A Journey of Selling My 500th Book: Reflections on Advertising
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Chapter 1: Milestone Reflections
Today marks a significant milestone: I’ve sold my 500th book. While part of me feels ecstatic enough to pop open a bottle of champagne, another part can’t help but ponder, "What if?"
The reason for my contemplation? Amazon's algorithm determined that my book was too "political" to be advertised. In a year rife with political tension, especially during the 2020 elections, I understood the sensitivities, but my book is a light-hearted children's satire! If Gulliver could navigate Lilliput, why couldn't I explore politics through whimsical illustrations?
The frustration deepened as I noticed actual political books comfortably occupying prime advertising spots on Amazon. Was my satire simply too bold for their taste?
Despite the setbacks, I persisted without paid promotions. I wrote articles, shared posts on social media, and reached out to anyone who had shown even a hint of interest in my work. Some readers from three years ago might recall my enthusiastic campaign. That effort paid off, resulting in approximately 150 sales in the first month, much to my delight. Strangers from distant places like Finland and Florida were ordering copies, whether they displayed my book with pride or relegated it to the trash—like a certain Reddit user might have done!
Here I am, three years later, celebrating 500 sales.
Section 1.1: The Numbers Game
Curious about how my sales measure up, I checked my book’s ranking on Amazon:
- #223,807 in Books
- #422 in Political Fiction
- #1,325 in Fiction Satire
- #1,492 in Humorous Fiction
Not too shabby for a self-published piece of children’s satire, I suppose. However, considering the staggering number of around 4 million titles published in 2022, I realize it’s a different landscape now compared to 2005, when only 282,500 new titles were released.
But at least the total revenue from book sales must be on the rise, right?
The answer is a complex one. In 2022, the American book industry amassed about $25.7 billion, a slight increase from $25.3 billion in 2000. However, adjusting for inflation reveals a real revenue decline of 38%. Ouch.
So, with fierce competition and stagnant revenue, how does my 500 book sales compare to the average author?
I’m glad you asked! According to industry analyst Kristen McLean, over the past 52 weeks, less than 10% of books sold more than 5,000 copies. To earn a decent income—let’s say six figures—an author would likely need to sell over 50,000 copies. Shockingly, only 483 books out of approximately 4 million achieved that in 2022!
We writers are indeed playing a high-stakes lottery!
Subsection 1.1.1: The What-If Scenario
What if I had been able to advertise like my politically savvy peers? A professional writer friend always insists that advertising is essential for making money in this game. I often wondered if, with a little financial push, my sales could’ve increased by 20% to 40%. Turns out, I may have been overly optimistic.
A recent antitrust lawsuit against Amazon revealed that advertised products are 46 times more likely to be clicked compared to non-advertised ones! Just imagine—if I’d sold 500 copies, that could have potentially translated to over 23,000 sales.
With my current revenue barely exceeding $1,000, I can only dream of what it would be like to approach $46,000.
Chapter 2: The Advertising Dilemma
It's become evident that successful sellers on Amazon often allocate 10% to 20% of their sales to ads. Interestingly, Amazon's advertising sector has emerged as its fastest-growing division, with revenue soaring by 22% year-over-year.
Since around the mid-2010s, Amazon has shifted its focus from organic search to advertising. This change has led to a cycle where sellers, facing declining sales, ramp up their ad spending, only to see their profits eroded by rising costs.
In 2022, Amazon held an astounding 82.3% market share among major online retailers. This monopolistic grip has driven prices up across many products, all while consumers grapple with the effects of inflation.
If Jeff Bezos is correct in saying that “advertising is the price you pay for having an unremarkable product,” then it seems Amazon's catalog is filled with subpar items.
But there’s more to this story!
Section 2.1: A New Endeavor
After a rollercoaster of insights and algorithmic encounters, I’ve finally found the motivation to write another book! Yes, despite my tendency to procrastinate, I've been working on a new project titled "Should I Sell My Soul to Jeff?"
As they say, “If you can’t beat them, join them.” For this next venture, I’m prepared to embrace advertising, even if it means compromising a bit.
To the purists who might call me a "sellout," I have two responses:
- You’re right.
- It’s better to sell out than never sell at all!
If a touch of commercialism allows my work to reach more readers, then I’m all in. As I negotiate my future, I promise that regardless of how my book reaches you—whether through ads, organic searches, or even dubious dealings—it will be filled with the same wit and charm you’ve come to expect.
So stay tuned for another children's satire picture book coming your way soon!
Written by J.J. Pryor
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