The simplest way to sell your book online in Nigeria is to give it one page with a price, put the link on WhatsApp, and let readers pay by bank transfer. Everything else (Instagram, your own website, an email list) is a different place to share the same link.
This guide shows how to set up that page, how to price single copies and bundles, how to share the link so people act, and how to deliver books without carrying boxes yourself.
Step 1: Make one page that does the selling
A reader who clicks your link should see, in this order: the cover, the title, the price, how many copies are already ordered, the date the book ships, and a short description. A Kobo book page has all of that, plus a progress bar, your author note and a button that shares the page on WhatsApp.
- Cover first. People buy a book they can picture. Use a clean mock-up or the real cover.
- One sentence that answers “why this book?” before the longer description.
- Formatting that is easy to read. Short paragraphs, a heading or two, and a list work better than a long block of text.
- A real ship date. Readers need to know when to expect their copy.
Step 2: Price single copies and bundles
Work from your print cost. In the Kobo price calculator, a 100-page A5 black-and-white paperback with a laminated cover costs ₦137,500 for 25 copies (₦5,250 a copy) on 22 October 2026. If you sell each copy at ₦10,000 and Kobo keeps 7%, you keep about ₦4,050 a copy before delivery (₦10,000 minus ₦5,250 minus ₦700).
Add two bundles:
- 5 copies for readers buying gifts or sharing with friends.
- 10 copies for churches, schools, book clubs and companies.
Make each bundle cheaper per copy than buying singly. It raises the average order and helps you reach the 25-copy minimum sooner.
Step 3: Share the link where your readers already are
WhatsApp first
Most Nigerian readers can be reached on WhatsApp, and a personal message is hard to ignore. Send the link to people one by one with a line that sounds like you: why you wrote the book and why it might matter to them. Post it to your status and to groups where the topic fits, once, with the progress bar visible.
Instagram, Facebook and X
Post the cover, one line from the book, and the link in your bio. Tell the story behind the book across a few posts rather than repeating the same advert.
Your own website or blog
If you have a site, add a button that links to your book page. Kobo gives you a small piece of code you can paste in as a link, so you do not need a shop plugin.
Email and communities
Tell your mailing list, your church or association, your alumni group or your professional network. Give them the date the campaign ends.
Step 4: Take payment the simple way
For readers in Nigeria, bank transfer is the most familiar way to pay. On a Kobo book page, each order gets a reference and an exact amount to transfer, and the payment is confirmed against the bank’s credit alert. Bank transfer has no fee. Where card payments are switched on, the reader pays a small card fee, shown as its own line, so your earnings and Kobo’s 7% are never reduced by it.
Step 5: Let someone else print and deliver
You do not need a garage of boxes. When enough readers have ordered, Kobo Publishing prints your book (from 25 copies, ready in 5–7 working days after file approval and payment) and ships a copy to each reader. Delivery is charged by area and shown before the reader pays. You can read how the print side works in print on demand versus bulk printing in Nigeria.
Step 6: Keep selling after launch
- Thank your readers and ask them to share their copy with a photo.
- Keep your link in your bio and in your WhatsApp profile so new people can always find the book.
- Look at your numbers. Your book page shows views, orders, readers and revenue, and you can download your buyers as a spreadsheet.
- Run another campaign when you are ready to reprint, with a fresh deadline.
Write the message that sells
Most sales happen in a private message, so write one you can copy and adapt. A good message has four parts: a greeting that sounds like you, one line about what the book is, one line about why the reader will care, and the link with the date the campaign ends.
For example: “Hi Ada, I have finished my book on starting a small business with little money. I am taking pre-orders until 30 November and the first 25 copies will be printed straight after. Here is the page, and I would love your support.” Then stop. Do not paste three paragraphs. If the person replies with a question, answer it and send the link again.
What to put in your Instagram and Facebook posts
- Week 1: announce the book with the cover and the link, and tell the story of why you wrote it.
- Week 2: share one idea, quote or short extract from the book and invite people to pre-order.
- Week 3: post the progress bar and thank the first readers (with their permission).
- Final days: remind people that the campaign closes on its date.
Common questions readers ask before they pay
Answer these on your page and in your messages before readers have to ask: When will I get the book? How much is delivery to my area? Can I buy for a friend? What if the book is delayed? A reader who has the answers pays; a reader who has to wait for a reply often forgets.
How much will you earn?
Work it out before you start. With a selling price of ₦10,000, a print cost of ₦5,250 and Kobo’s 7% (₦700), you keep ₦4,050 on each copy. Twenty-five copies earn about ₦101,250. Bundles lower your price per copy a little but raise the number of copies per order, so check the total. The book page shows this calculation for your own book before you publish.
A checklist before you share your link
- The cover looks right on a phone.
- The price covers your print cost and Kobo’s fee.
- You have a single-copy price and at least one bundle.
- The ship date is realistic.
- You have written the first message you will send to ten people.
If you have not yet decided how many copies to print, read how many copies of your book you should print first. If you would rather test demand before printing anything, see how to pre-sell your book in Nigeria.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way to sell a book online in Nigeria?
Give every book one page with a price and a link, and send that link to people on WhatsApp. A direct message to someone who already knows you sells more than a general post.
Do I need my own website to sell my book?
No. A Kobo book page is a complete shop for one book: cover, description, price, bundles, a progress bar and a share button. If you do have a website, you can put a button on it that links to your book page.
How do readers pay?
By bank transfer to Kobo Publishing with an order reference, or by card where card payments are on. Bank transfer has no fee. If a reader pays by card, the small card fee is shown as its own line.
What should I charge?
Start from your print cost. Check it in the Kobo price calculator, add your profit, and remember Kobo keeps 7% of each reader sale. Offer a single copy and a bundle so readers can choose.
How are books delivered to readers?
Kobo Publishing prints your book and ships a copy to each reader. Delivery is charged by area and shown to the reader before they pay.
How do I get paid?
Your earnings go to your balance. You withdraw once a month from ₦20,000, and our staff approve each withdrawal.