The Bestseller

This book is a "Bestseller".

We have heard this often. And this one statement establishes the author's credibility.

What is a bestseller tag? It is a tag given to a book which is much in demand, has a considerable number of sales in a shorter span within launch, and is also recommended as a good read. Therefore, making the book more credible, in turn increasing its sales and readership.

I have seen authors selling a million book copies, and above labelled as Bestsellers. It all seemed very promising and admirable to me until I entered the book-writing industry and understood certain dynamics.

I have heard from authorities about books being dumped in libraries and institutions and termed as ‘X’ copies sold. I do not deny the authentic sales here.

Books are a product, and just writing a book does not make you an author. You are an author when your book reaches your readers. It is read, reviewed, and commented on. It is able to move its readers with its content. I keep telling my clients, that writing a book is just 50% of the work done. The other 50% is making the book reach its desired readers. And that is where the entire game of Bestsellers comes into the picture.

There was an era of traditional publishing which came with strict due diligence in terms of control on the quality of content, authenticity of writers, and systematic marketing. Albeit, fringed by the bias of traditional publishers who gave preference to well-known personalities over first-time authors. However, when I entered the writing industry, traditional publishing was fading out and yet secures a minimal market today.

What we see today is self-publishing, which has brought an upheaval in the dynamics set by traditional publishers. However, self-publishing brings a lot of good scope for the writers in terms of getting their work published without many scanners and due diligence. However, the scope of authenticity is questionable.

As a marketing gimmick, 'The Bestseller Tag' is made available at a VALUE today. Perhaps it was available at a value even in the traditional publishing model, but I am unable to confirm the same. But today, publishers SELL the ‘Bestseller Tag’ as a part of their package. You BUY the tag and use it on your cover page and how easy is that,. Vis-à-vis authors who ran from pillar to post doing reading sessions, offering autographed versions, and going multi-cities promoting their books. Today, the bestseller tag gives you the credibility to boast, minus the effort. In most cases, it is questionable. I do not deny some very good writers must have even earned this tag.

The Amazon website has an intensive algorithm which awards the Bestseller tag for the hour, or Bestseller for the day. Again, how do we gauge the credibility of content here?

Another dynamic is, all the books labelled bestsellers are not considered over the entire geography of their availability. The data calculated could be obtained for a few bookstores and locations, again highlighting only certain genres and pedigree of books. Even the New York Times Bestseller List was in question about this.

Marketing has been a very important aspect in every book's journey, and to be able to create a brand out of your book, you must create quality content, get the content proof-checked and make it readable, create good packaging in terms of a good cover page design and information, and engage a good publisher who can guide you through the process.

Today, book writing is not about generating money, it's about personal/ business branding, and therefore the Bestseller tag could be just a brownie point on your book's sales journey. You might have all the moollah to spend on your book promotions and might take any route you prefer, but what is important at the core is to ensure what you are delivering as a product, and if it is addressing your reader's requirements. Are you providing unique content? If you are introducing the regular content from a different perspective, and if that is good enough, you do not need a Bestseller tag. You will irrespective reach your right readers.

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