How to Conduct a Series Audit to Boost Your Book Sales and Strengthen Your Brand

Is your book series pulling its weight? Maybe you’ve got this nagging feeling something’s not quite right. It’s sitting there in your backlist, not making money, and you’re wondering if it’s even aligned with your brand anymore. If any of this rings a bell, it’s probably time for a series audit.

What’s a Series Audit?

A series audit is exactly what it sounds like. You go back and take a hard look at a book series that isn’t performing well. The goal is to figure out what’s wrong, make adjustments, and turn it into a money-maker. Every book in your catalog should have a purpose — and more often than not, that purpose is profit. If your books aren’t paying their way, it’s time to make them earn their keep.

Here’s the good news: a few tweaks could turn a mediocre series into a thriving one. Let’s break it down.

Reasons to Do a Series Audit

So, why should you bother? Here are some common reasons authors decide to do a series audit:

• It’s not selling. You’ve poured time and energy into a series, but the sales just aren’t there.
• It doesn’t fit your brand. Maybe it worked when it launched, but now it feels out of place with your other books.
• You feel it can do better. Sometimes, a series just needs a fresh coat of paint. Updated branding, a sharper focus on its niche, or even tighter storytelling can help it thrive.

Think of your books like employees. If you’re feeding them with marketing dollars, providing nice covers, and giving them shelf space, they need to start earning their paycheck.

Steps to Audit Your Series

Now that you know why a series audit matters, let’s look at what to focus on. Here are the essential steps:

1. Assess Your Covers

Covers are your series’ first impression. Are they clear and professional? Do they match the genre’s expectations? If your covers fail to signal what readers should expect, they’re driving people away before they even read the blurb.

2. Check Your Book Titles

Are your titles engaging? Do they reflect your niche well? Sometimes a dated or vague title can turn off potential buyers. Make sure it speaks directly to your audience.

3. Evaluate Your Blurbs

Your book description doesn’t just explain the plot — it sells the story. Is it enticing? Does it highlight the right key points? A killer blurb can spark curiosity and seal the deal for a purchase.

4. Align With the Right Sub-Genre

Is the series niche enough? Readers love specificity, so doubling down on a sub-genre could make your series more appealing. The tighter you aim, the easier it is to find your audience.

5. Analyze Keywords and Categories

Are you targeting the right keywords and categories on platforms like Amazon? A poor choice here can bury your series, so make sure they’re spot on. Research how your competitors in the same niche market their books.

6. Make Sure It’s Cohesive

A series should feel like a complete package. Do the covers, titles, blurbs, and branding work together? If a reader can’t immediately tell that books belong together, you may lose them before they even start.

Why Rebranding Matters

Sometimes a series audit goes beyond minor fixes and calls for a complete rebrand. This might mean new covers, updated metadata, or even fresh edits to the books themselves. A rebrand breathes new life into stale series and can reopen it to a broader audience.

The author behind this process shares her own experience of rebooting her brand from the ground up. With over 200 books published, she’s focused on making sure every title aligns with a tighter niche while hitting the right sub-genre. Her goal? To turn each book into a steady earner. After all, if you’re investing time and money into your catalog, it should be paying off.

The Role of Audits in Building a Sustainable Author Career

A series audit isn’t just about improving short-term sales. It’s a long-term strategy to ensure your backlist supports your overall career goals. Every series should contribute to your brand and help pull in more readers.

Struggling series aren’t failures — they’re opportunities. By auditing and optimizing, every book in your inventory has the potential to become a key part of your success.

Final Thoughts

If a series isn’t living up to its potential, an audit might be just what it needs. Start by evaluating covers, titles, blurbs, and category placements. Consider aligning the series more tightly with a specific sub-genre. And don’t shy away from drastic changes if the results will be worth it.

Remember, your books represent your brand. Make sure they’re doing the work they’re meant to do — turning readers into fans and boosting your income along the way.

Got questions or want to share your experience? Drop them in the comments below and subscribe to Finding Your Indie for more tips on building a successful author career!