How to Promote YOUR book on Amazon discussion

hey I would like to know as well. read how to fix keywords but that has done nada sales wise

Hello Stan,

While I have no doubt that optimizing your Amazon page can't hurt sales, I doubt it will do much good without other marketing.
Amazon isn't a primarily a marketing platform; it's an online bookstore. People can use Amazon to find and buy your book, but only if they ALREADY know about it.
Yes, Amazon has mechanics that can help market your book (like the "similar works" or the "other customers bought" functions.) However, I don't think these are very useful if you aren't already pulling at least midlist sales.

What sales methods are you using in concert with Amazon?

Joseph wrote: "Hello Stan,

While I have no doubt that optimizing your Amazon page can't hurt sales, I doubt it will do much good without other marketing.
Amazon isn't a primarily a marketing platform; it's an ..."

Hi Joseph, do you mind sharing what has worked for you?

Hey Segilola! Thus far, my (rather limited) experience says that the most important thing is acquiring a really good cover, then giving that cover as much exposure as possible. It's getting exposure that's the problem.

The internet has created incredible possibilities for marketing, but most indie authors have grown to rely on it exclusively, which seems to be a mistake. For instance, you can send online requests to hundreds of reviewers, but so can every other indie author on the planet. Reviewers, even reviewers with small followings, are swamped with review requests. In order to get their attention, you need to watch several of their videos and write a concise email that includes specific references to their work and style, and why you think that they specifically would enjoy your book.

However, even with this (time-consuming) individual approach, your request is statistically unlikely to elicit a response. Why? Because you're still buried under all the other indie authors clamoring for online attention.

If you want to find reviewers, I think the best option is probably in person. Go to a publishers conference, set up a booth, and give away free review copies. Talk to people. Make impressions, make friends. We'd all like to think that quality sells books, but I think that often personality is what does the trick.

thanks for the feedback Joseph, you are quite right. before embarking on this journey, I didn't realise it was such back breaking work

Hi folks,

Joseph is right in all he says about reviewers and getting reviewed. However I can add that many reviewers do not have time to go to Cons, or necessarily want to, and are quite happy to receive e-mail submissions. Plus they may live in a different country to you.

Tailor the query - we don't all have videos but may put guidelines on our website. Read the guidelines, do what they say, spellcheck. Do not tell the entire story of your book in your query. Let the book speak for itself.

If they check it out on Amazon and come back with a constructive comment like 'cover is off-putting to me because it's too black' or 'the blurb needs work' ask yourself if they know the market better than you, or if your book will appeal to a different market.

If they say, 'thanks, but I don't read zombie stories,' do your homework more carefully. Read good reviews on Amazon of similar books to yours and approach those reviewers.

Authors will often do a review swap with you but be careful to be unbiased in your comments and expectations. Learn how to write a good, clear review yourself - and post them.

I give tips on a writers' page on my website.
www.clareobeara.ie

Hey Clare,

What would you say about a review request that includes the cover of the book and/or a snippet quote from another notable review (say Kirkus)?

Yea or nay?

Sounds like something I'd look at, Joseph.

However if it's about serial killers, flesh-eating bugs or zombies, I'm not interested. Nor do I read golf manuals.

A review from Kirkus or anywhere else paid doesn't prove anything to me, except that the author threw money at the issue. I might agree or disagree with that review, because my opinion and tastes are my own. Personally, I don't pay for reviews. Each to her / his own.

The challenge for Indie authors is daunting. Your ISBN # indicates if your book is self-published and will automatically disqualify you from many opportunities. Ideally, every book needs a strong advocate, someone with high visibility as well as credibility. My specific challenge has been trying to find a celebrity who has the same birthday as the title of my book, August 9th. If there is a bright side it's that you never know who will open the next door when you knock.

Joseph wrote: "Hey Segilola! Thus far, my (rather limited) experience says that the most important thing is acquiring a really good cover, then giving that cover as much exposure as possible. It's getting exposur..."

That's good advice. I never even thought of going to a publisher's conference. I might need to try that

Hello,

My books have a reasonable number of reviews. Even so, it's a huge challenge to get my books noticed and traffic to Amazon.

Stu wrote: "The challenge for Indie authors is daunting. Your ISBN # indicates if your book is self-published and will automatically disqualify you from many opportunities. Ideally, every book needs a strong a..."

Why is that? Can you explain?

Often, libraries, newspaper reviewers. and bookstores will ignore self-published books unless in the rare instance they become a best seller.

Does anyone have experience with book blasts? Which day of the week gets the most responses? Any suggestions?