Most Self-Published Books Don't Sell

I've heard, many times, people say things like: "Most self-published books only sell a handful, to family and friends." Or: "Don't spend money on editing and cover art, you'll never sell enough to re-coup the costs."

This kind of talk rubs me the wrong way. I don't know why. I guess because I know so many authors selling really well on Amazon. I mean, REALLY well.

Let's take a look at some numbers.

Here's a current rough estimate of how many books you sell a day to get a certain rank on Amazon.

1 day/ rank 175,625
5 day/ rank 28,711
10 day/ rank 13,161
15 day/ rank 8,340
25 day/ rank 4,693
50 day/ rank 2,151
100 day/ rank 986
200 day/rank 452
300 day/ rank 287
400 day/ rank 207
500 day/ rank 161
1000 day/ rank 74
2000 day/ rank 34
3000 day/ rank 21

(Data gathered from here. From what authors are reporting, this gets you in the ballpark.)

Looking at that chart, that means if a self-published book has a rank of 13,161 or better, that book is selling 10 or more copies a day.

If that book is priced at $2.99, that's earning the author $600 (or more) each month.

Even if that book is priced at $.99, that's still earning $105 (or more) each month.

But if the rank is in the top 1,000, that means the author is selling in the 100 copies a day range. Wow. That's $1,000 a month for a 99 cent book, or $6,000 a month for a $2.99 book. That's some serious cash! You can't tell me those authors are only selling to family and friends. These are authors selling tons of books and earning real money.

Even at just 10 copies a day, that's selling 300 books a month. 3,600 books a year. You can't tell me those are only to family and friends. These are real authors selling real books to real customers.

Now, how many self-published books are actually selling? WAY more than those nay-sayers are leading you to believe. Here are links to books that are currently ranked better than 13,161 in the Amazon store.

This list is in no particular order, and of course the figures listed here will be outdated an hour after I type it, but I wanted to document the books and their current rankings as of the time of this post.

1. Reapers by Edward W. Robertson - Rank 1,576 - $2.99

2. The Breakers Series by Edward W. Robertson - Rank 257 - $.99

3. The Cutting Room by Edward W. Robertson - Rank 2,814 - $.99

4. Whiskey Sour by Liliana Hart - Rank 2,004 - $4.99

5. Whiskey for Breakfast by Liliana Hart - Rank 2,020 - $4.99

6. A Dirty Shame by Liliana Hart - Rank 582 - $4.99

7. Dirty Rotten Scoundrel by Liliana Hart - Rank 665 - $4.99

8. Shadows and Silk by Liliana Hart - Rank 1,608 - $4.99

9. Secrets and Satin by Liliana Hart - Rank 2,364 - $4.99

10. Sins and Scarlet Lace by Liliana Hart - Rank 765 - $.99

11. Sizzle by Liliana Hart - Rank 616 - $4.99

12. Kill Shot by Liliana Hart - Rank 3,112 - $4.99

13. Wool Omnibus by Hugh Howey - Rank 285 - $5.99

14. The Italian Billionaires Twin Pack by Jennifer Blake - Rank 3,375 - $2.99

15. The Seasons Series by Denise Domning - Rank 4,478 - $2.99

16. Shoot to Kill (a boxed set with four indie authors) - Rank 457 - $.99

17. Magic, Myth and Majesty (a boxed set with seven indie authors) - Rank 2,763 - $.99

18. Pirate Hearts (boxed set with three indie authors) - Rank 1,868 - $.99

19. A Highlander for Christmas by Christina Skye and Debbie Mocomber - Rank 3,355 - $2.99

20. Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie She's Dead by Christiana Miller - Rank 4,585 - $3.99

21. Operation Breakout by Mark E. Cooper - Rank 5,007 - $4.99

22. King of Swords by Russel Blake - Rank 6,177 - $3.97

23. Jet by Russel Blake - Rank 1,858 - $2.99

24. Z-Risen by Timothy W. Long - Rank 3,716 - $3.99

25. Just Good Friends by Rosalind James - Rank 5,842 - $3.99

26. Just For Now by Rosalind James - Rank 1,094 - $.99

27. Circle of Thieves by C. Greenwood - Rank 2,940 - $2.99

28. The Godling Chronicles by Brian D. Anderson - Rank 8,910 - $2.99

29. Breaking Free by Theresa Reasor - Rank 4,260 - $2.99

30. SEAL the Deal by Sharon Hamilton - Rank 3,935 - $4.99

31. Westin's Chase by Cristin Harber - Rank 1,550 - $3.99

32. Secrets Collide by Kathleen Brooks - Rank 1,072 - $3.99

33. When Love Intrudes by Christi Snow - Rank 3,654 - $2.99

34. Cold Day in Hell by Jerrie Alexander - Rank 6,509 - $2.99

35. Ashes by Kelly Cozy - Rank 2,593 - $.99

36. With Werewolves Trilogy by K Matthew - Rank 4,059 - $.99

37. Power Revealed by Leah Berry - Rank 5,964 - $2.99

38. Random Acts of Crazy by Julia Kent - Rank 2,923 - $3.99

39. For Love or Legacy by Ruth Cardello - Rank 1,379 - $.99

40. Omega Rising by Joshua Dalzelle - Rank 5,263 - $.99

41. Omega Force by Joshua Dalzelle - Rank 8,168 - $2.99

42. Busted by Jean-Luc Cheri - Rank 3,276 - $.99

43. The Sitter Gets Fired by Jean-Luc Cheri - Rank 4,956 - $.99

44. A Special Favor by Jean-Luc Cheri - Rank 7,511 - $.99

45. The Perseid Collapse by Steven Konkoly - Rank 4,891 - $4.99

46. Mud and Gold by Shayne Parkinson - Rank 2,083 - $2.99

47. Settling the Account by Shayne Parkinson - Rank 2,565 - $2.99

48. A Second Chance by Shayne Parkinson - Rank 3,115 - $2.99

49. Peaches Monroe Trilogy by Mimi Strong - Rank 631 - $7.55

50. Another Chance by Ariadne Wayne - Rank 1,848 - $2.99

51. A Modern Witch by Debora Geary - Rank 622 - $3.99

52. Witches of Bourbon Street by Deanna Chase - Rank 2,524 - $3.99

53. Demons of Bourbon Street by Deanna Chase - Rank 4,644 - $3.99

54. Angels of Bourbon Street by Deanna Chase - Rank 3,410 - $3.99

55. Redeeming the Amazon by L.V. Lewis - Rank 7,696 - $1.49

56. Betrayal of Thieves by C. Greenwood - Rank 1,927 - $2.99

57. Magic After Dark (Boxed Set with six authors) - Rank 150 - $.99

58. Once in a Lifetime (Boxed Set with four authors) - Rank 344 - $.99

59. Moon's Flower by Marie Hall - Rank 6,829 - $2.99

60. A Crucible of Souls by Mitchell Hogan - Rank 5,098 - $7.99

61. Hot Property by Susanne O'Leary - Rank 1,134 - $2.99

62. King and Kingdom by Danielle Bourdon - Rank 1,797 - $3.99

63. Heir in Exile by Danielle Bourdon - Rank 2,150 - $3.99

64. The King Takes a Bride by Danielle Bourdon - Rank 2,654 - $3.99

65. The Wrath of the King by Danielle Bourdon - Rank 2,939 - $3.99

66. The Royal Elite by Danielle Bourdon - Rank 4,585 - $3.99

67. A March of Kings by Morgan Rice - Rank 468 - $2.99

68. A Grant of Arms by Morgan Rice - Rank 1,551 - $2.99

69. A Song of Swords by Michael Ploof - Rank 2,148 - $4.99

70. Fledgling by Nicole Conway - Rank 394 - $.99

71. Secret Girlfriend by Bria Quinlan - Rank 4,656 - $3.99

72. The Academy by C.L. Stone - Rank 729 - $3.99

73. Guardians by Lola StVil - Rank 4,583 - $4.99

74. A Thankful Love by K. Victoria Chase - Rank 9,371 - $2.99

75. Chocolate, Lies and Murder by Sibel Hodge - Rank 6,102 - $3.99

76. Fourteen Days Later by Sibel Hodge - Rank 9,799 - $.99

77. Trafficked by Sibel Hodge - Rank 5,192 - $2.99

78. Fashion, Lies and Murder by Sibel Hodge - Rank 1,405 - $.99

79. Money, Lies and Murder by Sibel Hodge - Rank 5,279 - $3.99

80. Voodoo, Lies and Murder by Sibel Hodge - Rank 6,851 - $3.99

81. Six Months in Montana by Pamela M. Kelley - Rank 5,629 - $2.99

82. Don't Look Back by Christine Kersey - Rank 3,610 - $3.99

83. Elei's Chronicles by Chrystalla Thoma - Rank 7,931 - $.99

84. After the Storm by Maggie Dana - Rank 11,307 - $2.99

85. Supernatural Six (boxed set with six authors) - Rank 329 - $.99

86. One More Day by M. Malone - Rank 3,804 - $2.99

87. The Things I Do For You by M. Malone - Rank 8,160 - $4.99

88. He's the Man by M. Malone - Rank 5,792 - $4.99

89. The Alexanders Boxed Set by M. Malone - Rank 1,614 - $.99

90. Destiny by P.T. Michelle - Rank 12,836 - $4.99

91. A Taste For Passion by Patrice Michelle - Rank 8,032 - $.99

92. Sacrificed in Shadow by S.M. Reine - Rank 5,597 - $3.99

93. Colt by Jude Hardin - Rank 3,717 - $2.99

94. Fatal Reaction by Belinda Frisch - Rank 8,658 - $2.99

95. Loving the Marquess by Suzanna Medeiros - Rank 8,547 - $3.99

96. Dimitri by Roxie Rivera - Rank 3,140 - $3.99

97. Yuri by Roxie Rivera - Rank 2,601 - $3.99

98. Nikolai by Roxie Rivera - Rank 2,208 - $3.99

99. Sergei by Roxie Rivera - Rank 2,050 - $3.99

100. A Very Russian Christmas by Roxie Rivera - Rank 1,521 - $.99

101. In Kelly's Corner by Roxie Rivera - Rank 6,046 - $3.99

102. Seduced by the Loan Shark by Roxie Rivera - Rank 7,475 - $.99

103. Just This Once by Rosalind James - Rank 1,568 - $.99

104. Just For Fun by Rosalind James - Rank 6,751 - $3.99

105. Just My Luck by Rosalind James - Rank 4,559 - $3.99

106. Welcome to Paradise by Rosalind James - Rank 4,484 - $3.99

107. Nothing Personal by Rosalind James - Rank 2,276 - $3.99

108. Lord Runthorne's Dilemma by Sarah-Jane Steele - Rank 8,368 - $.99

And, a bunch more here, with the top 100 Indie Books listed in the Amazon store.

I could go on and on, posting links, but I don't want to waste my time. My point is, self-published books DO sell. Lots and lots of them are selling.

This goes right along with what I've been saying all along. Customers don't care if a book is self-published or not. They just want to read a good book.