Become The Best Selling Author 2024: A Guide To Reaching #1 🚀

Alrighty, listen up. 

I know what’s on your mind—becoming a bestselling author. Am I right? It’s the dream, isn’t it? To see your name on that list, above all the other books, it’s just fantastic!

But let me tell you, it takes more than just writing and publishing a book to make it happen. 

There are a whole bunch of steps you gotta take, both during the writing and publishing process, to turn your book into a bestseller.

And lucky for you, I’m here to help. I have observed 100’s best-selling authors, from Stephen King, Tom Clancy & J.K. Rowling to Suzanne Collins, James Patterson,& J.R.R. Tolkien, before writing this article.

Also, I am going to share the most common practices they all had to hit the best-selling author list.

So, let’s get started on making your dream a reality!

10 Methods To Become The Best Selling Author 2024

Below I am going to share the 10 methods to hit the best-selling author list.

1. Write a Book that is close to your Industry or the experience you have

Let me tell you, writing a book that’s close to your industry and experience is key. I mean, think about it, you already got the insider knowledge and expertise, so why not use it to your advantage?

Write about the things you know and that you’re passionate about. Make your book a true reflection of your experiences and industry insights. 

Trust me; it’ll shine through in your writing and make it that much more engaging and insightful for your readers.

Use vivid adjectives to paint a picture and powerful verbs to bring your words to life. 

This will not only make your book stand out but also give you the confidence to write with authority on your subject matter.

So, don’t hold back. Write a book that’s a true representation of your experiences and expertise, and watch it soar to the top of the charts.

2. Understand what books make the Bestselling list

What makes a book a bestseller? 

It’s pretty simple, really. It’s all about the number of copies sold. But hold on a minute; there’s more to it than just that. 

Reader interest plays a big role in determining a book’s rank, and it’s something you can’t ignore.

You can write a book about a specific industry or niche as long as it appeals to your target audience and provides valuable insights. 

But don’t forget about your readers. As you craft your first draft, ask yourself if you’re meeting their needs and providing them with what they’re looking for.

A top-quality book is key to getting good reviews and word-of-mouth referrals. The more relevant your book is to your target audience, the more likely they are to read it and recommend it to others.

So, before you start writing, think about these things:

• Who’s your target demographic, what industry are they in, and what are their interests and concerns?
• Work with publishing teams to create a Master Plan that appeals to your audience
• Consider hiring a ghostwriter, even an award-winning one, to write a compelling script.

3. Build your Personal Brand & a Website

Creating a platform as an author is crucial! 

Before you even start writing that book of yours, or if you’ve just recently decided to become an author, you gotta start building your Personal Brand online.

What is it? It’s your audience. To sell your book on a consistent basis and become a full-time author, people need to know that you exist and that you’re writing books for them to read.

So, you need to be present on social media, have a website, and market yourself regularly as an author.

Where you focus your efforts will depend on the type of book you’re writing and your target audience. 

For instance, if your audience is an older generation between the ages of 45-60, they’re more likely to be on Facebook than other platforms, because that’s where the demographics lie.

4. Market your Book even before publishing it online

To hit that Best selling author list, you need to market it. 

Yes! Start now, even before it’s done. Get social, and be active on your author platform. 

Share tips, and tricks, give updates on your book’s progress and talk about the writing process and your challenges. Get people excited with countdown posts. 

Engage with your followers, and ask them to comment and chat with them. Seek out interviews, and get your book’s name out there. 

5. Enroll in the Bestselling list campaign:

So, basically, if you want to make your book a best-seller, there’re these two best-seller campaigns you can consider: USA Today/Wall Street Journal and Amazon Best Seller.

The USA Today/Wall Street Journal campaign can help you make it to the Wall Street Journal and/or USA Today Best Seller list in the eBook category.

And, this is great, coz there are no costs of printing, shipping, and goods involved. Plus, you’ll be a Wall Street Journal Best Seller and/or a USA Today Best Selling Author, which is really a big deal. 

You’ll have an official seal to prove it, and you can use it on your website, social media, and marketing materials.

And then there’s the Amazon Best Seller campaign. This one can get you in the top 5 on the Amazon Best Seller list and on the first page of Amazon. 

So, that’s even more visibility for your book, and you’ll become a known name in your industry. This campaign includes identifying the best categories for your book and achieving one of the top five spots on the Amazon Best Seller list. 

And you’ll also get an official seal and screenshots to show off your achievement.

6. Price right

When it comes to determining the cost of your ebook, you gotta be savvy about the marketplace. 

Take Amazon, for instance; it’s renowned for having ebooks in the sweet spot of $2.99 to $9.99 for self-published books, while traditionally published books typically retail for $10 and above. 

The reason for this is simple, Amazon offers a whopping 70% royalty for ebooks within that price range but only a measly 35% for books priced outside of that spectrum.

Don’t even think about trying to buck the trend by pricing your book at an unreasonable $15 “because it’s worth it.” Trust me, and you won’t see a single sale.

Now, I know it may sting to sell your literary gem for less than it’s worth, but remember the added benefit of acquiring a dedicated reader. That’s worth way more than a couple of extra bucks per sale. 

So, if you’re feeling rebellious, do it another way, not with pricing. Conform to the market pricing and bask in the glory of readership!

7. Seek help to raise up on the ladder

So, you want to climb the success ladder, right? Of course, you do! I mean, who doesn’t? 

But, let me tell you, it’s not always easy to go it alone. That’s why I suggest seeking out some help.

Join a writers’ group, a writing center, or something similar. Surround yourself with people who understand what you’re going through, who will offer constructive criticism, and who will cheer you on. A supportive community can make all the difference.

Now, I know what you’re thinking, “But my friends and family will always be supportive.” And that’s great, but sometimes it’s good to get an outside perspective, you know?

Strangers can be brutally honest in the best way, and that’s what you need to improve and grow.

Just be careful because there are some downers out there who can bring you down. But that’s why you want to be surrounded by a positive, encouraging community, right? So, find that group, and start climbing that ladder!

8. Create your Biography

When crafting your book’s bio, bring your A-game! Present a sleek and sophisticated biography, much like the one you’d spot on the back of a published book. 

Make sure to flaunt that gorgeous mug of yours with a stunning headshot because, let’s face it, first impressions are key. When it comes to describing your book, don’t go overboard. 

Keep it straight to the point, just like a back-cover blurb. Avoid getting too flowery or elaborate. Stick to the basics, and leave a lasting impression, alright?

9. Keep it more on the point and do not brag:

Okay, so when you’re submitting your work, it’s best to keep things straightforward. 

Don’t try to get cute with it by adding any quirky embellishments, don’t send in a proposed cover design from your girlfriend, or, if you’re going the old-fashioned route and mailing it, don’t add any scented potpourri.

That just ends up creating chaos and mess in the publishing offices, trust me. 

And, seriously, do NOT include any snacks, like biscuits. Those can attract pests like roaches; yuck! 

So, keep it simple, keep it professional, and let your work speak for itself, alright?

10. Implement a perfect Marketing strategy

Alright, so you want to promote your book, huh? Let me give you a few pointers. 

Firstly, try guest posting. I’ve had good luck with this, and when you link to your book in your bio, well, that’s just a bonus. 

It works best when the post is related to your book’s topic. For non-fiction writers, this should be a breeze since your content fits a wider range of blogs.

Next up, there are funnels. This approach requires multiple books, but some authors have had success with it. 

The idea is to offer the first book in your series for free, which draws in more readers than a for-sale book would. 

Then, the second book might cost a couple of bucks, and readers who get hooked on the first book will likely buy the second. And from there, maybe you’ll sell them an even pricier book or product. 

It’s all about starting small and building trust with the reader. If your books are good, this works like a charm. But, if people hate your first book, well, you know…

Advertising is another option, whether it’s with Google AdWords or Facebook. I personally don’t do it, but it can get you sales and increase awareness for your book. 

Just keep a close eye on your return on investment because losing a ton of money for just a few sales is not ideal.

Lastly, don’t forget about Goodreads. If you’re an author, it’s a must. Think of it as the world’s biggest book club.

I’ve run a couple of paperback giveaways on Goodreads, and while I can’t say it’s done wonders for sales, I can say it’s increased my presence there. 

That can only help in the long run, and who knows, it might have a small-to-moderate positive impact on sales in the long run, even if it doesn’t bring any short-term boosts.

How Much Does A Bestselling Author List Make?

Well, the deal with best-selling authors is this – their income is all over the place. It depends on a lot of things, you know? 

Like, as how many books they sell, how they write, where they publish, and how hard they promote and market their work. It’s a real mix of factors. 

Some best-selling authors make just a few grand, but others like J.K. Rowling, the one who wrote Harry Potter, are worth over a billion bucks!

But, most of them make a decent living, not just relying on book sales but also doing talks, selling stuff, and having their work made into movies or TV shows.

Quick Links:

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Bottom Line: Become The Best Selling Author 2024

As an aspiring writer, I know it’s important to take the necessary steps to increase my chances of making it on the bestseller list. 

That means getting serious about social media, building a platform, and creating quality content. It also means taking the time to research the market, hone my craft, and build a network of publishing contacts. 

With a bit of dedication and hard work, I’m sure you can reach your writing goals and make it to the bestseller list!