Wanna Buy a Book?

 

Terry here, with our question of the week:

Do you keep track of your sales numbers? If so, how? What tools and process do you use? Would you recommend doing so? 

I wouldn’t have the foggiest notion how to keep track of my sales numbers. Way back when I was a fledgling author, I was interviewed by someone who asked how many books I’d sold. I told him I didn’t know. The next day I called my editor to ask him so I could tell the interviewer. He said, “That’s none of his business. And the only thing you need to know is that you sell enough so we want you to write another one!” 

As I understand it (poorly) even if you track your sales numbers, it’s usually wrong because 1) not all sales are reported 2) it doesn’t include x, y, or z, or 3) the numbers are just wrong. 

What I do know is that my current publisher, Severn House, will only give me a contract for another book if I reach a threshold of a certain number of hardcover books sold. It seems like an incredibly low number, but apparently not. Now, the publisher has been sold to another “umbrella” company and the focus will be different. Something about “number of ebooks sold.” Fine. Whatever. I’m dancing as fast as I can to get the word out about my books. If I also had to keep track of the number of books sold, I’d go crazy. 

One of my former agents, with whom I have a cordial relationship notified me a few years ago that she had been “checking” the sales numbers of all her clients. She discovered that the publisher I was with at the time had failed to report a number of sales and they owed me money. Not an astronomical amount, but enough for a nice dinner out in Los Angeles (which ain’t cheap). I didn’t ask her how she checked. I still wonder how the publisher got away with it. I also wonder if other authors in the publishing house had eagle-eyed agents, so they too found out they were owed money. I have my suspicions. 

I’m a traditionally published author, which may have something to do with my inability to check sales. I know independently published authors who check their sales every, single day. They can tell you how many they’ve sold at any given time. I don’t know what tools or process they use. But I actually roomed with one of them at a conference, and first thing every morning she checked her sales. I was in awe.

For those who do check their sales, either traditionally or independently published, here is what I wonder: 1) Do you trust the sales numbers? Is there any way to make sure the numbers are accurate? If not, what do you do about it? Is there someone you can complain to? 2) If the sales aren’t good, what do you do about it? Do you buy another ad? Hire a publicist? Discuss it with your agent or editor? 

One last thing I wonder: do those who sell millions or copies keep track of their sales numbers? Or do they have “people” for that?