I've always wondered about this. Have you?
BEST SELLER! of what? where?
So, you've seen it. The countless authors post, advertisement for books, and front cover blurbs screaming...I'M A BEST SELLER (so you should by my books).
However, there isn't any explaination of what you are a best seller of? Amazon? B&N? Paperback books? Where you on what best seller list?
I don't even stop to consider the what, the where or the why. BUT what I do is, I 'take notice' and store it in the back of my mind with my expectation that 'THIS BOOK WILL BE GOOD'.
EXPECTATIONS
So, when you see a book or an author shouting that they are a best - seller, do you have HIGH expectations?
Are you angry when they aren't met?
Well I am a little miffed.
WHY I DON'T SHOUT about my BEST SELLER successes
I personally feel as though a reader is already picky. If they enjoy the genre, they back cover blurb, and specific elements of my work, me shoving in their face that 'everyone else liked it - so will you' will make no difference.
With that said, I have topped some Amazon's sales charts as a best seller. I even have the pictures to prove it, lol! And to me it means a lot because that was a dream realized.
AS A READER....DOES IT MATTER TO YOU?
5 comments:
I don't really notice the best seller claims, unless it's topping one of my favourite newspapers...but to be honest I read most books so close to their publication I just feel justified when one of my favourites subsequently ends up as a bestseller.
I have a best seller I want to share with folks. It's MY best seller. I sold 12 copies, because my only other sold 7. :D
I've been on Amazon's best seller lists too, but I don't say I'm a best seller. If I ever make the USA Today or NY Times best seller lists, then I'll shout it. :)
"Best seller" can be vague and quite useful as a marketing tool. I do have to admit, I would be excited if any of my books made that coveted list. Anytime someone I don't know gives me an unsolicited thumbs-up, it's special because my writing has been validated.
I don't care how well it's sold. I want to know if it is my kind of book or not. ;) However, it is a neat milestone to reach for the author, and they deserve to be proud of that. Just won't necessarily make me buy the book. :)
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