Tracking Your Sales
Monitor revenue and performance across all channels.
Dashboard Overview
- Lifetime Revenue — Total earnings across all time
- Unpaid Revenue — Current balance pending payment (minimum $5 threshold)
Sales & Analytics
Navigate to Sales & Analytics for detailed data:
- Sales by book title
- Revenue by distribution channel
- Sales by country/region
- Daily, weekly, and monthly trends
- Royalty breakdowns by retailer
Reporting Delays
Sales don't appear instantly. Retailers report on delayed schedules:
| Retailer | Reporting Timeline |
|---|---|
| Apple Books | Monthly (30-45 days after sale) |
| Google Play | Monthly (30-60 days after sale) |
| Kobo | Every 2 months (45-60 days) |
| OverDrive | Every 2 months (60-90 days) |
This is standard across the entire publishing industry, not unique to Shelf Indulgence.
Payment Timeline
- Month 1: Reader buys your book
- Month 2: Retailer reports sale, appears in dashboard
- Month 3: Retailer pays us, we pay you (if over $5)
Key Metrics to Watch
- Sales Velocity — How many sales per day/week (spike after launch, then stabilize)
- Best Performing Stores — Focus marketing on top performers
- Geographic Performance — Consider translations for strong markets
Realistic Expectations
- First month: 10-50 sales typical for debut authors
- Established authors: 100-500 sales per month per title
- Bestsellers: 1,000+ sales per month
Improving Sales
- Write more books (backlist sells frontlist)
- Run promotions and price reductions
- Build email list of readers
- Engage on social media
- Optimize metadata and descriptions
Tax Reporting
Download annual earnings statement from your account. 1099 forms issued if you earn $600+ per year (US authors). Consult a tax professional for specific advice.
Payment Schedule | Our Pricing Model | Sales Not Appearing Yet