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Islamic books have a crucial role in the Muslim community. They offer abundant knowledge and guidance, encompassing diverse facets of Islam. In recent years, there has been an increase in demand for these books as Muslims strive to delve deeper into Islam and strengthen their connection to their heritage.
Now is the best time to start selling Islamic books and help the community grow. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through successfully selling these invaluable sources of knowledge online.
Contrary to common belief, Islamic books extend beyond being mere compilations of Hadith. They cover subjects including Islamic teachings, history, jurisprudence, spirituality, and literature. Authored by Islamic scholars, theologians, and experts, these books offer profound insights into the faith.
While it’s hard to limit these categories into one list, these are the most common types:
1. Quran/tafseer books: consist of research and interpretations of the Quran, including the tafsir, Quranic sciences, and the study of linguistics.
2. Hadith books: it’s quite rare to find a Muslim who hasn’t heard of books like Sahih Al-Bukhari or Sahih Muslim, these books are the second source of knowledge after the Qu’ran, and they play a crucial part in our deen.
3. Aqidah books: explaining the Fundamentals of Tawheed and other beliefs.
5. Fiqh books: explain Islamic Jurisprudence, they cover the four main schools: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali.
6. Islamic history books: provide insights into the historical events, figures, and developments in Islamic civilization.
7. Sirah books: cover the biography of the prophet Muhammed PBUH
Dawah books: provide training for people in Dawah (spreading Islamic knowledge withing non-Muslims)
8. Marriage books: focus specifically on Islamic teachings and advice regarding marriage, relationships, and family life from an Islamic perspective.
9. Islamic Education and Parenting: provide guidance on Islamic education, nurturing children's faith, and raising a Muslim family in contemporary times. You may also want to check our parent’s guide to introducing Islam to young children.
10. Children's books: short, medium, and long stories for the little ones to learn about our religion.
11. Dua books: compile and explain supplications (duas) from the Quran and Sunnah
Research is crucial to ensure that you are selling Islamic books effectively online. The first step is to gain a full understanding of their demographics, interests, reading habits, and specific needs when it comes to Islamic literature.
The goal of this step is also to respect cultural sensitivities and align your products with what your target market wants and needs.
Once you understand what your target audience wants, you should do is decide the category(ies) you’re going to start selling and identify popular and niche topics within each category. Then establishing relationships with publishers and distributors will help you hit two birds with one rock: gain access to high-quality books, and at the same time adhere to copyright and licensing requirements.
If you also write Islamic books, self-publishing can be a good option. Additionally, consider digital formats and eBooks. Did you know that the global ebook market is expected to reach USD 16.42 billion in 2023?
Analysing your competitors and studying their online book-selling strategies can provide you with valuable insights. In order to analyze the competition effectively, you can begin by purchasing Islamic books from various online platforms and explore their pricing, distribution, and marketing strategies.
Research Islamic books online using keywords and explore e-commerce platforms, online bookstores, and social media pages. In addition, attend industry events like book fairs or conferences to network and learn about competitors.
When you know who your competitors are, you should try to identify gaps in the market: what books are they not selling? Why is this the case? Can you sell them? This ensures that you're not competing in a saturated market.
Now that you know your target audience, your exact products, and your competitors, it’s time to set a marketing strategy. To effectively market and promote your books online, focus on building a strong online presence through social media platforms.
Work with bloggers and influencers who have a similar audience, and create targeted advertising campaigns to reach your target customers. Focus on producing content that attracts users, such as images and videos that explain what each book is about. There is no need for these videos to be long; they can be a minute or less, and they should include the most important points.
If you sell printed books, you need to manage inventory and stock levels effectively to ensure availability and timely fulfilment. Moreover, international shipping expands your customer base and allows you to provide Islamic books to readers around the globe, regardless of their location. Besides having low-cost inventory management, you should also aim for low-cost shipping. A good way to achieve this is to explore alternative shipping options beyond the post office. You can often negotiate better rates by dealing with shipping companies.
The first step to selling your books online is finding your buyers, and that's where Riwaya comes in: we connect Islamic booksellers with their target customers. Through Riwaya's strong social media presence and excellent website visibility, you will not only reach a large audience of Muslim buyers but also market your products more effectively.
Rest assured, your products will be sold securely, and here's the best part - you won't have to pay any fees upon signing up! We only charge a nominal 5% commission when your items are sold.
Become a Riwaya seller and share your unique books with the world
Successfully selling books online requires continuous analysis and adaptation. Keep track of key performance indicators such as sales figures, customer feedback, website traffic, and conversion rates. The goal of this analysis is to identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.
Depending on the results, you may wish to adjust marketing tactics, expand book offerings, or improve customer service. The key to success in the fiercely competitive landscape of online books is refining your strategy in order to maximise sales and customer satisfaction.
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