Insights on International Book Sales for Self-Published Authors
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Chapter 1: The Journey of an Indie Author
Being an independent author is a role I take great pride in. I wear many hats—I write, edit, proofread, format, design covers, and handle marketing—all without any external assistance. This solitary venture into self-publishing has been my own, with no reliance on AI or outsourced work; every element is authentically mine. Having engaged in this for over thirteen years, it's a significant commitment, especially in a field that often provides little financial reward.
Many aspiring authors express frustration about their self-publishing efforts, unsure of how to navigate this business model. To assist others, I will share a detailed analysis of my sales journey over the next couple of weeks. This will include insights into the countries, formats, and genres that have yielded success, as well as the errors I've encountered along the way.
Note that due to the policies of various self-publishing platforms, I cannot disclose specific sales data. The insights I'll provide stem from my personal financial records and other sources. It's crucial to evaluate your author career holistically, considering not only sales figures but also social media engagement, newsletter interactions, book blogger feedback, and in-person sales, such as those from my previous bookstore.
Section 1.1: Sales Distribution by Country
From November 2011 to April 2024, I've sold my books through various platforms including KDP, Createspace, Gumroad, and my own store, along with book signings and third-party retailers. Below is a summary of my sales by country, reflecting where my works resonated the most:
- USA: 76.41%
- UK: 21.8%
- Canada: 0.97%
- Australia: 0.37%
- Germany: 0.26%
- France: 0.08%
- Netherlands: 0.05%
- Spain: 0.03%
- Japan: 0.02%
- Italy: 0.01%
Some countries generated minimal sales, and while I haven't sold paid books in certain regions, I have gathered a small audience there, potentially through pirated copies or second-hand paperbacks.
Subsection 1.1.1: Observations on Market Trends
Japan has recently shown increased interest in my works, and I anticipate that percentage to rise, even though activity has slowed down. The USA remains my largest market, and I generally focus my efforts there. Investing in translations for other markets appears unjustifiable due to their limited size.
I was surprised by the low sales figures in Canada and Australia; their populations suggested a larger potential audience. The USA, with its nearly fivefold population compared to the UK, showed only slightly more engagement with my books. This could imply that British readers are more inclined toward the genres I write, or that I am not connecting with readers in North America as effectively.
It seems that the UK is where my books find the most enthusiastic readership when considered per capita. However, I welcome different interpretations of these statistics—feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
Section 1.2: Expanding on Genre and Format
Before concluding, it's essential to acknowledge the diverse genres I write in, which necessitates further exploration in future posts:
- Which countries generate the most sales overall?
- A breakdown of e-book, paperback, and borrowing sales
- Insights into which genres (chick lit, cozy mystery, fairy tales, erotica, bizarro, self-help, and low content) have performed best
- Preferences for specific genres and formats by country
I will link to these upcoming posts as they are published. If you have other questions about self-publishing, I'd love to hear them!
Chapter 2: Exploring International Sales Strategies
In the video "Tips for Selling Books Internationally," I provide strategies for reaching a global audience, sharing lessons learned from my self-publishing journey.
The second video, "How do I get international distribution for my book? International vs. wide distribution," delves into distribution strategies and their implications for self-published authors.