How to Sell Books on Substack (Without Breaking the Rules)

Hey fellow authors. Let’s talk about something we all face: how to sell our books. We pour our hearts into our stories, crafting characters, plots, and ideas that matter, and then we hit that harsh reality: selling them is tough. Very few of us get that big movie deal or hit the million-copy mark right out of the gate.

But here’s the thing. The game is changing. Platforms like Substack are giving authors like us a way to connect directly with readers and yes, actually sell books. Those small, steady sales can add up to a living. I’m not talking about overnight riches but about building something sustainable, one post, one subscriber, one book at a time.

So let’s talk about how to sell your books on Substack without crossing the line because yes, there are rules, and why it’s worth the effort.

✅ What’s Allowed on Substack (and Why It Matters)

First things first. Substack is built to help writers share their work with the world and build a community of readers who love what you do. That means you absolutely can sell books here, but you have to do it in a way that adds value to your readers, not just hit them with “buy my book” on repeat.

Here’s what Substack says is fair game:

👉 Share excerpts or serialized content. Give readers a taste of what’s inside your books—a chapter, a scene, a behind-the-scenes look. This builds trust and excitement.

👉 Announce new releases. When your next book hits the shelves, let your subscribers know. They’re here because they want to support your journey.

👉 Discuss your writing process. People love seeing how the sausage gets made. Share your creative struggles, your inspiration, your triumphs.

👉 Offer exclusive content. Paid subscribers? Give them bonus chapters, sneak peeks, or special discounts. Make them feel like insiders.

👉 Include links to buy. Whether it’s Amazon, Gumroad, or your own website, direct links make it easy for readers to support you.

👉 Use free and paid newsletters. You can monetize your writing directly through subscriptions or by offering free posts that build trust and grow your audience.

⚠️ What’s Not Allowed (and Why You Should Care)

Substack doesn’t want to become a giant ad platform. That means there are lines you can’t cross, and it’s important to respect them.

🚫 No spammy, sales-only posts. If all you ever post is “buy my book” in different ways, your readers will tune out and Substack might too.

🚫 No pure traffic funnels. If your entire newsletter is just a redirection to other sites, that’s not what Substack is for.

🚫 Avoid repetitive sales content. Some authors have gotten violation notices for putting a sales link at the bottom of every post without adding any real content. That’s a red flag.

The key is to focus on building a relationship with your readers, not just pushing a product.

💡 Best Practices for Selling Books on Substack

So how do you actually sell books while keeping Substack happy and your readers engaged?

✅ Integrate promotions naturally. Instead of shouting “Buy now!” every post, share a great story or a behind-the-scenes anecdote and then mention where readers can buy the full book.

✅ Mix up your content. Keep it fresh with writing tips, personal stories, Q&A sessions, and sneak peeks. Give readers a reason to open every post.

✅ Build community. Use comments, polls, and Q&As to invite readers into your world. People buy from authors they trust, and trust is built through connection.

✅ Use Substack’s features. Subscriber-only posts are perfect for special offers, early-bird discounts, or pre-orders.

✅ Stay consistent. One post a week, every two weeks, whatever works for you. Just keep showing up.

💪 Why We Do This

Here’s the honest truth. Most authors won’t get rich off one book. But that’s okay. Substack lets us build something real, one post at a time. Instead of praying for a bestseller, we can

✨ Sell books to loyal readers.
✨ Get paid for sharing our journey.
✨ Earn small, steady payments that add up across readers, posts, and platforms.

It might start small, but small, consistent effort is how you build a living. Keep writing. Keep sharing. Make Substack part of your daily authorship. Post about your process on social media. Invite readers to be part of your story.

This is how we thrive, not just as authors, but as creators who connect directly with the people who matter most, our readers.

If you’d like to support me (which would mean the world!), please check out my portfolio of books on Amazon. I write about motivation, self-help, real estate, investment, banking, and economics. Here’s the link: https://www.amazon.com/author/willemtait.