On Jokes is available on pre-order and I’ve been looking at the Amazon charts, to see how it’s doing. Previous posts can be tracked from the main page (here) in the timeline (down at the bottom).

I wasn’t intending to publish another update so soon – but this one is to look at the impact of a recent promo video, that went out on August 11^th – on YouTube and across Jimmy’s socials (post here).

As it happens, I’d just had a look at the charts a few hours before the post and, being a bit of a stats geek, I followed up on the 14^th to see if it had made a difference.

First of all – the data below is not as “scientific” as I’d like it to be for lots of reasons:

1. The Amazon websites don’t standardise which book categories the book is in
2. They also don’t STICK to the categories – so the charts listed randomly come and go
3. Although the October release is only supposed to be Hardback and Kindle – some of the Amazon’s also have the Paperback listed (with a price) and show differing chart positions
4. Some have the book listed but no chart info
5. There is a main category of Books (or Kindle Books) but for some countries Books in English may be more important.
6. Some have more chart categories showing than others so a single book sale could have chart positions for 4-5 charts
7. Some of the Amazon’s have identical chart positions for Hardback / Kindle and some show unique rankings

And on it goes…

The last two are the most impactful as it could mean that the Hardback (hard cover) moving up 500 positions will also mean the Kindle chart moved up 500. But another country may only show a single 500 change.

Which means none of this gives a clear indication of actual sales figures as a single book sale could move the dial on 4-5 different charts.

So, please take this with a pinch of the proverbial. It’s just some numbers that demonstrate the impact of that promotion.

21 countries (on my check list) didn’t take part in this analysis.

• No charts showing yet (but book is visible) – Belgium, South Africa
• Book not listed on that country’s Amazon – Turkey, UAE
• Shipping comes from a larger country’s main hub – Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Israel, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Switzerland, Thailand

This means the info below relates to Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, UK and US.

What was the impact on the chart placement positions?

• Hardback – 539,205
• Kindle – 665,608
• Paperback – 464,791

A grand total of 1,669,604

Which is one heck of a success, I’d say.

The biggest changes:

Australia / Kindle

Across 4 chart categories it moved 204,677 places and is #8 on Comedy (books).

France / Hardback

Across 4 chart categories it moved 349,881 places, highest being 391 on Jokes & Riddles Humour.

Germany / Hardback

Across 4 chart categories it moved 99,302 places, highest being #79 in Jokes for children (seriously?).

And Germany’s Kindle chart moved 270,491 across 4 categories – notice the big difference? Making it hard to compare anything. Highest place #225 in Entertainers Biographies.

Spain / Paperback

Across 3 chart categories it moved 242,363 places, highest being #25,071 for Books in English.