If you’re writing a book, you should care about hitting the bestseller lists – but not for reasons you might think.
Now before you cut me off, I hear you. I hear you say how you don’t care about the bestseller lists because your book isn’t a vanity project, that you’re not trying to feed your ego…
And honestly? I completely agree. Hitting a bestseller list shouldn’t be ego-driven. It should be impact-driven. Because when you hit the bestseller list, it opens up new opportunities for you to spread your message and reach the people you’re meant to serve. Let me show you how.
Bestseller Lists Are a Powerful Filter in a Noisy World
Welcome to the era of endless options. Thousands of books are published every single week, and the sheer volume of content is overwhelming. As readers, we need a way to cut through the noise. Bestseller lists act as a filter, helping us quickly identify books that are worth our time, money, and energy.
If a book has reached enough people to make it onto a bestseller list, it signals that the author has done the work to bring that book into the world. It’s not just sitting in obscurity. It’s out there, making an impact. That type of exposure creates a level of perceived credibility and quality that helps your book stand out from the crowd.
In this sense, a bestseller list is a filter that helps readers decide where to place their finite attention.
What Hitting a Bestseller List Says About Your Book
Let’s make one thing clear: hitting a bestseller list does not happen by accident. Whether it’s the USA Today list, The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, or even an Amazon bestseller list, these accolades are a result of strategy, effort, and a whole lot of hustle.
When your book lands on a bestseller list, it sends a message to the world that:
- Your book has traction with a significant number of people.
- Your book has credibility because it’s passed a certain threshold of quality.
- Your book has staying power.
The Real Reason You Should Care About Bestseller Lists
Why do you want to write a book? It’s because you have something important to share, right? You believe in your message and you want it to change lives. But for your book to make the impact you dream of, it has to get into people’s hands.
That’s where bestseller lists come in. They’re not the end goal, they’re a means to an end. When your book hits a bestseller list, it becomes more visible, more credible, and more likely to reach the people who need it most.
If you’re thinking, “I don’t care about hitting a list,” I’d challenge you to ask yourself this: Why are you writing a book in the first place? If the answer is to help, inspire, or serve others, then you should care deeply about doing the work to make your book as successful as possible.
Hitting a bestseller list amplifies your message. Why wouldn’t you give your book every opportunity to make an impact?
The Hard Truth About Writing and Promoting a Book
Here’s the challenging truth: writing the book is only half the battle. To reach the people it’s meant to help, you, the author, have to promote it. That means talking about it, marketing it, selling it, and, yes, doing what it takes to hit a bestseller list.
Because when your book makes a bestseller list, it gains recognition. It gets filtered through the noise. And that recognition leads to more people discovering it, reading it, and being transformed by it.
So why should you care about hitting a bestseller list? Because your book has the power to change lives—and the list gives it the platform it needs to do just that.
If you’re ready to take your book (and your message) to the next level, don’t just stop at writing. Do the work to make it a bestseller so you can make the impact you dream of making.
Ready to Share Your Message With the World?
Writing a book is one thing. Building a strategy to get it in front of the people who need it most is another. That’s where Brand Builders Group comes in. If you’re ready to turn your book into a bestseller and amplify your impact, let’s talk. Schedule a free Brand Strategy Call today and take the first step toward building the platform your book deserves.
