Being a great writer is just the start. If you want true success as an author-entrepreneur, you need to treat your book business like a real business.
That means tracking your numbers and using them to make smart decisions. A KPI dashboard lets you see if you are growing, what’s working, and what needs fixing.
Without one, you are guessing instead of winning.
A KPI (Key Performance Indicator) dashboard is a special page or tool that shows all your most important numbers in one easy place.
It’s like having the dashboard of a car: you see if you are running low on fuel, how fast you are going, and if anything needs attention.
For authors, your KPI dashboard can help you sell more books, connect with more readers, and grow your income every month.
Why KPIs Matter for Authors
- They show if your business is making real progress, not just guessing
- Clear metrics help you fix problems before they become expensive
- You’ll see which books, genres, and marketing efforts create the best results
- You make data-driven decisions, not emotional guesses
- Tracking numbers is how big publishing companies become bestsellers—and you can do the same thing, even from your kitchen table
The Most Important KPIs for Author-Entrepreneurs
Below are the key metrics you should put on your dashboard. Each explains what to track, why it matters, and how to use it to grow your book business.
1. Book Sales
- What it is: The total number of books you sell, by format and by day/week/month
- Why it matters: Sales tell you if your books are reaching readers. If sales drop, it’s a sign you need to act fast.
- How to track: KDP Reports dashboard, Book Report tool, Google Sheets
2. Royalty Revenue
- What it is: The amount of money (royalties) your books earn for you each day, week, and month
- Why it matters: This is your actual income, not just sales numbers. High sales with low royalties could mean your pricing is wrong.
- How to track: KDP Dashboard, royalty calculators, spreadsheets
3. KENP Reads (Kindle Edition Normalized Pages)
- What it is: The number of ebook pages read by Kindle Unlimited subscribers
- Why it matters: Shows how much readers are engaging with your Kindle books and helps you spot top performers in KU
- How to track: Amazon KDP dashboard’s KENP Reports
4. Book Rating/Average Review Score
- What it is: The average star rating from user reviews on Amazon and other platforms
- Why it matters: Higher ratings help your book sell itself. A sudden drop highlights quality, content, or marketing issues.
- How to track: Amazon product page, Author Central, review monitoring tools
5. Review Count
- What it is: The total number of customer reviews for each book
- Why it matters: Books with more reviews rank higher, sell better, and get more trust. Reviews are social proof.
- How to track: Amazon dashboard, Goodreads, third-party review apps
6. Return Rate
- What it is: The percentage of books that readers return for a refund
- Why it matters: High return rates could mean poor quality, misleading descriptions, or the wrong audience.
- How to track: KDP dashboard, sales and returns reports
7. Print vs Digital Sales Ratio
- What it is: The balance between print and digital sales
- Why it matters: Shows where your buyers are. Helps decide if you should create more print books, ebooks, or audiobooks.
- How to track: KDP Reports, Book Report tool, sales splits per format
8. Time to Market
- What it is: How long it takes you to go from book idea to published book
- Why it matters: Authors who release books faster can jump on trends and grow their catalog quickly.
- How to track: Track key dates (idea, draft, editing, publish) in project management tools
9. Ad Spend, ACOS, and ROAS
- What it is: How much you spend on ads, your advertising cost of sales (ACOS), and your return on ad spend (ROAS)
- Why it matters: Shows if you are wasting money or making a profit with your ads. Helps you adjust quickly for better results.
- How to track: Amazon Advertising dashboard, spreadsheets, Book Report, SellerMetrics
10. Reader Engagement Rate
- What it is: Measures how much readers interact with your book (likes, shares, social posts, email replies, etc.)
- Why it matters: Engaged readers become superfans. The more engagement, the more likely you’ll build a loyal following.
- How to track: Social media analytics, email list tools, reader responses, review activity
11. Sales per Channel
- What it is: Where your sales come from (Amazon US, UK, CA, other stores, print, ebook, audio)
- Why it matters: Shows where you are strong or weak, so you can focus your efforts where it counts most.
- How to track: KDP Reports dashboard, channel breakdowns, author sales spreadsheets
12. Market Penetration
- What it is: How well your books sell compared to competitors in your genre or category
- Why it matters: Tells you if your books are reaching enough people in your chosen market or if you need to improve.
- How to track: Category bestseller rankings, market research, competitor analysis
Bonus KPIs for Growth-Focused Authors
- Author Satisfaction Score: Are you happy with your process, output, and team? Vital if you outsource or work with others.
- Royalty Payment Accuracy: Always double check your royalty statements to make sure you are not missing money.
- Title Acquisition Success Rate: For publishers, track how often your picked titles hit revenue or target benchmarks.
- Average Customer Lifetime Value: How much does a customer spend with you over several books or years?
How to Set Up Your Author KPI Dashboard
1. Pick Your KPIs
Use the list above and choose the numbers that matter most for your phase. A new author may track sales, reviews, and reviews per book. A more advanced author may add ACOS and market penetration.
2. Choose a Dashboard Tool
- KDP Reports Dashboard: Free, real-time sales and revenue data
- Book Report: Chrome extension for easier viewing of KDP data
- Excel/Google Sheets: Build a custom dashboard with charts
- Publisher Champ: Paid, highly customizable analytics solution
- ClickUp or Notion: For goal tracking and time management
- Printed Wall Charts: Great for visual learners; helps the whole family see progress!
3. Update Data Regularly
Check your KPIs weekly or monthly, depending on your schedule. Set calendar reminders or use automated dashboards.
4. Review and Adjust
Look for trends. If sales drop after three months, dig into reviews or ad performance. If print is outselling digital, consider expanding your paperback catalog.
Common KPI Dashboard Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Mistake 1: Focusing on just one metric (like sales)
Solution: Use a balanced dashboard so you see the full picture
Mistake 2: Ignoring negative trends or returns
Solution: Watch all your numbers—even the tough ones. Fix problems fast
Mistake 3: Data overload
Solution: Start with 5–7 key metrics and only add more as you grow
Mistake 4: Not acting on your data
Solution: Every low number is an invitation to improve. Make a plan and act on it
Author Case Study: Building Success with a KPI Dashboard
Maria started as a children’s book author. At first, she only tracked book sales each month.
When her sales hit a plateau, she decided to start using a simple KPI dashboard with these metrics:
- Book sales per month
- Royalty revenue
- Review count and average rating
- Ad spend versus sales
- Market penetration in her category
After three months, Maria noticed her sales grew every time she emailed her list and published a paperback version of her ebook.
She increased her focus on these two channels.
By the end of the year, her sales tripled, she won awards, and had more fun writing than ever before.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What’s the most important metric to track as a new author?
A: Focus first on book sales, royalty revenue, and reviews. These help you prove your book fits the market.
Q: How often should I update my dashboard?
A: Weekly is great for active authors, but monthly is fine for most. Do it on the same day each time.
Q: Can I use free tools to track KPIs?
A: Yes! KDP Reports, Google Sheets, and Book Report Chrome extension are all great starting places.
Q: Which metric tells me my marketing is working?
A: Look at sales spikes during ad campaigns, changes in your ACOS, review count, and reader engagement.
Q: How do I fix a dropping review score or high return rate?
A: Read feedback carefully, improve your book description, fix errors, and always deliver what your cover promises.
Conclusion: The Power of Tracking as an Author
Treat your author career like any other business. When you track your KPIs and review your dashboard, you have the power to make better decisions, grow faster, and weather tough times with confidence.
You do not have to track 20 things at once. Start simple, get consistent, and celebrate your improvements.
If you want to make this your best publishing year ever, set up your first KPI dashboard right away. Let your numbers lead you to the next level in your author-entrepreneur journey.
