.g. 30% above cost. Simple but may under/over price. |
| Value-Based Pricing | Price based on the value customers perceive instead of costs e.g. specialized medical textbook priced higher. Allows for larger margins if executed correctly. |
| Dynamic Pricing | Frequently adjust pricing levels based on competitor rates, demand fluctuations etc. Requires close marketplace monitoring. |
Continuously fine-tuning your pricing strategy and experimenting across titles and seasons helps maximize online book sales.
Having both fixed cost-plus and flexible value-based elements is recommended.
List and Optime Book Listings
Creating stellar online listings for each book title is crucial to garner buyer attention and clicks in Nigeria’s saturated eCommerce space. Some key elements to optimize in each book listing:
Titles and Descriptions
- Compelling book title – Hook interest but avoid overselling
- Detailed plot summaries, author bios, edition details etc.
- Backcover descriptions – Content from book jacket
- Table of contents – Allow preview of topics covered
- Clear category selection e.g. fiction, business
Images
- High quality cover images essential
- Multiple angles – front, back, size comparisons
- Interior sample pages
- Avoid background clutter, watermarks
SEO Metadata
- Relevant keywords in title, description for discoverability
- Author name spelling consistency
Category and Catalog Management
- Group books by genre, niche topics, age-groups
- Refine classifications as catalogue expands
- Cross-linking related works for easy navigation
Listing Performance Tracking
- Key metrics like views, add-to-carts, purchases
- Identify bestselling categories and titles
- Optimize prices based on demand signals
Enriching listings takes effort but converts browsers into paying customers. Continually test and refine book pages using data insights and buyer feedback.
Promote Your Listings
Getting your online book listings found by motivated Nigerian buyers requires marketing and promotions.
Well-optimized books may see some organic sales, but active promotion is key, especially when starting out.
Paid Advertising
- Social media ads – Facebook/Instagram targeted ads
- Search ads – Google Shopping campaigns
- Marketplace promotions – Featured listings, banners and deals on Jumia/Konga
- Retarget shoppers who left your website without purchase
Organic Marketing
- SEO optimization for search engine traffic
- Email signatures and sales newsletters
- Blog, post samples chapters for engagement
- Guest articles related to your niche
- Foster book discussions on social media
- Cross-sell suggestions on your platform
- Loyalty rewards, coupons for return customers
Balance paid and organic tactics tailored to your audience and budget. Track conversions to see which platforms, campaigns and content types deliver the best ROI on time and money invested in driving book sales.
Deliver Orders and Get Paid
This is the most crucial to sell books online in Nigeria.
You’ve priced books attractively, created stellar listings and promoted them effectively online to Nigerian shoppers.
Converting that buyer demand into completed transactions requires solid order, payment, and logistics processes.
Order and Inventory Management
- Organize warehouse/inventory system to locate books easily for dispatch
- Integrate with sales channels for easy order tracking and status updates
- Manage low stock alerts, sourcing, returns, etc.
Logistics and Delivery
- Assess leading courier companies like DHL, FedEx for reliability and rates
- Absorb or pass shipping costs? Offer free over certain order values
- Expected delivery timelines, tracking visibility for customers
Payment Options
- Major payment providers like Paystack, Flutterwave, OPay
- Accept bank transfers, cards, mobile money etc.
- Manage failed payments and fraud attempts
The operational backbone to handle placed orders, get purchased books to customers quickly and facilitate payments securely builds loyalty for your online bookstore in Nigeria.
Growing Your Online Bookstore in Nigeria
Starting an online book sales venture in Nigeria is one thing, growing it into a thriving business is quite another.
Here are tips on expanding your reach and establishing your brand and sell more books online in Nigeria.
Expanding Inventory
- Widen selection with more titles, niches and categories
- Identify gaps relative to larger rivals
- Strike deals with Nigerian publishers, negotiate better rates
Building Customer Loyalty
- Newsletters, personalized offers and recommendations
- Reward repeat purchases with discounts
- Remarket lapsed customers, win them back
Improving Platform Features
- Add ratings/reviews, wishlists to encourage engagement
- Recommender algorithms using purchase data
Diversifying Income
- Expand to book rentals for students/professionals
- Custom publishing, self-publishing services
- Print-on-demand options
Plowing revenues back into inventory, technology and customer acquisition establishes your brand, lowers costs and nurtures a loyal community over time.
With a sharp understanding of Nigerian consumer needs and smart operational execution, scaling a profitable online bookstore is achievable.
Many start out on marketplaces before transitioning to their own sites or diversifying across channels.
Ultimately building a distinctive brand tied to book curation, niche focus or exemplary buying experiences pays off.
How much can I make selling books online in Nigeria?
I know you want to know how much you can make, but there’s an issue.
Unfortunately, there’s no straightforward answer to how much you can make selling books online in Nigeria. It depends on various factors, some of which include:
Type of books you sell:
- New books: Profit margins typically range from 10% to 30%, depending on your supplier and chosen platform. For example, selling a N5,000 book with a 20% profit margin would net you N1,000.
- Used books: Profit margins can be higher, from 30% to 70%, depending on book rarity and condition. But sourcing and storing used books takes more time and effort.
Selling platform:
- Marketplaces like Konga, Jumia, or Okadabooks: These platforms can reach a wide audience, but they come with fees and commissions.
- Social media platforms: Building your own audience on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter can eliminate fees but requires effective marketing and customer engagement.
- Your own website: Offers complete control and branding, but requires investment in building and maintaining the site.
Number of books sold:
The more books you sell, the higher your income. This depends on your marketing strategy, target audience, and book pricing.
Operational costs:
- Sourcing costs: Buying new or used books at wholesale or discount prices.
- Shipping costs: Packing and sending books to customers.
- Platform fees or website maintenance costs.
- Marketing and advertising expenses.
Additional factors:
- Location: Demand for specific books may vary depending on your region.
- Competition: Established booksellers may dominate certain markets.
- Customer service: Positive reviews and efficient order processing can attract repeat customers.
Therefore, instead of a definitive answer, here are some ranges to give you an idea:
- Small-scale sellers: N10,000 – N50,000 per month
- Established sellers with niche focus: N100,000 – N500,000 per month
- High-volume sellers with diverse inventory: N1,000,000 + per month
Remember, these are just estimates. Your actual income can be higher or lower depending on your specific situation.
Here are some tips to increase your chances of success:
- Identify a niche market: Focus on specific book genres or categories with underserved demand.
- Source books strategically: Find reliable suppliers offering competitive prices.
- Optimize your online presence: Use clear descriptions, high-quality photos, and competitive pricing.
- Engage with your audience: Provide excellent customer service, and promote your books on social media.
- Keep learning and adapting: Analyze your sales data and adjust your strategy accordingly.
What are the most popular book genres in Nigeria?
According to my research, the most popular book genres in Nigeria include motivational books, religious books on prosperity and marriage, and compulsory textbooks.
However, fiction is the most popular genre in African literature, with many writers exploring themes such as identity, politics, and history through novels and short stories.
Nigerian literature books that have gained popularity include “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe, “Americanah” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and “Stay with Me” by Ayobami Adebayo.
Who are the top online bookstores in Nigeria?
I don’t want to close this guide on how to sell books online in Nigeria without us touching who you gon compete with.
According to data, some of the top online bookstores in Nigeria include:
- Roving Heights
- Spine & Label
- The 1k Bookstore
- The BookMarket
- Laternabooks
- Vog and Wod
- Patabah Books
- PAGE Book
- BuyBooks NG
- Rovingheights Books
- Booksellers
- Iwemi Bookstore
- TheBookDealerNg
By no means this list is not exhaustive and there may be other online bookstores in Nigeria.
Read also: How to Sell on Payporte: Step By Step Guide
So if you want to sell more books online in Nigeria, study what these guys do and do it even better!
Key Takeaways
Starting an online book sales venture in Nigeria offers clear business potential but requires the right strategies across sourcing books, choosing sales platforms, pricing tactics, crafting listings, promotions, order fulfillment and long-term growth.
Major online marketplaces like Jumia and Konga provide instant access to buyers, but charge commissions and control branding.
Social channels and your own website allow creativity and customer ownership at the cost of heightened marketing effort.
Pricing models need to balance profit margins against perceived value, uniqueness of offerings, competitive rates and local demand. Books can be listed individually or curated into niche recommendation stores.
Promotions should encompass both paid and organic initiatives across search, social, email marketing and content creation tailored to local shopper preferences.
Handling order fulfillment, shipping and payments smoothly ensures hard-won book sales convert into completed transactions.
Reinvesting revenues into inventory expansion, improving features and customer loyalty compounds growth over time if executed strategically.
Selling books online profitably at scale is achievable by tapping into Nigeria’s expanding internet connectivity and book consumption.