Let’s be honest—some of our older books aren’t getting much love these days. The launch came and went, the reviews trickled in, and then crickets. But here’s the thing:… that book still has value. Maybe it just needs a shave, a shower, and a new/better introduction. I’ve revived my series a few times over the years. I’m about to ramp up my efforts again and figured a quick blog post was in order! Here’s what’s worked for me:
1. Figure Out What’s Broken
Before you do anything drastic, get curious.
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Are sales down across the board or just this title?
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Has the book lost visibility in search results or rankings?
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Have your ads stopped working? Did they ever work?
Pull up your dashboard of choice (i.e. the Author Helper Suite!) and do a quick audit:
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What were your launch month numbers compared to last quarter?
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Is your cover dated or off-genre?
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Has your blurb aged like milk?
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Is it hanging out in the wrong category?
Answering these will point you toward the fix.
2. Give It a Facelift
This part is weirdly satisfying.
New Cover.
If your book cover screams “2015 self-pub,” then yeah, it’s time. Genre expectations change. What worked then might be turning off readers now.
Better Blurb.
This is the unsung hero of conversions. A new hook. Shorter paragraphs. Clean structure. Hit the emotion. Promise the journey. End strong.
Fix Your Metadata.
This one can be boring but it’s effective. Don’t listen to people who tell you metadata doesn’t matter as much anymore. Metadata are the basest breadcrumbs on the net. Without metadata your discoverability will be left to algorithms’ and LLMs’ best guesses. Remember: Keywords and categories go stale. Use Publisher Rocket or, heck, just Amazon’s search bar to see where your book might fit today. Here’s a tip on how to find books like yours:
Search on Amazon for your genre in as niche a way possible. For example: Don’t search for “vampire book.” Instead search like a reader who is desperate for a specific read (right now!). Try “vampire romance for adults highlighted”. This specificity will ensure you’re shown books like yours. The “highlighted” will show you more books where readers have highlighted portions of the story. This gives you a sense of the style so you can see if it matches your own. If this author’s readers like that passage so much, wait until they get a load of your series!
With knowledge gained from this process, you can gather a ton of genres/sub-genres, authors, series, descriptions, keywords, etc. I guarantee you’ll find some fresh breadcrumbs to lay out for potential readers.
3. Relaunch Lite
No parade needed. A subtle nudge can do wonders.
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Drop the price temporarily (Kindle Countdown Deals are still a thing).
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Do a newsletter swap or two.
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Email your list. (“Hey, I gave [Title] a makeover. Wanna see?”)
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Set up a short ad run—$5/day Facebook or Amazon. Target smart, not wide.
- Use a reputable promo service like Written Word Media.
Test. Tweak. Breathe 😉
4. Make It Work for You Long-Term
If you’re putting in the effort to revive the book, make it count.
Link It to a New Release.
Updated backmatter is your best friend. If this older title tees up a newer one—even loosely—connect them.
Bundle It.
Box sets, omnibuses, themed bundles. People love deals, and you love royalties.
Try a New Format.
Audiobook? Translation? Large print? New formats bring new readers. Just don’t go wild—start with your best-reviewed backlist title.
Conclusion-ish
Every book has its moment, but some books need more than one. Start small. Test things. Let your book stretch its legs again. Good luck!
