One thing I’ve never been called, is a best-selling author! I have written four books and they’ve all had varying degrees of minor success. My most popular book, The Naked Truth, continues to sell a few dozen copies each month. Every author dreams of best-seller status, but a book marketer in Texas decided to expose the notion of what that means these days.
Brent Underwood conducted an experiment and tested the phrase, “best-selling author”. He had a hunch it was almost meaningless to attach the best-selling label to someone’s eBook. He created a cover for the title, Putting My Foot Down, using a photo of his own foot, but didn’t write a word of content. He self-published the non-book under the little-used categories, transpersonal movements and freemasonry & secret societies. He posted it to Amazon and he and three friends purchased it. With only those sales under his belt he was given Amazon Best-Seller status.
Ridiculous.
In one day, this non-existent book was given the same prestigious label as, say, a multi-million seller by Stephen King or JK Rowling. Underwood pointed out the inconsistencies to Amazon and the company agreed it needs to make some changes.
On the one hand, you might not be in the market for a best-seller in the transpersonal movements realm. On the other, Underwood could legitimately use the designation in marketing if he so chooses. He could secure paid speaking engagements based on the success of his non-existent book. He can add “Amazon best-selling author” to his Linked In profile. To most people, it has meaning. Only he (and now you) knows it’s bogus. If I’m ever lucky enough to become a best-selling author, I want it to be legitimate, and that’s Underwood’s point. At the very least, a person should have to write a book and attract legitimate, high sales before he can call it a best-seller.
Wow – that’s an eye-opener. Thank you!