Warning: check your books' Amazon links...

[Laura]

I'm running a KDP countdown deal & the link to my ebook on Amazon.com went amok twice -- just kept refreshing endlessly. I'm not sure whether my issue was related to the countdown deal or not. The support folk were able to correct within a few hours of my noticing & calling -- but sigh... I had high hopes for this promo.

Anyway, this may simply be my bad luck, or could be a sign of a broader IT issue. So double-check your ebook links.

[Kevin]

Sorry that happened to you. I have had similar luck with book launches and understand your frustration.

[Laura]

Thanks Kevin.

[Leslie]

Oh dear, that is bad to hear as I have my first Kindle Direct Promotion starting 9/25-9/30. I have tried to avoid going directly to my book on amazon because I had heard (perhaps apocryphally) that you reduced your ranking in amazon's algorithms for every time someone went to the book's page and didn't buy it. But I guess I better check it frequently during the promotion!

Thanks for the heads-up!

Leslie

[Tomas, Wandering dreamer]

There are some issues reported that deal with links from Facebook to Amazon. Supposedly, the issue is the strongest on Amazon UK.

Not sure if it's related to the issue you're facing but if you have FB ads booked to boost your promo, keep an eye out.

[Anna]

Leslie wrote I have tried to avoid going directly to my book on amazon because I had heard (perhaps apocryphally) that you reduced your ranking in amazon's algorithms for every time someone went to the book's page and didn't buy it.

Yikes! I check most days to see where they're at in the charts or if anyone has kindly left a review. Leslie, I think you are going to save me some time by my not checking feverishly. Even if it's not true, it's certainly a possibility and it will certainly do me a favour.

Thank you.

[Ian]

This raises a different problem for me. I am currently running a Kindle coutdown deal, but I can't check it. The reason is the deal only works in the US. Even if you purchase through .com, if you are outside the US you don't get to see it, so I cannot check to see whether it worked

[Eileen]

Ian wrote: "This raises a different problem for me. I am currently running a Kindle coutdown deal, but I can't check it. The reason is the deal only works in the US. Even if you purchase through .com, if you a..."

Which book? I can check for you.

[Ian]

"Athene's Prophecy". It should be 99c. Thanks for checking

[Eileen]

Yes, it is 99 cents. It also has a note that the price goes up to $2.99 in 4 days. So it looks like you're all set.

[Ian]

Thanks, Eileen

[Eldon, Lost on the road to Mordor]

Leslie wrote: "I had heard (perhaps apocryphally) that you reduced your ranking in amazon's algorithms for every time someone went to the book's page and didn't buy it."

I have never heard of this, Leslie. Could you perhaps share where you heard this bit of information?

[Dwayne, Head of Lettuce]

More than likely it's nothing more than a rumor, Leslie, and more than likely untrue. Amazon is very guarded as to how their algorithms work and it's safe to assume anything you hear about it is speculation at best.

[Leslie]

Eldon wrote: "Leslie wrote: "I had heard (perhaps apocryphally) that you reduced your ranking in amazon's algorithms for every time someone went to the book's page and didn't buy it."

I have never heard of this..."

I am not certain where I got the info as I attended a slew of webinars on book marketing over the last month. It was stated in one of them and I put it in my notes with exclamation points as it freaked me out. :) I certainly hope it is not true.

[Eldon, Lost on the road to Mordor]

Leslie wrote: "Eldon wrote: "Leslie wrote: "I had heard (perhaps apocryphally) that you reduced your ranking in amazon's algorithms for every time someone went to the book's page and didn't buy it."

I have never..."

No one knows with Amazon. My feeling though is that it might refer more to Amazon ads. The more someone clicks on your ad to your page and doesn't buy, the less relevant Amazon deems the ad. They then do not serve it as often.

[Leslie]

Eldon wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Eldon wrote: "Leslie wrote: "I had heard (perhaps apocryphally) that you reduced your ranking in amazon's algorithms for every time someone went to the book's page and didn't buy it...."

That makes sense! I may well have misunderstood, being a newbie author! Thank you.

[Eldon, Lost on the road to Mordor]

Leslie wrote: "Eldon wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Eldon wrote: "Leslie wrote: "I had heard (perhaps apocryphally) that you reduced your ranking in amazon's algorithms for every time someone went to the book's page and ..."

Your welcome!!