Posts
THIS JUST IN!
Greg Spence:
has included this article in his newsletter: ONLINE BOOK MARKETING!
AMAZON
IS AGNOSTIC
It is touted by “experts” that authors need Social Media.
Most of those “experts” make a nice bit of change from
desperate writers who buy their books and attend their seminars.
The only things we need are to breathe, eat, and sleep – the
rest is negotiable.
WHAT AUTHORS TRULY NEED IS
A VERY SPECIAL WORD OF MOUTH.
We authors have to break out of the Author Blog Ghetto to
reach the larger world of READERS who wander the internet.
Otherwise, we are just singing to the choir.
Did you know that the publishers of those books you see
face-out on a bookstore’s front table paid a sizable fee to the store for that
spot?
It is known as “Co-Op.”
Amazon is slightly different. Sure, it has its own blackmail form of “co-op,”
but that is a topic for another post.
Amazon’s basic philosophy is simple: they want you to buy a
book you like from them – then, you will keep coming back.
Amazon will always try to show its regular customers the
book they are most likely to buy.
In essence, Amazon is agnostic.
It doesn’t care if that bought book is published by you or
Random House. It doesn’t care if the
book costs .99 or $14.99.
IT JUST WANTS TO SELL.
Amazon will show you the book its algorithmic system, based
on your browsing and buying habits.
That’s where their “Also Bought” line of books is decided
upon.
Those personalized Amazon emails come from that system as
well.
Amazon’s recommendation engine is eerily accurate and is
considered by cyber experts to be the best in the e-commerce world.
Amazon is honing in on customers with every browse and
purchase they make.
Amazon’s digital “front table” is open to everyone … with a
catch.
We self-publishers get only TWO categories to choose.
The traditional publishers get FIVE. OUCH!
BUT OUR STRENGTH IS THE TRADITIONAL PUBLISHERS’ WEAKNESS:
They don’t always use those five categories well.
We have only two and we must use them wisely.
So opt for two
DISTINCT categories to maximize your
visibility to those ALSO BOUGHT line of suggested titles.
Have a Techno-thriller?
You only need a Sales Rank of 26,000 to hit the Best Seller
list (or about 5 sales a day!)
But that category is not selectable from the KDP interface unless
…
You think outside
the box (or interface in this case.)
Select “Non-Classifiable” for one of your categories
and
email KDP through the dashboard with the FULL PATH of the CATEGORY you wish.
EXAMPLE:
Kindle Store>Kindle ebook>Literature &
Fiction>Genre Fiction>Mystery & Thrillers>Technothriller
It usually takes a couple of days.
So if you have a book in a specific genre you
cannot find in the KDP interface, try this.
It can’t hurt to try, and it may help … a lot.
Do any of you like audio books? Want to give one a try?
Jeff Chapman has promo codes from Audible that will get you a free copy of Last Request. Use the contact form if you're interested.
Do any of you like audio books? Want to give one a try?
Jeff Chapman has promo codes from Audible that will get you a free copy of Last Request. Use the contact form if you're interested.
That's an interesting trick. Did they do that for you?
ReplyDeleteMy search history is often for research and very random. You should see the recommendations for me because I looked up My Girlfriend's Haunted Vagina. That was fun.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who is self published and I have tried twice to leave her a review, but it keeps getting deleted a day or so after it's up. It's like Amazon know's she's my friend so my review must be bunk. Whatever.
Yes, it behooves indie authors to chose wisely in their marketing. Good luck.
I've seen people say that about choosing more obscure categories on Amazon, but I've always been curious why. If it is an obscure category, aren't there going to be fewer buyers actually viewing that specific page (the page where your book will show up on the viewable list)? At least in a more popular category, if I make the list then there will be more buyers actually there to see it. No?
ReplyDeleteGreat advice. I've found Amazon very easy to work with regarding changing the categories. It's always nice to see your book in a top 100 list. I like your virtual cat.
ReplyDeleteHI, EVERYONE:
ReplyDeleteI'VE JUST GOT BACK FROM A LOOONG, COLD, WET DAY ON THE ROADS. WHEW!
Alex:
Luckily, the KDP dashboard had Native American Fable!
Erin:
Ah, maybe I don't want to see those recommendations! :-)
Also when you look up your own book for the stats or latest reviews, you can find your own books recommended to you by Amazon!
I wonder about Amazon and its removal of reviews lately!
Please consider pre-ordering my latest book, will you?
Ted:
Not so much obscure as not so popular that your competition will shove you in the 14th page in the Amazon listings.
With Native American Fable, I can perhaps (if enough people pre-order it) be #5 in that list which will put me the Best Sellers Listing in the sidebar when readers are looking at the broader Native American Paranormal.
Visibility is everything at Amazon. If I can get RETURN OF THE LAST SHAMAN in several different best seller listings, I can perhaps gain momentum.
Also the number of positive reviews it receives initially might put me in the WHAT'S HOT Amazon List.
So if you decide to pre-order and read it, PLEASE review it for me?
Jeff:
Yes, I have heard they are from several Indie friends. I may fine-tune RETURN OF THE LAST SHAMAN after a few days of it being out. Think about pre-ordering and reviewing it, will you? :-)
I love Maukie, too!! Glad to have gotten him back.
Very true about the categories. It's important to choose wisely, and if you want to ever hit the top 100 you'd better choose unusual categories with little competition.
ReplyDeleteI always find all this stuff super confusing. So it's nice to see others thoughts on it and be able to pick up some tips and tricks so thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLexa:
ReplyDeleteYes, it's a big cyber-sea for Indie Publishers. We have to find a small tributary of it to stand out!! Love the look of your blog. :-)
Joss:
Everyone enters Indie Publishing a rookie. No one comes in knowing it all. We learn, as we learn in all of life, by failing. Ouch!! I hope to smooth the path for others just entering so they won't get as many bruises as I did! :-)