Glossary
Sell-through
Also called series sell-through
Sell-through is the share of readers who buy the next book in a series, or another book by the same author, after buying the one before.
What it means
Authors work out sell-through by comparing sales. If 1,000 readers bought book one and 600 bought book two, sell-through from book one to book two is 60%. The figures in this example are made up to show the sum; real numbers vary a lot by genre and series.
Book publishers also use “sell-through” for the share of copies shipped to bookstores that actually sold, rather than coming back as returns.
A fantasy author might track sell-through across a six-book series to see where readers stop. A nonfiction author with a beginner and an advanced guide might track how many beginners move up. A children’s author might look at whether parents who buy one picture book come back for the next.
Why it matters when you sell direct
Sell-through tells you what a new reader is worth. If most readers go on to book two and three, it can make sense to price book one low, or bundle the first three.
On your own store, you can see sell-through for your own buyers, and you can act on it: send a follow-up email to readers who own book one but not book two, or offer them a bundle that charges only for the books they lack.
How Lanternbee handles it
Sales reports show what sold by title, format and day. You can build reader segments such as “owns book one” and send those readers a broadcast. A series follow-up email can point readers to the next book. Bundles charge readers less for books they already own from your store.