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Marketing Tactics
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Unlocking Secret Amazon Categories!
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Achievement unlocked!Yes, I strongly suggest everyone read through the KDP FAQ before publishing with Amazon. It's short, written in plain language, and does indeed have a LOT of helpful info, like the keyword specific categories.
OMG! I totally found this a couple days ago when I was "testing" tags and shizz. I'm kinda embarrassed that I didn't think of sharing it...*commence self-flagellation*
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Amazingly, that is a category!
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OMG! I legit just spit water on myself!! LMAO!!!!! >_<
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New category!"
Oh sweet maker... then... my stuff.
...
No it isn't new at all.
Thank you, C.B.!I've saved the link and will read the gist to see how I can best categorize my upcoming novel.
Thanks, C.B., that was super! When updating my keywords I found even more categories! Totally awesome!
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I added at least 2 categories to all of my books, but thus far I haven't seen myself in any of them. Perhaps it just takes longer than I think it should, or there is a cap on categories? Not sure.
Question for you guys...Is it best to get into smaller categories and rank higher up? I didn't know if I wanted to be super "accurate" or sneak into a less crowded category?
Oh, and I assumed they were just showing your overall ranking + your best other 3 categories. As in, you'd be in other ones too, but just can't see them...?
Dunno *sigh*
Hugs,
Ann
I believe that finding a solid niche market is a good launching point, and can give you something to cling to so that you don't get lost in the wash.I've found horror to be insanely difficult to rank in, there's just an absurd amount of titles, so I may do better by seeking fans out in Technothriller or some similar genre. Either way, it can't hurt to try.
*I'm not a scientician and I have no concrete data to back up these opinions.
@Mr Hash: Thank you very much! And I'd take advice from an experiencedician over a scientician any day of the week!!Hugs,
Ann
Disclaimer: Those are not legit words. Do not use them in your books and then try to sue me. Thank you.
Annie wrote: "Question for you guys...Is it best to get into smaller categories and rank higher up? I didn't know if I wanted to be super "accurate" or sneak into a less crowded category?
Oh, and I assumed th..."
It's nice to see the rank, and a tiny sub genre might get you the coveted bestseller ribbon on Amazon, but just remember: the more specific, the less people who are likely searching. For example: one of my books is in YA Scifi Mystery, which is a teeny tiny category. I can sell one book and be in the top 100 for weeks afterward, but it doesn't usually bring in extra sales either.
@Miss Christina: Sooo are we actually only in the 3 categories we see? I thought those were just the "best" ones we were in...?Hugs,
Ann
#ConfusedByAmazonCategories
Annie wrote: "@Miss Christina: Sooo are we actually only in the 3 categories we see? I thought those were just the "best" ones we were in...?Hugs,
Ann
#ConfusedByAmazonCategories"
Scroll to the bottom of your sales page and you'll see all of them. The ones that display below your overall rank are fickle. Mine don't always show up and sometimes one category might appear over another.
@Miss Christina: OMGoodness! That makes more sense!! I was like, "Hey! How come you took it outta the general category, Amaaaaaazon!!!"But I'm coo now. Like a pigeon >_< Thank you, ma'am!
Hugs,
Ann
I'm working on redoing mine. I've bounced between a few keywords here and there and it seems many of mine I was already using are on that list.Still, I'm combining some to fit different categories that I haven't done before. I've had a difficult time getting more than one or two of those specific rankings to show up at any given time, so hopefully using additional keyword combinations, I'll end up with a bit more visibility.
I'm not sure if I know about this But I'll definitely check it out.
Has anyone tried 'bestseller' as a tag? :)
Zoltán wrote: "Has anyone tried 'bestseller' as a tag? :)"Cute. That would get some views. : )
Sue (Dog Mom) wrote: "Zoltán wrote: "Has anyone tried 'bestseller' as a tag? :)"Cute. That would get some views. : )"
It's a habit of mine to look for security holes ;)
Sorry. Thought I'd shared this on a few threads.OK so when you're on Amazon as a reader you can go to a genre then there's sub categories.
To get in these sub categories you should use certain keywords as per that link.
So romance novels get:
https://kdp.amazon.com/help?topicId=A...
Zoltán wrote: "Has anyone tried 'bestseller' as a tag? :)"I'm certain that's against the rules. :D
Thomas wrote: "Zoltán wrote: "Has anyone tried 'bestseller' as a tag? :)"I'm certain that's against the rules. :D"
Killjoy. | (
Well, how about I give you the go ahead to try that as a keyword and let Amazon be the killjoy. How long do you think it would take them to make you fix it?
@TL: Have you played around with the Romance tags at all? If I add "comedy" I get into Romantic Comedy. But I've tried all the tags for Rich & Wealthy...even multiple at once...and...No luck.
*sobs in corner*
Hugs,
Ann
EDIT: Are you guys being serious about "bestseller"? I'll totally try if you want. Whatevs.
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@CB: Did you add the same keywords to all your books and only one got slotted into Contemporary?*growls at Amazon's complexity*
Hugs,
Ann
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:)
Oh well, I suppose the important thing is that my keywords are better now, regardless of the category they are actually in!
Wow, thanks, Amazon, for making categories so super confusing for us authors! LolAs of right now, I'm in LGBT sci-fi, Space Opera, and I'm trying out Metaphysical and Visionary... Just for the halibut. ;)
No idea of if any category actually helps sales or not though.
Thomas wrote: "Zoltán wrote: "Has anyone tried 'bestseller' as a tag? :)"I'm certain that's against the rules. :D"
Definitely against the rules.
Seriously guys, I know I sound like Hermione going on about Hogwarts, a History, but read the fine print. With Amazon, it's not even fine print. Amazon's terms of service for publishing with them is maybe 10 pages max and easy to understand even if you aren't a lawyer. Additionally, their FAQ covers EVERYTHING you need to know about the rules. And just like our rules, claimed ignorance of Amazon's rules is not a free pass to break them.
Christina wrote: "Definitely against the rules."*rescinds offer to test "bestseller" tag**backs away slowly* XD
Thanks, Christina!!
Hugs,
Ann
#Reckless #AlmostWentDownInFlames*
Wow this thread was so over my head when I first started reading, but by George I think I'm getting it now. Great stuff :).
C.B. wrote: "I accidentally found it! Hidden deep within the Amazon site, a way to determine what the secret categories are that you can unlock with keywords! I just edited my keywords and will see if this gets..."I'm not sure I understand, but would love to as I have been trying to change my category for awhile now. They keep turning me down. I also don't understand why Amazon doesn't have a category: psychological thriller.
C.B. wrote: "The best way to be #1 in a category is to make it yourself after all. That's why I did it!"And Amazon allowed you to use it? Amazing!!!
I'm under mystery suspense thriller and I don't want to be because I'm a new writer and certainly cannot compete with all of the millions of already established authors in those three categories (now put together)! But, amazon keeps saying no to any changes I suggest. What to do?
This all tag combination reminds me of Doodle God.Combine fiction with magic: Fantasy.
Combine fiction with technology: Science fiction.
Combine fantasy with current life-style: contemporary fantasy.
Combine psychology with self-help: thriller.
Combine thriller with myths: paranormal thriller.
etc.
It could be made into a game actually :)
fyi I don't think bestseller works :-( I'm sure I read somewhere it doesn't.
I have played around with a few.
Basically, I went through the list and tried to find most appropriate keywords.
My latest book sits under:
Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Counseling & Psychology > Mental Health > Sexual Abuse
It's quite a niche section, but still it's quite low down.
It did reach no. 3 at one point (at launch).
But it's also romance, inspirational and romance, contemporary (which has thousands).
The aim is not so much as to climb the highest but to give your book the best exposure.
So, if someone is searching for a particular theme in e.g. romance they have a chance of discovering your book.
Good luck
xx
So with a retooling yesterday on category and keywords suggested by Amazon's lists, I had 8 unsolicited downloads last night after my book was "published" and reached #16 in the free YA Time Travel category.To be fair, there are only 40 in that free category, so the fight up there was fairly easy. But still, it's a step toward #1 somewhere, and I read of a tactic elsewhere that said climb in one category and then switch to another for better visibility. I suppose I might make a topic on that later with any findings on that tactic.
@Mr Thomas: Ooooh! That's awesome sauce!! Thank you for sharing!! Pretty please keep us updated >_<Hugs,
Ann
Annie wrote: "@Mr Thomas: Ooooh! That's awesome sauce!! Thank you for sharing!! Pretty please keep us updated >_<Hugs,
Ann"
Very helpful info! Thanks for sharing. Will put to use when I launch my romance novel on August 1st. Considering, romance, suspense, alpha male, submission, military, wealthy as categories. I'm a neophyte at this so would appreciate any feedback.
With gratitude,
C.J. Pastore
I'll have to check this out later when I'm on my computer. So hard to do on the phone:)And thanks for always brightening my day with laughter guys! I enjoy reading threads just for that:)
I'm trying this and I'm not getting it at all. First, Amazon only allows you to select a certain amount of categories to appear under. Second, I'm typing genres in and I'm getting no results, I even typed in horror and it said no results were found....When I type anything at all into Topic or Keyword then hit Search Help it comes up with no results everytime...Is that not how it works and am I hitting the wrong button? if so then that shouldn't be there.
I know there are more than what is listed here, as I am in one not listed in this, but it might help you regardless.
Some people might know about this already, but others might not. It is about half way down the page.
https://kdp.amazon.com/help?topicId=A...
Hopefully that works as a link.