Series Read-Through Calculator
What a series reader is really worth
In a series, a reader who buys book one is worth far more than that one sale, because a share of them read on. Read-through is that share. This calculator turns book-one sales and your read-through rate into the total revenue a new reader brings, which is the number that tells you how much you can afford to spend on ads.
What is read-through rate?
Read-through is the percentage of readers who, having finished one book, buy the next. If 100 people read book one and 60 buy book two, your book-one-to-two read-through is 60%. It compounds down the series, so a strong read-through means each new reader is worth several sales, not one.
Why does read-through decide my ad budget?
Because ads are usually pointed at book one, but the revenue comes from the whole series. If a new reader is worth $12 across five books, you can profitably spend far more to acquire them than book one's royalty alone would suggest. Authors who know their read-through can bid confidently where others guess.
How do I improve read-through?
End books on a hook, put the next book's link and a sample in the back matter, keep covers and titles consistent so the series is obviously connected, and release regularly enough that readers do not forget you. Small improvements in read-through have an outsized effect because they compound across every book.
Frequently asked questions
What is read-through rate?
The percentage of readers who buy the next book after finishing one. It compounds across a series.
Why does read-through matter for ads?
Ads point at book one, but revenue comes from the whole series. Knowing a reader's total value tells you how much you can spend to acquire them.
How do I improve read-through?
End on hooks, link the next book in back matter, keep covers consistent, and release regularly.
Is this free?
Yes, and it runs in your browser.