UK Amazon Kindle Forum discussion
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Sales figures for e-books
Who is Neilson and how can they track book sales?Amazon don't release their sales figures.
I admit I only skimmed the article.
Thanks for that Jaci. I learned something!But, and please correct me if I'm wrong, ebooks don't require ISBNs?
If so, how can they track them?
And if they're being told only the title and price, how can they give figures for numbers sold?
Must do.I'd just really like to know proper numbers of ebooks sold.
It's all guesswork, I think.
Patti - e-books can have ISBNs - if you publish via Smashwords you'll get one. Amazon does not require an ISBN for e-books, giving them instead an ASIN.
I'm unsure about Nielsen's data on e-book sales. Amazon never reveals its sales figures to anybody and are by far the largest global seller of e-books. Until they do, it is guesswork as you say.
Amazon is the real problem when it comes to getting figures and being a nasty cynical person I wonder why.Assuming that Amazon is mainly interested in getting volume for Kindle (not quality as it makes no attempt to get quality,) probably so Kindle does well in the 'platform wars' what would producing sales figures do?
My cynical thought is that if a lot lot of potential authors thought that they'd get less than a fiver for all their work, they'd stick to writing fan fiction on forums or similar.
Without actual numbers, it's going to be guesswork. But Amazon do show sales ranking for all books, and we do have tables that equate sales ranking to sales. So with some data mining, we can get some idea, at least in terms of percentages if not hard cash.http://authorearnings.com has done that and published several reports on its findings.
Tim wrote: "Without actual numbers, it's going to be guesswork. But Amazon do show sales ranking for all books, and we do have tables that equate sales ranking to sales. So with some data mining, we can get so..."It's still conjecture, though.
Not entirely. it's a fair representation of the state of play at the time that the data set was extracted. But Amazon does update its rankings, supposedly every hour, so it's really just a snapshot, a peek through the keyhole if you like. And yes, you can't extrapolate a whole week/month/year from a single datum.But as the archaeologist Howard Carter famously once said, "Cor blimey, look at the bling on that!"
Tim wrote: "Without actual numbers, it's going to be guesswork. But Amazon do show sales ranking for all books, and we do have tables that equate sales ranking to sales. So with some data mining, we can get so..."Just taken a quick peek at the link, Tim. Thanks for this. I'll return to it later.
Jim wrote: "Saw the article http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014... which is probably encouraging for those who self-publish.Except for one little bit
..."
Ha! And I was thinking it was just us! ..........we're already in the double figures so it can't be too bad!
I was thinking something like that L.A.But then we're on Goodreads and even if we're not promoting people might get interested enough to look at the book. I suspect there are thousands of 'writers' who don't do anything at all
I guess you must be right Jim. But still, thank goodness I enjoy the day job almost as much as the writing!
L.A. wrote: "I guess you must be right Jim. But still, thank goodness I enjoy the day job almost as much as the writing!"Always a good sign :-)
There is a figure that gets quoted a lot saying that self published authors earn less than $500 a year. Given that some make a ton, it suggests that a lot sell very, very few.I would say that, looking at posts in here and elsewhere, many self published books make virtually no sales once friends and family are removed.
Obviously a lot of people write purely for the creative pleasure. I wrote one just for the hell of seeing it on Amazon and the joy of completing it. Now I take the whole thing much more seriously as it is generating income worth having and I aim to publish two a year until my fingers fall off.
Perhaps indie writers should be looked at as two different breeds. Like people who run marathons, there are those who have a time target to beat and those who are ecstatic when they just across the line.
Success isn't all about numbers, I suppose.
Scott wrote: "There is a figure that gets quoted a lot saying that self published authors earn less than $500 a year. Given that some make a ton, it suggests that a lot sell very, very few.I would say that, lo..."
I'm all for targets, and beat my first marathon time in my second (first one was a mistake.....but that's another story, so the time was one to beat). How did you get to the point of selling well? That's a target worth having too!
Scott wrote: "There is a figure that gets quoted a lot saying that self published authors earn less than $500 a year. Given that some make a ton, it suggests that a lot sell very, very few.I would say that, lo..."
Nothing changes. I was a Society of Authors member for quite a few years (pre ebook) and they always reported on the dire earnings of the vast majority of their writers. At least ebooks have given more options and a chance to at least cover our costs.
Yup, ebooks must be a revolution to anyone who wrote through the days when publishers owned the game.For me, it is all about trying to produce the best book possible in the hope that this is what drives readers. I must admit I find the self promotion advice you find for authors to be pretty embarrassing. Do people really read all those author blogs and respond positively when authors find wYs to plug their work on discussions about other topics? I have tried to follow this advice, but it feels very lame.
The less I talk about books the more people read my blog Scott :-)Although one exception is when I did two blog posts, one on costs of producing a book and the other on marketing, the authors ALL flooded in to read it :-)
But authors reading other authors blogs does nothing for sales - they're generally not interested in your actual work...
I'm running the marathon dressed as a banana.
Tim wrote: "But authors reading other authors blogs does nothing for sales - they're generally not interested in your actual work..."Exactly. I suppose that if I lured enough authors to your blog it might be time to unveil my book, 'How to sell millions of e-books and become disgustingly rich.' Trouble is, I'd have to disable the 'look inside' feature because the book would consist of one page, and in big writing it would read 'Dunno really :-( '
;-)
Bob wrote: "I'm running the marathon dressed as a banana."Have fliers advertising your book glued to the banana and then bite and international footballer.
I had friends round for most of yesterday, and the conversation inevitably turned to books and how well are you doing (usual trite non-answer - I'm not going to tell everyone I've only sold 3 books this month!). Showed them the paperbacks, lots of appreciative cooing. And how did it end? "Can I BORROW one to take on holiday?"Sheesh!
Another comment I've had is 'Alex bought one, I'll borrow his copy'
And then they look at you all shocked when you say no.
This thread flushes out loads of issues... But, I do think authors are just as good as any reader out there! I read a LOT and have advocated many indie writers who I found whilst promoting my own books. The ones I don't enjoy, I don't tend to review.So long as you enjoy what you are doing you should keep going... Does anyone do a marathon for FUN? We are all suckers for punishment, stretching ourselves to our limits. That's what it's about for me. If I have not tried my hardest then there was no point doing it in the first place. If I had no intention of getting feedback I should have not published, and kept it for myself. Once you put it out there, you intend to share it & this does not happen by magic!
I am glad I first published via smashwords, Mark Coker gave some amazing advice and set the platform for me. He made it clear sales don't just happen. Amazon don't do this, they let anyone publish anything - no real control! Smashwords will not make your book premium status until you meet certain criteria. Again, I learnt a lot from this.
But, ultimately... It's all about books & reading. I love reading, writing came about because of it. I know for a fact I will never be as good as some of my favourite authors, I can not write like them. It's not competition, we all have a different way to express ourselves.
I have to admit that I see many ruthless authors out there who obviously do it for the money (& succeed). I say good luck to them... I just don't like fake reviews!
Have a great Sunday all :)
As for sales... My smashwords sales are finally coming up against my amazon ones... Yes! :)Having a free book out permanently does help, but you will not get massive sales on specific days unless you promote via another site!
Phew - hope that made sense! I just read two different threads when writing this!
Vanessa
I have been 100% Amazon KDP since I started writing. What is the big advantage of Smashwords and does using Smashwords not have a major negative impact on your Amazomn KDP status?
If you're on Smashwords, you can't enrol in Select (same as with any other store)
Hmmm, I get a lot of benefit from the KDP Select option. If I run a freebie, I can get ab out 1,000 copies out there and that must e good for reviews.The Countdown deals also pump up the sales, but are actually profitable.
Looks like I will not be a Smashwords author any time soon.
As a reader, I like knowing a book is also available on Smashwords because of their quality requirements.I still buy from amazon though. I find downloading from Smashwords to be a faff,
Patti (baconater) wrote: "As a reader, I like knowing a book is also available on Smashwords because of their quality requirements.I still buy from amazon though. I find downloading from Smashwords to be a faff,"
THAT's interesting. Before I looked to publish, I'd never even heard of Smashwords.
Jim wrote: "Bob wrote: "I'm running the marathon dressed as a banana."Have fliers advertising your book glued to the banana and then bite and international footballer."
Reminds me of another discussion where writers were mulling over which law they could break to get a mention in the local paper. Not much happens where I live. I might go and park on a double yellow or something.
Could always tape fliers to the lamp posts - "Have you seen this book?"
Tim wrote: "Could always tape fliers to the lamp posts - "Have you seen this book?""I like that idea, Tim!
You should do it.
Oh and get photos of the flyers on the trees and post them on Buzzfeed and tickld n such. Make them go viral.
Bob wrote: "Reminds me of another discussion where writers were mulling over which law they could break to get a mention in the local paper. Not much happens where I live. I might go and park on a double yellow or something. ..."I genuinely did laugh out loud at that one :-)
Patti (baconater) wrote: "Tim wrote: "Could always tape fliers to the lamp posts - "Have you seen this book?""I like that idea, Tim!
You should do it."
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Just need to get printing... :)
Smashwords is a great option for someone new to self-publishing, but the sales giant is amazon! Saying that... My sales on smashwords have picked up recently, so if you have a series or trilogy it is highly recommended. It allows you to put your book free permanently since amazon price match.I am not saying it has enabled the kind of sales many of you talk about, but in my genre it works!
I do have to add that promoting a free book permanently is hard work - at least with KDP you plan it, promote & then are done. Mine is constant... If I don't promote downloads instantly drop!
Although, I need to move on really... The game is getting boring!
Next book please - ha! :)
Hope this helps - if you have any questions give me a shout...
Vanessa wrote: Hope this helps - if you have any questions give me a shout...It certainly does help, thank you. When you say 'promote' what do you do? I know I'll have to, just don't want to. :-/ I'd sooner dress as a banana.
I couldn't possibly dress as a banana - though an apple might do it! The beauty of self publishing (for me) was that it showed me in the first week that I must have had more friends than I thought. :)I hope they stayed that way after they read it! ;)
Tim wrote: "Patti (baconater) wrote: "Tim wrote: "Could always tape fliers to the lamp posts - "Have you seen this book?""I like that idea, Tim!
You should do it."
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/......"
Do you mind if I ask what type of promotion pays off? I am very dubious about blogging and hate it when writers highjack threads in order to promote their own books.
Lisa wrote: "I couldn't possibly dress as a banana - though an apple might do it! The beauty of self publishing (for me) was that it showed me in the first week that I must have had more friends than I thought...."Mm. I have no friends. None who know me as Bob Summer anyway. That's why I need to park on the double yellow, as a banana.
Might even make the telly!
Edit to add
I'm with you, Scott. I do blog but only on a 'as I feel like it' basis. The most visitors I've had was when I posted a picture of my parsnips so not sure what that tells us.
I only get traffic on my blog if I talk about movies. Mention anything I wrote and the traffic plummets!
Perhaps you should write a book about parsnips, Tim.
Those are some dirty parsnips.Mmmmmmparsnipsmmmmmmm
Quick dunk in the water butt and they were good to go.I'm from the 'little bit of dirt never hurt you' school of thought. Builds up the immune system etc.
Except for one little bit
"18m self-published titles purchased, worth £59m,"
By my reckoning this means the average self-published book nets £3.27.
Even if 6m of the self-published titles are free this means the average purchased on brings in £4.91
That means that an awful lot aren't hitting double figures