Your Book’s Amazon Page
Now before we get into the details of how to get your book picked up by Amazon’s computers and the steps you need to take to help with promotion, we need to discuss your Book’s Amazon Page.
Your book will automatically have a basic destination page created once your publisher (or you, if self published) submits your book’s data through Amazon’s online information channels. Typically your book will be uploaded by Amazon in 2 stages (Note: Amazon controls how long it takes to upload your book’s data once submitted, you can not rush the process). First your book’s basic page will be created which displays Editorial Reviews and Product Details, such as ISBN numbers, page length, publisher, etc. Then once this is done the cover is uploaded in stage 2 which can take up to 8-10 weeks. I personally have never seen it take this long but it is possible. Every book on Amazon has a generic listing, what you need to focus on is enhancing this listing.
For the remainder of this blog I will refer to your book’s placement on Amazon as your “Book’s Amazon Page”.
This is the basic URL that directs viewers to your book on Amazon.
An example can be viewed here: See Example 1
The above link is for Sherrill S. Cannon, author of “Peter and the Whimper Whineys”. This is an author I have worked with to help increase her exposure on Amazon. Take a moment to browse through her book’s Amazon Page. Notice how much activity is displayed here, also take note of the features being showcased, such as Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought.
Now follow the link for our second sample case: See Example 2
Hopefully when comparing the two links you can see a notable difference. These examples are to illustrate to you, how added features, can be uploaded onto your book’s Amazon Page. These features can only be added directly by Amazon and will only be done once your book achieves certain activity levels or receives notable recognition on the site.
Note: if another author’s book appears on your book’s Amazon page your book in return is likely being displayed on their book’s Amazon Page.
Below is a list of the major features that Amazon can upload to any given Amazon page.
Ideally you would want for all to be displayed, however this takes time and a tremendous amount of work. After 3-4 months of working with Amazon you should expect to have at least 2-3 added features, after a year perhaps 5-6. If your book becomes a bestseller this will pretty much guarantee you all. Remember each feature added to your book’s Amazon page means you hit a recommendation list.
Enhanced Amazon "Added Features" to Target:
Ideally you would want for all to be displayed, however this takes time and a tremendous amount of work. After 3-4 months of working with Amazon you should expect to have at least 2-3 added features, after a year perhaps 5-6. If your book becomes a bestseller this will pretty much guarantee you all. Remember each feature added to your book’s Amazon page means you hit a recommendation list.
Enhanced Amazon "Added Features" to Target:
- Special Offers and Product Promotions
- Frequently Bought Together
- What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?
- Search Inside
- Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought
- Customers who viewed this also viewed
- Looking for " " Products?
- Other customers suggested these items
- Tags
- Reviews
- Sales Rank
- Formats
- Listmania
- So You'd Like To Guides
- More About the Author
The above “added features” greatly enhance your book’s presence on Amazon. If your book’s Amazon Page displays these you know you have moved to the next level. By constantly monitoring Amazon and participating on the site, not just as an author, but as a user you can get these features appearing on your book’s Amazon page.
In my next post we will be discussing your Author’s Page via Author Central. This feature will appear directly on your book’s Amazon Page and is one of the most beneficial tools Amazon gives its authors.
Good luck!
- Kait Neese
@KaitNeese
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitneese
Good luck!
- Kait Neese
@KaitNeese
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitneese
Hi Kait,
ReplyDeleteI am now one of your followers & look forward to reading more of your Amazon insights. I agree that it is an amazing market, second-to-none for us scribes :)
Just for reference, here are my main Amazon product pages, I've been working hard at this for some time now, and have enjoyed healthy sales:
$2.99: Secret of the Sands 2nd ed Kindle
Secret of the Sands first edition paperback
Thanks for the helpful information!
Rai Aren, co-author of the award-winning archaeology adventure novel SECRET OF THE SANDS
http://www.secretofthesands.com/
Thank you both for your comments! I hope to provide an educational platform for all authors (traditional, self-published,etc.)on the topic of Amazon! Amazon provides enormous opportunities for authors if they just know how to use the site in the correct manner!
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you linked to your book's Amazon page :)
Kait, I'm an author and would like to discuss hiring you to promote my book for me? Can you email me at piers at oddpost dot com and then delete this message!
ReplyDeleteHi, I am an author and would like to know how to go about promoting my book 'Almi a Refugee' without it costing a fortune. You can e-mail me on tu1212@telkomsa.net. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteTiiu Priilaid-Kleyn