You may have already heard me shouting in excitement about the fact that the Kindle version of Veronica’ Nap has been selling like crazy!
Since the free promo I ran on Friday, January 13, it’s been downloaded by over 6100 people, has reached #1 in the Kindle Jewish fiction category (it’s now hanging in there at #4, just a few spots below international blockbuster Sarah’s Key) and hit #2 in the overall contemporary fiction category. Sales have continued steadily since the promo at about 40 per day.
People have been asking: “What’s the trick to making this happen?”
While there’s no single trick, there are many steps authors can take that’ll up the chances of making Amazon work to sell their books. Most importantly right now is: Enroll in the Amazon KDP Select program, which gives authors who agree to sell their e-book exclusively on Amazon the chance to run 5, 24-hour promotions over the course of 90 days.
With millions and millions of users each day and all sorts of mythical algorithms that supposedly help get books in front of their most likely audience, Amazon is perhaps the single most powerful book promoter there is.
I’ll also venture to guess that two things may have contributed to the success of my own first promotion:
1) Listing Veronica’s Nap in Amazon’s Jewish fiction category.
The Jewish reader market is colossal. If indeed Amazon is using its magical algorithms to target it, I’m sure that’s given Veronica’s Nap a promotional steroid shot.
This kind of fine-tuned targeting makes perfect sense not only on Amazon, but also from an overall marketing perspective, as I’ve blogged about at Writer Unboxed.
2) Having many four- and five-star Amazon reader reviews.
When total strangers click on a book’s page and see 20 customer reviews averaging just about 5 stars, they’re probably compelled to explore further. A list of positive reviews that keeps growing surely helps, too.
Which leads me to three other things that I think are key for everyone:
As a PR pro, I cannot emphasize enough how important this one-paragraph summary of a book is — and how important it is for this description to be spot-on and professional-grade. Not professional fiction-writer grade, but professional marketer grade. I’ve seen too many authors miss the mark with their own their descriptions by leaving out the points and language that will hook readers (and including lots of verbiage that won’t).
2) The “Look Inside” feature
Gotta have it. It let’s readers make a quick decision about whether they want to read more. Which brings me to the need for….
3) A kick-*ss first line and page (then second, then third, etc.)
Remember the age-old “first page” rule about making the first page, the first sentence, even the first word as compelling as possible to hook an agent? It’s more important now than ever. Agents often say they’ll know by the end of the first line whether they’ll keep reading a manuscript. A book’s potential readers will, too. If you’re a new or unknown author, this is your chance to draw them in.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Awesome, Sharon!! Huge congrats, it couldn’t be more well deserved!
Sharon, I am so excited for you. I have been following Veronica’s Nap online, ordered the paperback version last week from Amazon and linked your book to my Facebook page. Your’s has been an incredible journey. I hope to follow your lead…
Oh, Sharon … I am SO excited for you and Veronica’s nap. What wonderfully helpful information about Amazon’s program. Am keeping this in my ‘future file.’ Sounds like you are off to a fabulous start. Bet you’re over-the-moon happy about your decision to pursue an ebook!
I just began reading Veronica’s Nap over the weekend on the Kindle. I have “focus” issues about reading on the computer. I’m enjoying it and so happy to hear about your success here. Plus, your tips — as always — are perfect.
HUGE congratulations! And thank you so much for the tips — as someone who plans to try the self publishing route with one of my WIPs, it is incredibly helpful and encouraging to read these posts. Thanks again; looking forward to more conclusions. And enjoy the crest!
Congrats! So exciting. And I’ve been meaning to thank you for alerting me to the importance of categories. General fiction wasn’t the best designation for me to choose on Amazon.
Quick question – did you have it available for other e readers and have to pull those? Or was it kindle only from the get go?
Thanks everyone! I’m curious to see whether this continues over time.
Mari – just Amazon from day 1. I was in the middle of trying to decide which e-distribution channel(s) to go with and how to handle all the formatting issues when this KDP Select opportunity came up. So that swayed me.
I’m so glad you’re sharing your experience with others. I’m years away from having a book ready and who knows what things will look like then, but as a friend of yours and an avid reader, it’s SO interesting to hear how this is all shaking out. Keep up the posts!!! And fingers crossed for more sales!
Very happy to have been directed here by Stacy Jenson’s lovely blog about you. Très contente de crosser une autre amoureuse de la France. J’adore Aix et vis moi même à Nice depuis 12 ans. I shall enjoy browsing your site more.