How Can You Sell Books Made with Blurb?

Updated

Blurb gives you four ways to sell a book you've made, and you can start with one channel and add others as you grow. The two most direct options are the Instant Store, which sells through a single shareable link with no website required, and Retail Distribution, which lists your book on Amazon and the Blurb Bookstore for maximum reach. Selling is optional: you can also simply print copies for yourself, family, or friends.

The Four Sales Channels at a Glance

Blurb describes four ways to sell, framed as a set of channels you can combine over time. The page evidence details two of them directly:

Channel Best for How it works
Instant Store Getting started fast Sell directly to readers with one shareable link; no website needed, no hidden fees, and up to 70% lower print costs than Blurb retail pricing
Retail Distribution Maximum reach List your book on Amazon and the Blurb Bookstore to reach a broader audience
Additional channels Growing your sales Blurb presents these as options to add as your needs expand

The page names four channels in total but only fully describes the first two, so treat the remaining two as options to explore on Blurb's site rather than as documented features here.

Option 1: Instant Store

This is the lowest-friction path. You don't need to build or host a website. Blurb provides a single link you share with readers, and they buy directly through it.

Two details matter for your decision:

  • Cost structure: Blurb states there are "no hidden fees" and that print costs can be up to 70% lower than Blurb retail pricing. The page does not specify the exact fee or royalty structure, so confirm current terms on Blurb's pricing page before committing.
  • Best fit: creators who want to test demand or sell to a known audience (a class, a client list, friends and family) without managing a storefront.

Option 2: Retail Distribution

Choose this when reach matters more than speed. Your book is listed on Amazon and the Blurb Bookstore, putting it in front of buyers who are already searching those platforms. The trade-off is less direct control over the buyer relationship than an Instant Store link gives you.

A Practical Path: Start Small, Then Expand

A sensible sequence for most creators:

  1. Print a proof copy first. Blurb prints on demand, so you can order one book to check quality before selling.
  2. Open an Instant Store and share the link with your existing audience.
  3. Add Retail Distribution once you have a finished book and want broader discovery.
  4. Add further channels as volume grows.

Volume discounts begin at 10 copies, which matters if you plan to sell in person or fulfill orders yourself rather than relying on per-order printing.

Selling Is Not Required

Blurb's print-on-demand model works fine for personal projects. You can order a single copy for yourself or extra copies to share, with no storefront at all. If your goal is a family keepsake or a portfolio, skip the sales setup entirely.

What to Check Before You Decide

  • Current pricing and fees: the pricing page is the authoritative source; the page evidence gives starting prices for formats (photo books from US $12.00, paperback and hardcover from US $4.99, magazines from US $7.00, notebooks and journals from US $14.67) but not the full selling cost breakdown.
  • Format fit: photo books are described as the most premium format with multiple trim sizes and paper types, while paperbacks and hardcovers suit text-heavy projects like novels and cookbooks.
  • Your audience: an existing following favors the Instant Store; strangers searching online favor Retail Distribution.