The Wind in Your Sales

Every author hopes their book will become a best-seller. It's a lofty goal that has positive implications. If a writer is enthusiastic about their message, they will promote it with great enthusiasm.

Before we talk about what makes a best-seller, we should define the term. According to industry standards, a non-fiction book is considered a bestseller when it reaches 5000 copies sold (7500 for fiction titles). That may not seem like a lot, but consider that most published books don't reach these levels. Certainly national bestsellers can reach millions of copies sold, but understand that bestsellers come in all different shapes and sizes.

What are the factors that affect how many copies a book will sell? There are many, but here are seven of the most important ones. The more of these that apply to your book, the more copies it will likely sell:

1. A Hot Topic or Breakthrough Idea: One of the greatest factors that affects book sales is the subject matter. A hot topic can be more saleable than a celebrity byline. You have to ask yourself: Is what I'm writing about relevant to my potential readers? Is it something they desperately want (and not just need) to read about?

2. A Ready Audience: The size of your potential audience, their interest in reading books, and their ability/willingness to buy books all affect how many books can be sold relative to your subject matter. Know your readers' buying habits!

3. Enthusiastic Author Promotion: If you're excited about your book, the enthusiasm will be infectious! Successful book promotion depends on continued investment of your time, resources, and team effort for at least two years. It won't happen overnight.

4. Word-of-Mouth Recommendation: The benefits of your book must excite readers to the point where they highly recommend it to others. When such a recommendation comes from a trusted pastor or friend, it will carry a lot of weight. When readers have the opportunity to hear you speak, it also has a positive effect on book sales.

5. Reasonably Priced: A recent survey indicated that half of Christian book buyers consider price to be a major factor in their book purchasing decision. Your book must be reasonably priced in comparison to other titles.

6. Effective Cover Design and Copy: What do buyers first see when considering a book purchase? The cover, of course. You have a few seconds to get their attention and pique their interest, or you've lost them!

7. The Lord's Favor: Last, but not least, having the Lord's blessing on your book (and your life) determines not only how many books will sell but also how great an impact your message will have on your readers' lives.

Will your book become a bestseller? It could, if you pay attention to these seven factors. Sadly, many authors write for themselves rather than for their market. Don't make this mistake if you want your message to reach the widest possible audience!

Book Buzz Blog
The Book Buzz Blog provides resources to help you market your short-run book.