Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Bulk buying your way to the best seller's list.

Courtesy of the Daily Beast:

In January 2012, former megachurch pastor Mark Driscoll’s book Real Marriage went to the top spot on the Hardcover Advice section of The New York Times best-seller list. In March 2014, it was disclosed by evangelical magazine, World, that Driscoll’s publishing success was aided by a consulting firm called ResultSource, which purchased books on behalf of Driscoll in a coordinated effort to spike sales and give the impression that the book was popular with thousands of book buyers. Driscoll recently resigned from his church and one factor associated with his departure is the decision to buy his way onto the best-seller list. 

Driscoll later admitted that the scheme was wrong and even asked that the designation “New York Times best-selling author” be removed from his bio and book covers. However, Driscoll is not alone among evangelicals wanting to improve their brand and increase sales. 

This Daily Beast article is mainly concerned with how Christian authors get their books onto the best seller list, however I am sure that most of you were quick to realize that this is probably how a LOT of undeserving authors get there as well. 

In fact the author links to a 2013 Wall Street article which makes that very point: 

It isn't uncommon for a business book to land on best-seller lists only to quickly drop off. But even a brief appearance adds permanent luster to an author's reputation, greasing the skids for speaking and consulting engagements. 

But the short moment of glory doesn't always occur by luck alone. In the cases mentioned above, the authors hired a marketing firm that purchased books ahead of publication date, creating a spike in sales that landed titles on the lists. The marketing firm, San Diego-based ResultSource, charges thousands of dollars for its services in addition to the cost of the books, according to authors interviewed. 

As ResultSource's website points out, hitting best-seller lists can mean fame, and potentially lucrative consulting assignments. 

"Publishing a book builds credibility, but having a Bestseller initiates incredible growth—exponentially increasing the demand for your thought leadership, skyrocketing your speaking itinerary and value," ResultSource says. 

ResultSource's principal, Kevin Small, declined requests for an interview. On its website, the company outlines its ambitions: "'We create campaigns that reach a specific goal, like: "On the bestsellers list," or "100,000 copies sold.'"

Even though those who compile data for bestseller lists are vigilant about bulk book sales, and do not count them in their calculations, companies like ResultSource have found ways around their scrutiny.

This of course is the way that conservative authors like Mark Levin, Rush Limbaugh, and Bill O'Reilly obviously contiue receiving credit for writing bestsellers, even though their approach to their topic (Obama is bad!) is ham fisted and their built in audience is for the most part functionally illiterate.

And it also explains the success of this future bargain bin mainstay.

I had to read this literary shit stain for the blog, and I do believe that I have written far more eloquently constructed sentences while drunkenly banging my face onto the keyboard whilst attempting to retrieve a dropped cashew nut with my lips.

Hey do you remember back when an author actually had to write a good book to make it on the bestseller's list? When a politician actually had to garner votes from the majority of the people in order to get elected? And when a person's fifteen minutes of fame actually had to last only that fifteen minutes?

Boy those were the day weren't they?

58 comments:

  1. Anonymous4:03 AM

    Because authors who dont sell a lot of books have thousands show up to the mall of america. lol

    http://postimg.org/image/evsayiylb/

    The books that didnt do too well are Levi's book of fiction (did the worst) and bristol's hardback. But her kindle sales out sold ALL anti palin slander books.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:35 AM

      Jeezus, will you shut the fuck up already? Gryphen is a saint for letting your deranged comments through.

      Delete
    2. Stop you freakin lying troll. You dont remember how palin cut her "family vacation" short because she wasn't getting response or crowds. Or how the insufferable witch bought pallets of her own books of lies to sure up NYT bestseller list. The palins are well known to jimmy votes, give themselves good reviews, hire all kind of shifty people to increase or manipulate an desired outcome such as buy followers and likes.

      she is a first rate liar and shouldn't be trusted with a restroom key from the local gas station.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous8:20 AM

      Bristol's drunk again!

      Delete
    4. Anonymous8:57 AM

      OMG
      GET A LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
      Before your post anything else, please explain how:
      Sarah Palin gave birth to a Tri-G in a hospital that DOES NOT INDUCE HIGH RISK BIRTHS with a FAMILY PRCTICE PHYSICIAN who was not qualified not insured to INDUCE A HIGH RISK BIRTH.

      Without this best selling tale, there would BE NO SARAH PALIN VP candidate and stain no the earth!!!!!

      Why oh WHY?? didn't anyone call her on this.

      We would not be dealing with ANY of Palin's ridiculous nonsense if SOMEONE CALLED HER ON IT.

      Delete
    5. Anonymous9:36 AM

      Anonymous4:03 AM
      We ALL know the pac bought the books and gave some as "gifts" for giving to the pac, and boxes of the, are being pushed by creepy chucky & parents...

      Delete
    6. Anonymous10:11 AM

      My high-school-daughter pointed this out to me back when barstool was pushing her "book." My daughter initially actually fell for the older-teen-mother-story & was so upset at the bristol's "rape" story that she & her church-classmates did some research & found out that not only was the book not written by barstool, but the rape was a lie and later the "kindle" sales another trick-of-the-trade.
      You see the girls wanted to make sure they were not falling into the trap of the panty sniffers. Smart Girls!

      Delete
    7. Anonymous10:20 AM

      Last time I heard, the chuckies were pushing boxes of UNSOLD books! HAHAHAHAHAHA

      Delete
    8. Anonymous11:22 AM

      Bitch, you must eat slander for breakfast. Obviously you don't know what it means. Where is Bristol's High School Diploma? Where is Willow's High School Diploma? Where is Track's High School Diploma? Where is Sarah's College Degree? Where are all of their 'SEALED' Birth Certificates? When will Tri-g learn to eat solid foods? Why does Bristol ignore her other babies?

      Delete
    9. Anonymous1:44 PM

      Remember when Sarah Palin did a book signing with Bristol and wouldn't sign her own book for anyone unless they also bought one of her daughter's?

      Delete
    10. Anonymous3:28 PM

      Yes, I do remember that! How pathetic.
      I also remember Gryph's experience.
      He always takes one for us. LOL

      Delete
    11. Anita Winecooler5:10 PM

      Who wee wee'ed in your grape nuts?

      Delete
    12. Anonymous5:51 PM

      Dear troll, both Levi's and Bristol's books ended up at my local Dollar Tree. Guess whose was still there months later? (Hint: Not Levi's.) Guess whose I bought for $1 and enjoyed? (Hint: Not Bristol's.)

      Delete
    13. Anonymous6:09 PM

      @9:36AM You forgot to add her "donors" paid $100 for a book they could have purchased on Amazon for less that $20. What a scam!!!!

      As for Bristol's memoir , one comment that sticks in my mind was by a Christian woman who purchased the book for her granddaughter for "inspiration". After reading it, she was so appalled by the raunchiness, sex and accusations of rape, she threw it out.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous4:10 AM

    From the stacks and stacks I saw, not to mention fellow IMers' dollar store sightings, I never once believed that book to be a best seller, let alone the two following it. The Creepy Chuckies' also too? Dullard Bristol's? Yeah, RIGHT.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous4:11 AM

    The only book that tanked was DITH, a book where liberals rewrite jethro wannabe's entire life, ignore his own past comments, fictionalize his son's birth, insult all womankind more than once, plagarize and take quotes out of context (from other books).

    Luckily no one who matters will read it as I would hope even the "author" is hoping as it paints HIM in a BAD and awkward light. Bristol's hardback book did only a little better and continues to sell a few a month. But her kindle book topped all 3 liberal slander authors who wrote unauthorized bios.


    I just don't get how 2 immoral liberals thought it was right to make a dumb, educated boy look so stupid just for their own political motives. They made him look sex obsessed, and about people whom he doesn't know and wasn't around that long. What kid who dated a girl doesn't know her family goes on vacation multiple times a year? He didn't even reference the many times she was away from him while pregnant? he didn't mention her baby shower or any real events of that last month of pregnancy (dec 08). I feel for him. Liberals did him wrong once again.

    But everything is "kosher" (lol) now and he is finally ACTING like a respectable person and stopped hanging onto fame and wanting to be apart of his ex's family, people he still "likes a whole lot" as of april 2009.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous5:19 AM

      awww look! The troll got some sleep.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous7:09 AM

      Hi Bristol! Have you read any of these books? Have you read any books? Do you know how to read?

      Delete
    3. Anonymous7:50 AM

      So... her family goes on vacation multiple times a year? But I thought they were so hardworking? And hmmm, so Levi doesn't know the Palins at all? What did he do, impregnate Bristol by helicopter?

      And finally---"no one who matters" will read his book? Gee, I guess you're telling us you don't matter, isn't that right?

      I think we knew that already.

      Delete
    4. Your obsession with a mid-20s young man who seems perfectly content to live his life without reality shows, drunken brawls, and constant strife and irresponsibility is sick, sick, sick, sick.

      Delete
    5. WTF? Sounds like the dippy-unhippy troll is a liar just like her piss-poor example of a family, the regrettable palins.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous8:36 AM

      WOW, does it rankle someone that Levi is happily married to a stone cold fox and expecting his second child with her......

      Delete
    7. Anonymous9:00 AM

      I do believe Levi's book was a piece of shit lie.

      He never told how Bristol and he were married and how Bristol had Tri-G stolen by Sarah and how ..............

      Delete
    8. Anonymous9:44 AM

      OMG! where have we heard "everything is kosher" LOL>>LOL>>>> Is that Trick or Track or does the entire palin family talk like that...HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
      We know the palins are in the HOUSE!

      Delete
    9. Anonymous10:19 AM

      "fictionalize his son's birth?" There was no birth?! HAHAHAHAHA
      Hey Brisket...You're not making any sense because you're so jealous of his beautiful educated classy wife.

      Delete
    10. Anonymous10:55 AM

      You are correct 9:00am, Levi's book could have better if he would have told the truth about Trig. His actions spoke louder than words though when he actually took the time with Trig to engage with him in Special Olympics activities, when his "real" family didn't have time to deal with him. I'd never seen such love in a young man's eyes as I do in those photos taken in the Palin kitchen as Levi cradles his tiny newborn son Trig, I wonder if he knew then that the Palins were going to take him away from him and Bristol? He at least let the world know that Sarah referred to Trig as "the retarded one" nice that he was able to get that in there.

      Delete
    11. Anonymous10:56 AM

      Well i for one am looking forward to Bristol follow up book. The first one being titled My Life So Far, this follow up book is titled My Life, I Didn't Get Very Far, The True Story OF Stretch Limo's, Beer and Thong Dresses. It's also going to be on audio so all can enjoy the true meaning of what it means to be living the life of a Palin, I predict a best seller.

      Delete
    12. Anonymous11:14 AM

      BWAHAHAHAHA, the all night Troll is venting against Levi and his HAPPY family again. Troll, your incessant jealousy of the Johnstons is showing again.
      Why don't you volunteer to babysit all of Bristol's and Willow's ILLEGITIMATE Babies from numerous Trial Daddies? While you are there, get Track CGR Menard into REHAB.

      Delete
    13. Anonymous1:42 PM

      This isn't Bristol. It's the same Bristol-obsessed troll who seems a little too interested in creating a soap opera out of the lives of Bristol and Levi. She especially hates Sadie for some reason and has more recently gone after Sunny and even little Breeze.

      Our poor fairy-tale troll is a Drama Lady-in-Waiting for Drama Princess Bristol.

      Our poor fairy-tale troll is emotionally unwell and thinks she's still in high school where's there's always that overweight and/or otherwise non-conventionally pretty girl who does the dirty work for the popular kids so they might allow her to sit at their lunch table every now and then.

      She is pathetic and more to be pitied than scorned.

      Delete
    14. Anita Winecooler5:20 PM

      It's over, Bristol. Had you handled yourself differently, perhaps your life would be more vibrant and you'd be married to the father of your child. But that door's been shut, nailed, glued and soldered shut.
      Levi's happily married and has a beautiful wife who's smart, what else could a man ask for?
      You? You've made a spectacle of yourself. Kicked a guy out of your car and onto a curb (The not so good Samaritan of the "Bible"), all the world's your stage but where does the audience sit? Want Attention? You got it. Want persecution? Just ask. Want people to think you're smart? Take off the glasses and shut your lips. Chances are there's ONE oaf left under the bridge.

      Delete
    15. Anonymous5:29 PM

      A few people seem determined to insist that the troll is some deranged stalker -- what evidence is there for this conclusion? As opposed to the obvious conclusion, that our little troll has a much more personal stake in the issues? (If this were some nutcase stalker, are we to believe the Palins wouldn't have the resources to shut her down? Given how ruthlessly they've gone after so many others?)

      Delete
    16. Anonymous6:26 PM

      As opposed to the obvious conclusion, that our little troll has a much more personal stake in the issues?
      -----------------------
      I think you are correct !!!
      Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, especially after a few drinks.

      Delete
  4. "Hey do you remember back when an author actually had to write a good book to make it on the bestseller's list? "
    ---------------------------------------------------------
    You mean like Barack Obama (Dreams from My Father)?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:15 AM

      President Obama's best-seller is actually titled Dreams of My Father, and it is actually an articulate, thought-provoking book.

      Delete
    2. Well, the copy I am staring at right now is very clearly titled Dreams from My Father.

      And yes, it is an excellent and well-written book, as is clear in my comment.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous4:56 AM

    VERY interesting post. Thanks, Big G!

    And you, unlike some moosestains we could mention, are a wonderful, funny, cogent writer, and you come by it honestly.

    Thank you for being you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous5:43 AM

      I second that!

      Delete
    2. One mentally challenged troll aint gonna stop g.

      ONE TROLL WITH MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES

      Delete
  6. Dinty5:01 AM

    It might be a good idea to go through the PAC's reports to see if ResultSource appears in any filings...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:26 AM

      SarahPAC doesn't show any payments to ResultSource. Palin could easily pay for book sales manipulation from her personal bank account and take a tax deduction.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:20 AM

      POSTAGE POSTAGE POSTAGE

      Delete
  7. Anonymous5:13 AM

    Postage.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous5:29 AM

    From SP's Facebook:
    "Three-time New York Times Bestselling Author"

    From Sarah:
    "Thank you SarahPAC donors!"

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous5:38 AM

    One clue to how a book is really doing is to watch its preorders. Sarah's last book was languishing at a terrible sales rank on Amazon practically until the day it was published, then it zoomed up. I doubt we'll see another; she had a 3-book contract, and the Christmas book was the third. Harper Collins lost big on the last two.

    This kind of bulk buying IS counted on the lists, but the NYT will now note when a significant part of a book's sales come from bulk buying, unless it is engineered by one of these firms in a way that hides it (which is possible).

    I hate to say it, but Sarah's first book did sell seriously huge, over 2 million copies. But everything since then, including Bristol's embarrassing little package of lies, did not do well at all. Their sun has set.


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. F U McCain8:14 AM

      She still had "shine" when Going Rogue came out.

      I shop for books at Goodwill and I kid You not, last time I went there were nine copies of GR there.

      I think it's quite telling bc people KEEP books that they LIKE and books that made them THINK and books they may read again.

      Sarah Palin's "books" are none of those things.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous9:02 AM

      lol.
      I've seen them at many a garage sale as well, and charity book drives...

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:23 AM

      My brother organizes garage sales for the destitue, and he has lots of $carah's books. No only that, but people won't buy them or take them for FREE. LOL

      Delete
    4. Anonymous10:52 AM

      My college group takes books to retirement homes & read to occupants. $carah's books ALWAYS get skipped!
      Sarah! pay attention. The majority of "likes" on your FB are those you purchased.

      Delete
    5. F U McCain1:54 PM

      My aunt gave me her copy of GR after she got if for Christmas.

      She practically threw it at me. I'm serious.

      I couldn't even waste five minutes on that poorly written, venomous "mean girl" garbage.

      It truly is a terrible book.

      (Psst - And this was her *best* one.. Shhh.)

      Delete
    6. Anonymous2:38 PM

      My boyfriend bought me a copy for Christmas as a gag gift! Ha-ha.

      When I took it to the store as a return, the clerk told me they'd had many, many returns of that book!

      Delete
    7. Anita Winecooler5:36 PM

      I, purchased "Going Rouge" when it first came out, and the recipient, to this day, doesn't know it's a spoof.

      Delete
  10. The Daily Beast piece borrows extensively–and credits accordingly–from the work of psychology professor Warren Throckmorton. He is to former Mars Hill cultist and noxious douchebro, Mark Driscoll, what our beloved Gryphen is to Half-Governor Wasyphillis. It gets deeply weedy (i.e., inside baseball), but his blog affords rare insight into the twin pathologies of Driscoll individually and the brand of bizarrely antediluvian Neo-Calvinism he's constructed in his own image: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/warrenthrockmorton/.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous2:25 PM

    Semi-OT: Julianne Moore is on "Ellen" today promoting a new movie. Ellen told her that she's so good in everything she does, "you were SUCH a good Sarah Palin!" Julianne giggles, the audience give thunderous applause......

    Put that in your pipe, trolls.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anita Winecooler5:33 PM

      She's on the cover of some magazine and her beauty just blows me away. She's got such flawless skin and she's in fantastic shape! (Julianne, that is). Turn the mag on it's side and you've got Stickfigure Sarah

      Delete
  12. People can also manipulate "LIKES" at websites to make themselves appear more popular then they really. There is no question that is what $arah is doing on her websites. The number of 'likes' at her web sites far exceeds what anyone would expect for her to get.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous3:09 PM

      Absolutely right, m baker, and the official c4p like-watcher himself, food stamp Pete, still doesn't get it. He honestly thinks Her Heifer is rising by leaps and bounds. Those people over there are bonzai cray cray. There will be no $arah 2016, wait until they discover it so. I can't wait.

      Delete
  13. Anita Winecooler5:29 PM

    What's sad is there are many decent writers who deserve a chance, and these cheaters and frauds are gumming up the works. I had a dear friend who passed away, she was working on the third book of a trillogy and she had almost everything set and ready to go. Her executor got in touch with Scribed, A social network site about publishing. They hired three ghostwriters to finish the third book and keep her "voice" consistent. She wrote children's books and a few books of poetry. Not saying she's up there with the experienced writers, but she was well on her way, and hopefully we'll see her work on the best seller's list - the old fashioned way.

    ReplyDelete

Don't feed the trolls!
It just goes directly to their thighs.