The Big Picture and How We Compare

So let’s start with the big picture, and what the preliminary figures for eBook sales 2014 are telling us. Using a representative set of data we have seen a 2% rise in earnings from eBook Sales compared to 2013, and titles sold rose 16%. As a publisher, it is useful to have a benchmark from which to compare.

So, if I know these figures represent growth in a market similar to mine then I can use this to compare my company’s performance. Our data also shows a marked increase in the number of retailers being used to generate sales (up 42%) so if my results are showing a much narrower range of retailers it might be time to review my distribution channels.

Making the Detail Count

Time to leave the “helicopter view” and dig into more detail (here comes my single-task focus!). By looking at growth across regions  opportunities can be can spotted.  So if Vearsa's representative set shows 26% growth in earnings for Canada, yet my company results show no growth, it would be worth drilling into the genres and price-points that are selling there to see if I can cash in on this market.

Other trends, such as the growth in sales of eBooks in Sports & Recreation, Religion, and Business & Economics, can give me another avenue to explore to increase my sales. And that is when a bit of focus becomes valuable. An investigation into best price-points by genre, backlist availability and metadata quality can prove effective in terms of generating additional income while waiting for the next bestseller. So you see, the devil is in the detail, but it can lead to some angelic results.