HOW I MADE THE AMAZON BESTSELLER LIST

HOT TIP: Utilize Amazon's Categories



That's how I made it on an Amazon Bestseller list. Whether you are e-publishing or self-publishing, when a book is uploaded to Amazon, you are allowed five categories to place it in for easy browsing. Easy browsing means when people search on Amazon, they have a better chance of discovering your book than if you didn't categorize it, or placed it into an Oblivion category (otherwise known as a Black Hole category--my terms).



I had both my books, Serial Games and Rafael, e-published by different publishers. Let's take a look at a few statistics. Each publisher choose to place my book in various categories. I provided the highest rank of each book at the time of release. Unfortunately, I knew next to nothing about categories at the time Serial Games was released and based on my highest ranking upon release (#20,083) I would have made the Hot New Releases list (based on book rankings on today's--8/11/2012-lists) in the last two categories--so I highlighted them.



Each category lists the number of books in them = the number of books you're competing against to make it to the bestseller list.



RAFAEL (Rank #11,292-last three digits are hazy/12,792 at the time I noticed bestseller status)



Books-Christian Books & Bibles-Literature & Fiction-Romance: 7,633 = HOT NEW RELEASES

Books-Literature & Fiction-United States-African American: 7,787 = HOT NEW RELEASES

Books-Romance-Multicultural: 4044 = BESTSELLER

Books-Romance-Romantic Suspense: 11,644 = HOT NEW RELEASES

Kindle Store-Kindle Ebooks-Romance-Romantic Suspense: 7,750 = HOT NEW RELEASES





SERIAL GAMES (Rank #20,083)

Books-Literature & Fiction: 2,530,986 = NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN

Books-Romance-Romantic Suspense: 11,644 = HOT NEW RELEASES 

Kindle Store-Kindle Ebooks-Romance-Romantic Suspense: 7,750 = HOT NEW RELEASES



Let's examine the figures. Rafael was placed in far more niche categories = specific categories with small numbers. Serial Games was placed in fewer categories with higher numbers.



Remember, the key is to make it easier for the reader to find your book. No reader (well, maybe someone out there will) will search through two million books to find your gem. Yet, if you sell enough copies, the reader can find you among 4,044 because you have a greater chance of making a noticeable splash in a pool of 4,044 than 2,000,000.



I even made the UK Bestseller list for Books-Fiction-Religious & Inspirational-Romance, and all because I was placed in the Books-Romance-Religious at 8,849.



But you weren't listed in the exact category to make the UK bestseller list???



That's correct. The day Rafael was released, the ranking was good but it wasn't listed in either the AA or the MC categories. I checked with the publisher who could only find the AA category in the list Amazon allowed her to view. Amazon appears to make you hunt for the sub-categories and even related categories. I'm not exactly sure how Rafael was placed in the MC category, but I suspect that after Rafael was listed in the AA category, other related categories were available to pick from. The publisher for Serial Games tried to re-categorize it into MC during the launch of Rafael but was unable to do so, citing Amazon only allowing three for that book. I contacted Amazon; no resolution. Not sure where the discrepancies lie, but one should be able to have their e-book listed in five categories--according to Amazon's own 'Help' page.



You (if you're self-publishing) or your e-pub editor will have to do some experimenting. It is important that you identify key elements of your story as they relate to Amazon category titles. Interracial/Multicultural is a prominent element in both Serial Games and Rafael and Rafael hit the bestseller list. If you're e-publishing, communicate your ideas about categories to your editor; let them know which categories you'd like to have your book listed under.



Now, I have to note that Rafael had a bit of a boost because it was my second novel. I had gained readers from Serial Games which helped propel Rafael no doubt, but if Rafael hadn't been in niche categories, it wouldn't have hit any bestseller lists, period. I would have had greater sales, but not the visibility bestseller lists provide.



Visibility



This is probably the most important element in marketing an unknown author. Your book needs to be placed in front of potential readers. The more they see your book, the more likely they'll buy it--or at least take a peek at the product description. See how many Hot New Releases lists Rafael is on? Enough to make an impact.



For more on categories, read here and here. Check out the Writer's Guide to E-publishing's series on Categorizing Your Way to Amazon's Bestseller Lists parts One, Two, and Three.