Various agencies, booksellers, and e-commerce platforms keep publishing lists of bestselling books. Rarely will you find some similar titles in most of the lists. Although these lists claim to be the list of actual bestselling books, these are primarily curated lists based on a limited number of sales in a few places. All publishers of bestselling books admit it, and it includes the New York Times bestsellers 2021. The problem is that all these lists suffer from bias and are not based on actually selling. A small group of people decides what to include in the list, and it is never an indicator of what is selling the most and thus not a comprehensive list that can become a general reference for all books published.
New York Times bestsellers 2021
Setting aside the anomalies about creating an actual list of best-selling books, one must admit that the list published by New York Times is most important. Book lovers repose massive faith in the NYT’s bestselling books 2021 despite the various shortcomings that the publisher admits openly. However, it is not an actual list of bestselling books but only ‘reflective’ of books because no scientific sampling method is followed in choosing the books. It’s only a collection of certain books selling at a specific time at some bookstores and online retailers across the country. Despite controversies about the bestseller books list, authors find it hard to refrain from entering the NYT’s list because it is prestigious.
It’s a marketing tool.
Most authors try to find a place in any of the bestseller books 2021 because of the commercial implications. Books that appear in the list of bestsellers enjoy more sales than others, and if it is NYT’s list, then the gains are much higher. The lists considerably influence book lovers who base their book-buying decisions on such lists.
Books that become New York Times bestsellers enjoy increased sales, and the impact is the highest for debut authors. In 2004, Alan Sorensen, a professor of economics, showed that the sales of books of debut authors appearing in the NYT bestseller list increased the sales by 57%. However, the list’s sales of other authors’ books increased by 13% – 14%.
Doing it with an intention.
One thing is evident that authors whose books make it to the list of top-selling books in 2021 either have to leave it to chance or work toward it diligently to fulfill the goal. Many authors are eager to find a place in the best sellers list for reasons best known to them. While it might make sense for debut authors who are desperate to get a toehold in the trade, it might not be a sane move for experienced authors. In the end, it is all about personal ambitions and the way authors want to place them in front of the readers.
How to make it into the NYT bestseller list?
Get the backing of an established publisher
New York Times attaches importance to compiling the list of best sellers. They have a high preference for the big New York publishing houses, barring a few fiction genres. Self-published books do not have any meaning, even if sales are pretty high. The publisher’s status overrules the sales figures achieved to gain the recognition of the New York Times,
Get preorders for 10,000 plus books
New York Times has their preference of sales channels when picking the books, and having preorder booking of more than 10,000 copies is a prerequisite to qualifying for listing. It means that you must choose the sales channels that earn the trust of the New York Times to achieve the preorder level, or else you have no chance for any consideration.
Earn praise from mainstream Press
Your book must earn recognition from the mainstream media to see it appear on the bestseller list. The stamp of approval or endorsement by the Press is what New York Times looks for.
If you play the games by the rules, your book might find a place in the New York Times bestsellers 2021.
