I have a bestseller on Kobo...am I kind of a big deal?

randi.lee · Sep 17, 2015

My book has reached bestseller status on Kobo, but I'm afraid to say I don't know too much about them. I know they're global--but how popular are they, does anyone know? Is it meaningful to have a bestseller on Kobo, or is it more like, "Congratulations, you've sold 12 books." ?

I know, I know, I know: it's very ignorant of me not to know more about this company, but the thought never crossed my mind to look into them...I will do so today, but thought I'd grab a few opinions from the experts in the meantime...

BenPanced · Sep 17, 2015

Unfortunately, that doesn't mean anything. While they are legit, you can't use those numbers to generate much interest in your work in a query or further marketing/promotion. About the only "best seller" stats people working in the industry pay attention to are the New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today.

randi.lee · Sep 17, 2015

Thanks for the response, Ben! I wasn't really looking at it from a, "Hey, look at me!" sort of stand point...I'm just curious as to how many units you need to push to become a bestseller on Kobo. My publisher's not great about getting back to me with unit sales in a timely manner and I was curious, in the meantime, to know how I was doing in that regard.

InspectorFarquar · Sep 17, 2015

You don't know how many books you've sold? How do you keep track of what you're supposed to get paid? And, if you're a "best seller," why isn't your publisher making it a priority to get back to you?

I'm confused.

randi.lee · Sep 17, 2015

You've no reason and no right to be rude to me, IF. I've done nothing wrong to you. I was simply asking an honest question and I was doing so quite politely.

I receive quarterly royalty reports in which I find out how many books I've sold and how much I've earned. However, in the meantime, as I stated above, it would be nice to understand where I stand right now.

As far as my publisher goes, perhaps I didn't pick the best one. Perhaps I'm not a priority because my publisher is busy running a publishing company and doesn't have time to email me metrics updates every other day. Who knows.

Kylabelle · Sep 17, 2015

I confess I didn't know what Kobo was until I googled it just now.

Since the Kobo e reader is very new in the U.S., I kind of doubt best seller status on Kobo means a heck of a lot. However, I did notice that one reviewer of the product (on Wired) believes it's a serious competitor to Kindle, so that's at least an indication it isn't a fly-by-night phenomenon.

And yeah, randi, you don't have to justify or defend your publisher to anyone.

Inspector farquar, come on. It was clear in the OP that the term "best seller" was what was being questioned, exactly. Gratuitous and thinly veiled sneering isn't very appealing.

LJD · Sep 17, 2015

I believe Kobo started as part of Indigo and has a fairly significant market share in Canada. It used to be bigger than Kindle here; not sure if that's true anymore. The book blogs I read always have links to Kobo when they post daily deals. It's not an insignificant bookseller; however, I'm not sure what bestseller status would be...and what category are you a bestseller in? Is it by genre?

I had a book that was a bestseller on All Romance eBooks (fairly big in the romance world) but in a very specific category, I believe, and I'm guessing it just means I sold a few copies.

randi.lee · Sep 17, 2015

Thanks Kayla--given how little I'd heard about the company, that's kind of what I suspected.

Hi LJ--thanks for the info. I'm listed as a best seller in Espionage, which I found interesting as I don't hear that category much around here

Perhaps it's a big genre in Canada?

Taran · Sep 17, 2015

Kobos are pretty popular in Canada (where I believe the company started before being bought by Rakuten). I have a Kobo Touch and like it well enough. But I assume "bestseller on Kobo" in the ebook world carries about the same weight as "Canadian bestseller" in the print one.

aruna · Sep 17, 2015

All I know is, that on kindle being a category bestseller doesn't really mean much... for a start, it depends WHiCH category. since some are easier to rise in than others. The only thing that matters is Top 100 overall... that's like the Holy Grail of ebooks, and such books DO generate interest, and have lots and lots of sales.

Being in a Kindle bestseller category does one food thing: it improves the algorithm of the book, thus improving visibility.

i don't know anything about Kobo. Sorry.

Fruitbat · Sep 17, 2015

Of course you are a big deal, Randi. Congrats! :partyguy:

randi.lee · Sep 17, 2015

Hi aruna--I'm actually in the top 50 in three categories on Kobo now. I'm hoping that means a little something...

Fruitbat, you made me smile

Thank you

Fruitbat · Sep 17, 2015

Perhaps it means that in your promo you can prominently describe your book as a bestseller and/or yourself as a bestselling author. It would be true, wouldn't it?

InspectorFarquar · Sep 17, 2015

Kylabelle said:
Inspector farquar, come on. It was clear in the OP that the term "best seller" was what was being questioned, exactly. Gratuitous and thinly veiled sneering isn't very appealing.

I agree, it is not. On the rare occasion I offer a sneer, it tends to be not veiled at all.

randi.lee said:
You've no reason and no right to be rude to me, IF

Click to expand...

You're right. And I didn't intend to be in any way rude to you, so I guess that makes me as surprised as you.

I've done nothing wrong to you.

Click to expand...

You hadn't.

I was simply asking an honest question and I was doing so quite politely.

Click to expand...

Perhaps you'll be kind enough to reread my post and see I was doing the exact same thing?

I know nothing of Kobo or Amazon or how any of that works. This seemed like a good opportunity to learn something. Wrong thread for that, it would now seem.

Best wishes to you and much success to your book.

johnsolomon · Sep 17, 2015

Congrats

Just throwing in that Kobos are pretty well known here in the UK. They're usually on stands alongside kindles in stores like WHSmith ^^

Kylabelle · Sep 17, 2015

InspectorFarquar said:
You don't know how many books you've sold? How do you keep track of what your supposed to get paid? And, if you're a "best seller," why isn't your publisher making it a priority to get back to you?

I'm confused.

I apologize if I misread this, however, putting "best seller" in quotation marks and questioning the OP this closely gave the impression that you didn't believe her. If you wanted to learn about Kobo or Amazon, it might have helped things if you had stated that outright as the reason for your questions. Particularly since randi had already acknowledged she didn't know much about Kobo.

InspectorFarquar · Sep 17, 2015

Kylabelle said:
... however, putting "best seller" in quotation marks and questioning the OP this closely gave the impression that you didn't believe her ...

I can see that and it's a reasonable interpretation. I used the quotation marks because it seemed to me she was questioning her "best seller", in a "is it real?" sort of way. I was merely following suit.

But, as I said, I can see how it can be otherwise read. I apologize to the OP for my clumsiness.

Toothpaste · Sep 17, 2015

From my understanding with such lists they are based on who bought what in how many hours. So for example if a dozen people bought your book at the same time online, even if no one else bought one all week, you could be a bestseller for that day etc. Another thing to keep in mind are the lists you are in. It's one thing to be a bestseller in all books, THAT's a big deal. But if you are a bestseller in books - Sf/Fantasy - Space Opera - Comedy that's not quite that impressive. Almost every author at some point winds up on a list like that (and yes, I do speak for myself).

This by no means is me saying that you shouldn't be excited and happy. But just know that generally the lists to be on are the ones already mentioned and top kobo overall (top kindle etc). You also need to check what region. Being a bestseller as someone else has said in Canada is far less impressive than in the USA for example.

But be happy! Screencap it! Enjoy! Just don't get excited till you see actual numbers.

C.bronco · Sep 17, 2015

I don't think the Inspector was being rude or mean. With that said, you should always think that you are a big deal, because being at the top of any chart is a triumph. We have to remind ourselves of our accomplishments in this very capricious industry.

Re-modernist · Sep 17, 2015

I see plenty of authors, mainly with indie houses, or self-publishing, who use high positions on internet sales charts as proof that they are best-selling--mainly Amazon, but I don't see why not Kobo or any other venue, once one decides to do this. Otherwise it'd be like quoting NYT and USA Today bestselling positions, but saying Locus and the Sunday Times don't count

aruna · Sep 17, 2015

aruna said:
Being in a Kindle bestseller category does one food thing: it improves the algorithm of the book, thus improving visibility.

i rry.

Autocorrect, I hate you! that should be one GOOD thing, obviously! Though I shouldn't blame autocorrect for my lack of care and not rereading !

Just wanted to say that I have been in a top 10 category in Kindle for many weeks, and a good category too: Literary Fiction--Women's Fiction. That is, a subdivision of Literary Fiction, along with some really really big names and famous writers, who had dropped in the charts. But I would NEVER describe that book as a bestseller anywhere to anyone. It just sounds fraudulent, even if technically true. It sounds desperate.

My self-published book Sons Of Gods was in the Top Ten for Religion-Hinduism-Sacred Writings -Bhagavad Gita. I was really, really pleased at that, as you should be too! But I would never refer to it in public as a bestseller. It was selling like 7 copies a month at the time.

So, for me it was important, but in actual sales, not a huge deal. And I wouldn't describe it as a bestseller.

Errant Lobe · Sep 17, 2015

Taran said:
Kobos are pretty popular in Canada (where I believe the company started before being bought by Rakuten). I have a Kobo Touch and like it well enough. But I assume "bestseller on Kobo" in the ebook world carries about the same weight as "Canadian bestseller" in the print one.

Kobo, like Nook did, grew out of Borders bookstore during the early days of the internet. Borders saw the success of Barnes and Noble and attempted to replicate it. When Borders folded, their electronic store was still expanding; and they realized a strong market share in lands outside of the United States. I believe that they aso changed hands several times before being owned by Rakuten.

As stated above Kobo is a major player in Canada, the UK, other places in Europe and hugely in Australia and New Zealand. I had learned years ago that you always make an effort to keep a presence on Kobo's list for the convenience of the international market which can be significant.

Ask mccardey and Helix for current information. Outside of Amazon, Kobo is a major player in other lands. Hence, the Kobo e-reader.

Bartholomew · Sep 17, 2015

Congratulations!

randi.lee · Sep 18, 2015

Thanks, everyone, for the information and all! I wouldn't refer to myself as a bestseller just yet, but I am very happy to see that people are taking interest in the book and that the interest remains steady: my ranks haven't changed since yesterday, and have actually seen improvement, meaning I've sold at least one copy, and--hey! That's one more reader than I had yesterday, and that's quite all right with me.

LF--thanks for your clarification. I appreciate it. I've met mild success recently and am already seeing the ramifications of it, which is to say that when I discuss said mild success--in the hopes of inspiring others that mild success can be met; I know a lot of discouraged writers out there--certain people have been getting nasty. My goal isn't to brag. I'm in no place to brag. Nowhere near it. I know that. My goal is to show that self-promotion can make a difference, even if it's a small difference. However, there are those out there who aim to attack, and they'll use any excuse to do so. I'm feeling that right now, and perhaps it's making me a little extra sensitive. So, thank you for clarifying your intent. That means a lot to me.

Debeucci · Sep 18, 2015

Being high ranking on Kobo or Amazon honestly doesn't mean much. It's a snapshot of an hourly update. If you sell two copies of your book in Kobo within a short amount of time, your rankings shoot up. That's true with almost all lists (NYT, USA Today, etc). For hardcover, a person could make the list with as little as 2k unit sales depending on what else is coming out that week.

I've spoken with several authors regarding calling someone a bestseller or having bestselling books. The number most commonly tossed out is 25k units. Given, that doesn't differentiate hardcover, trade, MM, ebook, etc...

I have a bestseller on Kobo...am I kind of a big deal?

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