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Popular Books Analytics

Understanding which books are popular helps you make smart stocking and marketing decisions. BookWish tracks multiple popularity metrics to give you a complete picture of what your customers want.

Types of Popularity Metrics​

Best Sellers​

Books that are actually selling:

  • Definition: Ranked by number of copies sold
  • Time Period: Typically last 30 days or selected period
  • Use Case: Restocking, repeat purchases, proven demand

Most Wishlisted​

Books customers want but may not have purchased yet:

  • Definition: Ranked by number of wishlists containing the book
  • Time Period: All-time or recent additions
  • Use Case: Stocking new titles, anticipating demand

Books gaining momentum:

  • Definition: Rapid increase in sales or wishlist adds
  • Time Period: Recent activity (last 7-14 days)
  • Use Case: Catching early trends, seasonal demand

From Analytics Dashboard​

  1. Log in to your store admin
  2. Navigate to Analytics
  3. Select Popular Books section
  4. Choose your metric (bestsellers, wishlisted, trending)

Quick Views​

Available views:

  • Top 10: Quick snapshot of most popular
  • Top 50: Broader view of performing books
  • All: Complete ranked list
  • Category Filtered: Popular within specific genres

Best Sellers Analysis​

Understanding the Report​

Your bestsellers report shows:

Columns:

  • Rank: Position in bestseller list
  • Book Title: Full title and subtitle
  • Author: Primary author
  • Copies Sold: Quantity sold in period
  • Revenue: Total revenue from this book
  • Stock Status: Current inventory level
  • Trend: Up, down, or steady from previous period

Using Bestseller Data​

Restocking Decisions:

  • Keep bestsellers in stock at all times
  • Order in larger quantities for volume discounts
  • Stock multiple copies displayed prominently
  • Set low-stock alerts for top sellers

Marketing Opportunities:

  • Feature bestsellers in store displays
  • Promote on social media
  • Create staff recommendation lists
  • Bundle with related titles

Financial Planning:

  • Calculate revenue impact of stockouts
  • Prioritize budget for proven sellers
  • Forecast based on bestseller trends
  • Negotiate better terms with publishers

Seasonal Bestsellers​

Some books sell seasonally:

  • Summer Reads: Beach reads, lighter fiction (May-August)
  • Fall Books: Literary fiction, mysteries (September-November)
  • Holiday Books: Gift-worthy titles (November-December)
  • New Year: Self-help, business books (January-February)

Track year-over-year to predict seasonal demand.

Most Wishlisted Books​

Why Wishlists Matter​

Wishlists are a leading indicator of demand:

  • Customers signal interest before purchase
  • Gift-givers browse wishlists for ideas
  • High wishlist count = potential sales
  • Shows unmet demand if book is out of stock

Understanding Wishlist Analytics​

Wishlist Metrics:

  • Total Wishlists: How many customer wishlists include this book
  • Recent Adds: New wishlist additions (last 7/30 days)
  • Conversion Rate: % of wishlisted items eventually purchased
  • Stock Status: Whether you currently have it in stock

Acting on Wishlist Data​

Stock Books People Want:

  1. Review most wishlisted books
  2. Identify titles not currently in stock
  3. Calculate potential revenue (wishlists × average conversion × price)
  4. Order high-demand titles

See Wishlist Demand for detailed stocking guidance.

Promote Availability:

  • Notify customers when wishlisted items are in stock
  • Feature newly stocked wishlist favorites
  • Create "most wanted" displays
  • Use wishlist data in email campaigns

Understand Customer Preferences:

  • Identify genre preferences
  • Spot format preferences (hardcover, paperback, audio)
  • Find author favorites
  • Track trending topics

A book is trending when it shows:

  • Rapid sales increase: 50%+ week-over-week growth
  • Wishlist surge: Significant new wishlist adds
  • Recent release: New titles gaining traction
  • Social buzz: Mentioned in clubs or challenges

Organic Trends:

  • Word-of-mouth recommendations
  • Social media virality
  • Book club selections
  • Media coverage (reviews, author interviews)

Store-Driven Trends:

  • Your marketing campaigns
  • Staff recommendations
  • In-store events
  • BookWish challenges featuring the book

External Trends:

  • Movie/TV adaptations announced or released
  • Author publicity tours
  • Award nominations or wins
  • TikTok/BookTok mentions

Act Quickly:

  • Stock trending books immediately
  • Order extra copies before supply runs out
  • Create prominent displays
  • Promote while momentum is high

Ride the Wave:

  • Feature in newsletters and social media
  • Create related book recommendations
  • Host events around trending topics
  • Stock backlist by same author

Monitor Competition:

  • Check if other stores are out of stock
  • Be the local source for hot titles
  • Market your availability
  • Consider exclusive signings if possible

Using Data for Stocking Decisions​

Prioritization Framework​

Use all three metrics together:

High Priority (Stock generously):

  • Bestseller + Most Wishlisted + Trending = Stock 10-20 copies
  • Proven demand with growing interest

Medium Priority (Stock moderately):

  • Bestseller + Most Wishlisted = Stock 5-10 copies
  • Bestseller + Trending = Stock 5-10 copies
  • Strong current demand

Low Priority (Stock conservatively):

  • Most Wishlisted only = Stock 2-5 copies
  • Potential demand, test the market
  • Trending only = Stock 3-5 copies (could be temporary)

Watch List (Monitor):

  • Books showing early signals
  • Recent wishlist adds increasing
  • Mentioned in your book clubs
  • Industry buzz but not local yet

Category-Specific Insights​

Analyze popularity within categories:

  • Fiction > Mystery: What mystery subgenres sell best?
  • Non-Fiction > Business: Which business topics trend?
  • Young Adult: What's popular with your YA audience?
  • Local Interest: Regional and local author performance

Format Preferences​

Track which formats are popular:

  • Hardcover vs. paperback sales
  • Audiobook interest (via wishlists)
  • Special editions or illustrated versions
  • Large print or accessibility formats

Competitive Analysis​

Local Market Intelligence​

Use your data to understand your market:

  • What sells in YOUR store vs. national trends
  • Your customers' unique preferences
  • Underserved niches in your area
  • Opportunities missed by competitors

Differentiation Opportunities​

Find your niche:

  • Stock deeply in your bestselling categories
  • Curate unique selections
  • Feature local/regional authors
  • Specialize in genres others don't carry

Reporting and Sharing​

Internal Reports​

Share insights with your team:

  • Weekly bestseller updates
  • Monthly trend reports
  • Staff buying guides
  • Marketing campaign ideas

Customer Communications​

Share what's popular:

  • Email newsletters: "This Month's Bestsellers"
  • Social media: Trending book highlights
  • In-store signage: "Flying off the shelves!"
  • Website: Real-time bestseller widget

Publisher Relations​

Use data in conversations with publishers:

  • Demonstrate sales history for better terms
  • Request early copies of trending titles
  • Negotiate exclusives for bestselling authors
  • Share local market insights

Advanced Analytics​

Correlation Analysis​

Look for patterns:

  • Do certain authors consistently sell well?
  • Which publishers' books trend in your store?
  • Are there seasonal patterns by genre?
  • What times of year see highest sales?

Customer Segmentation​

Understand WHO buys what:

  • Book club members' preferences
  • Gift buyers vs. personal readers
  • Fiction vs. non-fiction customers
  • Format preferences by demographic

Predictive Insights​

Use historical data to forecast:

  • Next season's likely bestsellers
  • Reorder timing for consistent sellers
  • Seasonal stocking needs
  • Budget allocation by category

Troubleshooting​

Data Seems Inaccurate​

If numbers don't match your expectations:

  • Verify date range selected
  • Check if POS integration is working
  • Confirm all sales channels are included
  • Contact support if discrepancies persist

If a nationally trending book isn't selling locally:

  • Give it time (trends reach markets differently)
  • Increase local promotion and visibility
  • Verify you have sufficient stock
  • Consider whether it fits your audience
  • Don't chase every trend - know your market

Bestsellers Going Out of Print​

If top sellers become unavailable:

  • Order immediately when available
  • Find similar titles to recommend
  • Communicate with customers
  • Use wishlists to track demand
  • Consider pre-orders if reissue announced

Next Steps​

Smart Stocking

The best stocking strategy combines all three metrics: stock generously for titles that are bestsellers AND wishlisted AND trending. Monitor regularly and adjust based on your unique market.