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I missed this post back in 2016 by Jack Eason (Have We Had Help?), but Jack re-published it again, and I’m glad I had a chance to read it. I definitely agree with Jack’s theory that the ‘Zon ceased to promote Indie books back in September 2016.
I read Jack’s post with interest and looked back at my monthly figures for August 2016. I had sold 179 books in August 2016, but sure enough in September and for the rest of that year the amount of books sold started to fall away. I calculated the average monthly book sales figure for 2016, which was 82. In 2017 it dropped to 53, then for 2018 the figure was 32. Last year the average sales per month was 29, and so far this year it is 15.
So Jack is right. Something happened in September 2016 for sure that affected (and continues to affect) Indie authors’ sales. I assume the ‘Zon prefer that we pay to advertise our books? I haven’t paid nor will do so in the near future, as I realised long ago that Jack is correct when he states that only celebrities sell enough books to make a living out of writing. So Indie authors… perhaps check out your own sales figures since August 2016? Also please do check out Jack’s blog and click on his links to hopefully increase interest in his books.
Below I have left links to my Amazon author page too for anybody who would like to follow me or click out of interest on a book or two. Also do leave a link to your own Amazon author page in the comments, and hopefully everybody who reads this post will click on one or two authors to boost recorded interest in their pages.
Best wishes, from Stevie. x
Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Stevie-Turner/e/B00AV7YOTU
Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stevie-Turner/e/B00AV7YOTU/
Stevie Turner 
Pingback: Friday Click & Run – 20th November | Stevie Turner
I only got started in late 2016, so I don’t know about before that. So far this year I’ve sold very few, bearing in mind I have nearly 20 titles out. I did notice that sales fell off a cliff in Sept last year, the same day that Amazon started to sell advertising in the UK. I wonder if that’s connected in some way? Incidentally, someone I know in the USA is convinced that Amazon does not tell indies their true sales figures. I couldn’t possibly comment. You can find me at https://www.amazon.com/Richard-Dee/e/B00CN4TTCG
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They don’t, especially if people return your book. They don’t show any sales until you’ve paid back the price of the book.
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Reblogged this on Have We Had Help? and commented:
You wouldn’t believe me the other day. Believe Stevie!!!
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Yeah, I do believe for sure. Thanks for the re-blog, Jack.
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I believe it. My ‘Zon numbers flat lined for the entire year of 2019. I don’t advertise either, but flat line? Thanks for the post. Good to know I’m not alone. https://amzn.to/2YLng9B
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Thanks for adding your link, Lisa.
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amazon.com/author/firefly
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Thanks.
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Pingback: Important Information for Indie Authors | Writing to be Read
Thanks for the pingback.
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Bad news indeed, but what on earth can we do about any of it?
There must be something else…
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Not sure we can fight the ‘Zon… they’re too mighty.
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We can’t! Ever noticed that you cannot directly talk to anyone in charge?
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They usually refer me on and tell me somebody will come back to me. What I did learn though, is that if anybody returns your book and they have to give somebody their money back, they’ll stop showing any sales on your KDP reports until you’ve paid back the price of the book.
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Interesting, my author page is https://www.amazon.co.uk/l/B009UT450I
Now I’m in the interesting position in that I only really have my figures for 2017 onwards as before that my stuff was with a small publisher and never got Amazon figures.
My amazon figures per month are
2017 10.83
2018 14.83
2019 17.91
2020 so far 23 per month
Hardly sparkling but then I suppose I’ve never assumed Amazon would promote me (I confess I’ve never seen any evidence of it, even when the first book came out with a small press in 2012
I think one problem is the increasing number of books published, the publishers’ weekly has commented that in 2017 and 2018 there were record numbers of books published, and commented that their figures only include those with ISBN numbers. So it doesn’t include those self published on Amazon Kindle which get an Amazon identifier instead, because Amazon doesn’t release those figures.
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At least your figures are going up! Thanks for your comment, Jim.
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not fast enough to threaten my amateur status
Still given it’s mainly fantasy, probably about par for the course
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?? My link doesn’t seem to be going to my author page. No idea why. Any thoughts?
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It’s fine. The previous link worked.
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I don’t think my other comment took for some reason. Let’s try this link. https://www.amazon.com/Kaye-Lynne-Booth/e/B071791Y9W?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1592010482&sr=1-2
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Thanks Kaye. I’ve been able to click on your author page.
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Yep, this one works too.
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