Status Report

I am trying do something each day that will help make progress toward selling 1,000,000 copies.  In addition, I need to track that progress. 

Metric #1: Units sold
Source: Createspace account
As of today: 15

If your goal is selling a certain number of units, then tracking units sold, very well could be the most direct way to measure that.  In fact, I am so confident that tracking units sold is the best way to measure yourself against a goal of units sold, that I am not going to devote any time researching an alternative.

Metric #2: Amazon Sales Rank
Source: Amazon book page
As of today: #311,804 in Books

I am going to use this as a momentum indicator.  My best day was Jan 16, 2013 with five copies sold.  I did not record the Sales Rank, but I recall it as being 80 thousand something.  To sell 1,000,000 copies at 5 a day will take 200,000 days, which is just under 548 years, so clearly this metric needs to get to sub-1000 at least.  And I am glad they specify "in Books."  I am probably #345,735 in Books and Refrigerators, but that does imply there are at least 33,931 refrigerator models available and selling better than my book.  I feel that might be a little high, so I am probably more like #328,872 in Books and Refrigerators.  Yes!  I just jumped 16,863 by make believe fact-checking a made up number.

Others to consider:
Metric #3: Amazon # of Reviews
Metric #4: Amazon Average Review (# of stars)

My initial goal is to get a review, and hope that it is 4 stars or better.  And follow that up with one that is from someone I don't know.

Report format:
Units sold: 15
Amazon Sales Rank: #311,804 in Books

To be continued...