| Becoming a New York Times Best Seller is a | | | | As said earlier you have to sell many |
| tough challenge. It requires a well-planned | | | | thousands of books to become a New York Times |
| and executed aggressive marketing campaign | | | | Best Seller. This is achieved through having |
| and authors have to maintain a gruelling | | | | a wide distribution and an excellent |
| schedule of interviews, book signing, etc. | | | | marketing campaign. However, success breeds |
| So why do authors aim for this accolade? | | | | success. Once your book hits the New York |
| | | | Times Best Seller list the publicity machine |
| Here are five reasons why authors strive for | | | | gains momentum. |
| this coveted title: | | | | |
| | | | More people hear about your book and more |
| 1. Prestige | | | | people want to discover for themselves what |
| | | | made your book so popular. The net result is |
| The prestige that you gain when you become a | | | | that you can expect a greater volume of |
| New York Times Best Seller is huge and it is | | | | sales. And authors can capitalise on this, |
| a title that is yours to keep for life. The | | | | keep their marketing machine going to stay on |
| parameters for becoming a New York Times Best | | | | this best sellers list for consecutive weeks. |
| Seller are clearly defined. They are not | | | | For instance, Stephen Colbert's "I Am |
| subjective or open to interpretation compared | | | | America (And So Can You)" was on the New York |
| to becoming say an Amazon Best Seller. | | | | Times Best Seller's list for five consecutive |
| | | | weeks during 2007 and 2008. |
| The latter can manipulated and can be | | | | |
| achieved by selling as little as 300 books | | | | 5. More Opportunities |
| sometimes even less. In addition, some | | | | |
| authors claim to be an Amazon Best Seller | | | | As a Best Selling author you will receive far |
| when they have hit Amazon's top 100 or even | | | | more opportunities as a consultant, trainer, |
| top 1,000 which lowers the credibility of | | | | leader, speaker, etc. There will be |
| this title. No one questions your | | | | increased media opportunities as well. Where |
| credibility when you are a New York Times | | | | you previously had to court the media you'll |
| Best Seller. | | | | discover that the media will actively seek |
| | | | you out as Ephren Taylor discovered, much to |
| 2. Visibility | | | | his surprise, when his "Creating Success from |
| | | | the Inside Out" was published. |
| Your book will receive prime placement in | | | | |
| bookstores. Your book will be placed in a | | | | "I've been on National TV, CNBC. I've been on |
| prominent place in show windows. Special | | | | 2020. I've been on Montel - twice! I've got a |
| displays for your book are also created | | | | weekly slot on Fox News Cable |
| within the store. This of course all adds up | | | | nationally...I've been on hundreds of radio |
| to greater visibility for your book and | | | | shows and it has been indexed on blogs, in |
| therefore a greater chance for people to see | | | | newspapers...My speaking fees have |
| your book and perhaps buy it. | | | | quadrupled. I've got an agent now - believe |
| | | | it not - an agent that represents me for |
| 3. Discounted Price | | | | speaking engagements. I've done two movies |
| | | | with the book deal. So the book was great for |
| Bookstores generally discount NYT Best | | | | me. It's brought in tons of clients - people |
| Sellers anywhere from 20 to 50% and at no | | | | who read the book." |
| cost to the author. In other words, the | | | | |
| bookstore will still purchase the book at the | | | | An important thing to note is that Ephren |
| same price and so authors will still receive | | | | Taylor's book "Creating Success from the |
| the same royalty for each book sold. | | | | Inside Out" has not, to date, made the New |
| However, the reduction in price will | | | | York Times Best Seller list. However, this |
| naturally encourage more book sales. | | | | book is an Amazon Best Seller and, given that |
| | | | this is a far less prestigious achievement, |
| 4. Greater Volume of Book Sales | | | | imagine how your life can change once you |
| | | | become a New York Times Best Seller. |