Relaunching a book can give titles new life and a chance to reappear on search algorithms. Let's look at reasons and methods for relaunching a book.
1. Covers
Covers are a one second commercial. Readers often make a snap judgement based on the cover alone. A pretty package can sell a previously overlooked product. Perhaps you began with a stand alone but it became a series or you have a series that didn't perform well and you have a new book to launch. It is worth trying new covers and a relaunch to jump start sales.
2. Interior Design
Maybe your ebook formatting makes you cringe and you know better now. There are bigger and better tools for crafting interiors from Word templates to programs like Calibre and Kindle Create. Ebooks can have features like dropcaps and images. Uploading a document with special fonts doesn't translate well to ereaders where a reader can opt for standard installed fonts, so avoid embedding funky fonts. You have to have permission to use fonts just like images. That's why it is best to stick with the defaults.
3. Book Description
Book description is an art form and it can be learned. Have you had feedback or reviews from readers that said your description turned them off or you promised a different story than you delivered? Changing the book description can attract different readers. Make sure you know your story promise and you keep it. Don't promise a lighthearted romp and insert a tragedy. Don't promise a mystery with no mystery or a thriller with no thrills. You can specifically target lovers of your subgenre. Make use of keywords. Know what those readers want then tell them that you have it. Seduce them with your story promise.
4. Editing
You were desperate to put the book out, then realized it was full of editing issues. Perhaps you uploaded it then caught the fifty typos you somehow missed after 20 rounds of proofreading or there are page position issues. You can fix that.
If necessary, have the book professionally edited. Keep in mind that fixing a few typos is fine. A new cover is also acceptable. You can adjust and re-upload with the same ISBN.
Unfortunately, if you make significant structural and prose changes, it must be released as a second edition.
If you were horrified by your original, don't assume you can simply change the title and/or author name. Many sites have restrictions on plagiarized content and their algorithms may highlight your new title as plagiarism of previously released fiction. I know of one writer that revised their own book because the first version needed a total overhaul and they re-released with a new cover and a rewrite. The new version has been rejected by several third party distributors and selling platforms, even though it is her intellectual property, She uploaded it as a second version with the same title and author.
Releasing an existing book with a new title and/or author could confuse readers who have already enjoyed your book or series. Better to issue a revised version than a "remake." I would only suggest new title and/or author name if you revised the plot so that it is unrecognizable from the original and want to start over again with your online branding. You will need new ISBN numbers and all new social media accounts.
5. Standalone Becomes a Series
Perhaps you released one book then it became a series but the cover art and/or interior formatting are nothing like the first book. You can make them cohesive then re-release them. Relaunching a series can resurrect a dead standalone.
6. Rights Reversion
Some midlist authors got dropped. Some writers had a contract but their first book didn't sell well and they were not picked up again by their publisher. Perhaps a publisher released only an ebook or print edition and you wish to have both available. Perhaps you want an audible book version.You can look into rights reversion. If you receive your rights back, you can relaunch the book yourself through the self-publishing platforms. Publishers don't give all books equal promotion. Perhaps you can do a better job. Also, your books can remain in circulation until you take them down, unlike the short lifespan on store bookshelves or limited print runs. The good thing about print on demand is you don't need to store hundreds of copies in your office. Rights reversion is also important if you want to continue a series they discontinued.
7. Boxed Sets
If you have a series, you can also release them as a boxed set to give them new life. Pricing is a consideration here. Buyers want a deal of some sort and you can strategically price the set. You can include added content as well such as related shorts or novellas.
8. Marketing
Here is the crucial part. When you relaunch a book or series, it is critical to have a marketing plan in place. Perhaps you released a book and it went nowhere because you didn't do anything after uploading it, expecting it to sell itself. Do your research. Find out what marketing tactics work. Connect with book bloggers and influencers. Make sure you have a solid representation on social media, which involves relationship building. A good rule of thumb is to give more than you ask for. Help others. Promote others and they are more willing to help you. If you simply change the book then don't invest in marketing, the book will remain hidden in the dark dusty archives of the internet.
Relaunching a book or series gives you the opportunity to gain readers if used strategically. Perhaps you have a new series or book in the pipeline. Relaunching the previous books can add to the momentum of your new release.
For more information, check out:
KDP updated content guidelines: https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/G200736410
Create a boxed set on KDP: https://selfpublishing.com/book-series-box-set/
Mastering Book Design: http://dianahurwitz.blogspot.com/2020/07/2020-09-30-mastering-book-design.html
Fonts: http://dianahurwitz.blogspot.com/2018/12/utilizing-fonts-for-book-covers-and.html
Mastering Book Description: http://dianahurwitz.blogspot.com/2021/03/2020-02-25-mastering-book-description.html
Rights Reversion: https://accrispin.blogspot.com/2014/10/how-to-request-rights-reversion-from.html
https://www.lawinsider.com/clause/reversion-of-rights
Marketing: https://blog.reedsy.com/how-to-market-a-book/
