Every publisher has them: titles that sold well once, then faded into the catalog. These backlist books already have editorial approval, proven content, and often loyal readership. Refreshing them and adding new formats cost a fraction of acquiring and launching a new title, which makes the backlist one of the most cost-effective sources of incremental revenue.
For nonprofit publishers, added income means more funding for the projects that fulfill their mission. The key is recognizing that each title calls for its own strategy. Here are some of the most affordable ways to bring older books back to life.
Update the content
A light revision can remove dated references, add current statistics, or introduce fresh anecdotes.
Update the metadata
Metadata options and standards have changed. Embedding rich metadata helps new readers find the book online.
Modernize the design
Clean, contemporary fonts and a fresh interior layout make an older book feel current. Pair those small upgrades with a new cover, and a title that looked tired can compete on today’s shelves.
Offer new formats
Large-print editions serve readers with low vision and the libraries that buy them. Upgrading an older eBook to accessible EPUB3 opens the door to European markets and to US schools, institutions, and readers who use assistive technology. Audiobooks reach listeners who may never pick up the print edition.
Translations
Translation unlocks new markets in the US and abroad, giving one manuscript many new customers. AI-assisted translation with human validation has significantly lowered translation costs while maintaining quality.
Out-of-print recovery
Recover out-of-print titles. Many publishers hold lost, damaged, or obsolete files that keep good books off the market. Rebuilding those files makes the books editable, updatable, and available for new licensing opportunities.
How Nord Compo can help
Nord Compo handles each of these steps under one roof:
- Our typesetting team can give older titles a clean, modern interior.
- We prepare accessible EPUB3 files that meet WCAG 2.1 AA legal requirements in Europe and the US.
- Our expertise extends to converting books to large print, producing audiobooks, and managing translation for new language markets.
- If your original files are missing or unusable, our out-of-print recovery service rebuilds them from a printed copy into clean, editable files you can reuse for years.
Because we work from a single source file, one investment supports many outputs: a refreshed print edition, an accessible eBook, a large-print version, and an audiobook can all grow from the same foundation. That keeps costs low and the benefits high.
Start small. Choose a handful of titles with steady demand or strong evergreen content and let us show you what a refresh can do.
Contact Nord Compo today to talk about your backlist.
