Navigating the Amazon Sales Ranking

First, the disclaimers: Since the algorithm Amazon uses to generate its sales ranking is proprietary, the details contained herein are extrapolated from research and field tests. The resulting consensus finds Amazon's system to provide marginal sales data at best.

To whit, read Amazon's own definition of its system, slightly paraphrased from their FAQ: "The Sales Ranking system exhibits how books are selling. The lower the number, the higher the sales. The calculation is based on sales and is updated each hour to reflect recent and historical sales of every item sold. We hope you find the Amazon.com Sales Rank interesting!" This last sentence seems to indicate Amazon's own perspective on the importance with which the sales rankings should be viewed.

You're not supposed to find the sales rankings informative or helpful. You're supposed to find them interesting.

In actuality, the process is somewhat more convoluted than they let on. Only the top 10,000 books are updated every hour and the ranking does not depend upon the actual number of books sold, but rather, on a comparison against the sales figures of the other 9,999 books within that same hour. Simultaneously, a trending calculation is applied to arrive at a computerized sales trajectory. So, hypothetically, a book that held a ranking of 2,000 at 2pm and 3,000 at 3pm, might hold a 4,000 ranking at 4pm, even if it actually sold MORE books between 3-4 than it did between 2-3.

Books with rankings between 10,000 and 100,000 are recalculated once a day, rather than once an hour. Current projections, as well as historic sales information play a key role in these calculations. In fact, the predictive nature of the Amazon ranking system is what makes it possible for a newly-released book to outrank an older established title, even though the actual sales figures for the latter far exceed the former.

Books with rankings over 100,000 are also recalculated every day and applied with historic sales information and projections, although in the case of these books, history takes a back seat. Sales projections and trending take an active role here, which is why a book's ranking can leap from 900,000 to 200,000 in the span of 24 hours or less. Does this mean the book has sold 700,000 copies in 24 hours? Absolutely not! What it does mean is that recent activity (i.e. purchases) for that book is trending higher than those 700,000 books it just surpassed. But, don't get excited just yet; since the activity of those 700,000 other books range from slow to stagnant, one or two orders are sufficient to catapult a ranking.

If a book's ranking breaks into the top 100,000, the sales history calculation starts to rear its head, which is why a "phenomenon" book has a hard time maintaining a high, legitimate ranking. A phenomenon is defined by a book that leaps from the high hundred-thousands into the lower thousands (or better) in the span of 24 hours or less, usually due to some concentrated marketing initiatives. Since Amazon's sales history for that title doesn't support the leap, the spike occurs and then quickly drops again.

HOW DOES ALL THIS TRANSLATE TO ACTUAL SALES FIGURES?

Since the data is recalculated every hour and/or every day (depending upon a book's current ranking), it's impossible to get cumulative sales figures, although those figures are applied to the algorithm during the calculation. No, to get a very rough idea of the actual number of books being sold, the sales ranking has to be dissected dynamically, with the same immediacy as the ranking being calculated, (hourly for top 10,000 books or daily for top 100,000 books). Chart the ranking of a top 10,000 book every hour for 24 hours and divide by 24 to arrive at its average daily ranking. In the case of a top 100,000 book, take its ranking every day for 7 days and divide by 7 to arrive at its average weekly ranking.

Bear in mind that this next piece of information is extremely arbitrary, based upon sales ranking/sales figure comparisons and data received from third party sources. In other words, it's probably completely wrong. But rather than disclaiming this chart until the cows come home, I'll just say this: It is difficult to make sense of something that doesn't make sense. But it sure is interesting, and now, perhaps, even slightly helpful.

If the book's average ranking is: 2,000,000-plus, then perhaps a single inventory/consignment copy has been ordered.

1,000,000-plus, the current trends indicate total sales will most likely be under 40.

100,00-plus, then current trends indicate total sales will most likely be under 200.

10,000-plus, you can estimate between 1 ? 10 copies are being sold per week.

1,000-plus, you can estimate between 10 ? 100 copies are being sold per week.

100-plus, you can estimate between 100 ? 200 copies are being sold per week.

10-plus, you can estimate between 200 ? 1000 copies are being sold per week.

In the top 10, you can estimate over 1,000 copies are per week

Brent Sampson is the President & CEO of Outskirts Press Publishing at OutskirtsPress.com and author of Publishing Gems: Insider Information for the Self-Publishing Writer. Information at http://outskirtspress.com/publishinggems

---

Plays Well With Others to Become an Instant Author

You wrote a tips booklet. Maybe more than one. Oh... Read More

8 Ways to Find Good Reviewers for Your New Book

Review Your Reviewer: You will be sorry if you do... Read More

Online Book Promotion Beats Traditional Seven to One - Part 2

Think of Your Promotion Time and BudgetMost one or two-book... Read More

You, Your Book and the Internet!

Authors, especially self published, small press and Print on Demand... Read More

Does Your Book Cover Pass the ?Ignore? Test?

Your book cover is the first impression a potential client... Read More

Marketing for Writers When Writing Just Isnt Enough

Many writers write for the experience. Others dream of having... Read More

Sell More Books on Amazon.com

Why Should Your Book Be on Amazon.com? Credibility. If your... Read More

Comments From A Book Reviewer

For the past several years I have been reviewing books... Read More

Book Signings Are Pure Gold

So you've written a book, had it published by a... Read More

28 Reasons Why Publishers Will Buy Your Book

Editors will buy a book for one or more of... Read More

Speaking for a Publication

Why write a book and get attention and loads of... Read More

How to Market Your Unsold Books on the Internet: Its Easy

Your book expresses your wondrous information, your creativity, and your... Read More

Sell More Books With an E-mail Newsletter

NOTE: Because many words in this article are likely to... Read More

Book Publishing Without Pain

When I meet an author with a great book concept,... Read More

Poetry Chapbooks: Ten Tips for Promotion

There are several ways of publishing your chapbook. You can... Read More

Online Book Promotion Beats Traditional Seven to One - Part 1

While traditional marketing can work for the book author or... Read More

Online Book Marketing: How to Sell Your Book Even If You Are Not a Salesperson

What you do after you have written your book is... Read More

Book Events - Make Yours Successful

A book event (a book signing) is a popular way... Read More

Attract More Buyers to Your Book: Use Metaphors

Surprise your potential buyers. Give them chocolate frosting!After we entered... Read More

Marketing Virus ? Every Writer Needs to Catch It

For you writers aspiring to greatness, you might need a... Read More

Extend Your Books Life With a Sales Letter

Authors, publishers and business owners are great at getting their... Read More

How to Make Money With Your Short Stories, Poems, Essays, and Novels

Recently, someone rated my "Online Book Marketing" article a 2... Read More

Top Ten Getting Started Tips to Market Your Book and Business

Want to sell a lot more books? Want clients calling... Read More

Top 10 Tips for Book Titles that Sell Well

A clever title is great if it is clear, but... Read More

Book Club Sales -- Increasing the Odds

What is a book club sale? It is actually a... Read More

Media Events for Book Promotion

"How do I set up a media event?" -- As... Read More

The Booklet Journey Opening a New World

1991 was a pivotal year in my life. My professional... Read More

Get Rich Writing Fiction

Some of us write simply because we can't not write.... Read More

Best Sellers Aren?t Written ? They?re Made - It?s All About Promotion

Writing a book is becoming more and more of a... Read More

Sell Your Book with Pennies

Imagine you share a huge penny... Read More

You , Your Book and the Internet!

Authors, especially self published, small press and Print on Demand... Read More

How to Schedule a Book Signing

How would you like to sell more copies of your... Read More

Why Testimonials are Number One in Selling your Book or Service

Even if your book or service is excellent, they won't... Read More