16 Jul How To Become A Bestselling Author On Amazon
If you are an author who wants to get visibility on Amazon for your book, then it’s important to learn how to become a bestselling author on Amazon.
Since Amazon came along and leveled the playing field when it comes to self-publishing, you no longer need a traditional publisher. There are many self-published and highly successful authors that are making a living with their writing either on the front end with royalties or on the back end with products, programs and services they are selling.
The problem now with Amazon self-publishing is it’s a crowded place and if you want your book to be found by your ideal readers, you need to show up on as many bestsellers lists as possible.
If you were starting a French Restaurant in your hometown, wouldn’t you want to show up on page one of a google search for “French Restaurant your hometown”?
It’s the same way on Amazon, when people type in keywords for your type of book, you want to show up in the search results and on as many bestsellers lists as possible.
To date, I’ve helped over 500 authors become #1 bestselling authors on Amazon. In order to become a bestselling author on Amazon, I believe that it’s important to understand the Amazon platform so you can leverage that platform and find readers for your book.
Additionally, you want to choose which profit path you are going for: making money on the front end of your book with royalties or making money on the backend of your book from other products, programs or services you offer.
Either way, you’ll want your book to show up on the bestsellers lists so you can connect with readers.
My bestselling authors have gone on to build 6 and 7 figure businesses with their book, obtained TED Talks, increased their consulting fees, obtained high level speaking engagements, and started their own podcast and radio shows.
Here Are The 3 Pillars Of Becoming A Bestselling Author:
PILLAR 1
Pillar 1 is the foundational pillar and it is what separates the amateurs from the pro’s. Amateur books are plentiful on Amazon. If you are serious about become a long-term bestselling author and being seen as the expert in your field, then you want to invest in the following:
- A professional book cover which will cost between $200 and $500
- Professional editing which can range from $3 to $5 per page or .03 cents per word
- Professional formatting for your ebook and print book which might range from $150 to $300+
- A professional book description designed to sell your book not summarize your book
- Having a unique hook to your book
If you put out a quality book, then your book will stay on the bestsellers list for weeks, months and sometimes even years. I have several clients whose books have been on the bestsellers lists for years now.
I’ve been offering my done for you services for over 6 years now. Just know that a book is not a set and forget endeavor. You need to continue to market your book after you are a bestselling author. That’s the difference between an amateur and a professional.
PILLAR 2
Pillar 2 is understanding keywords and categories. If you don’t understand keywords and categories you will never get to a bestsellers list. Keywords are what people are searching in the search bar on Amazon. What shows up there (and this changes daily) are the most searched keywords and those keywords are what you want to show up for in your niche.
Categories are how the books are sorted on Amazon. You have very big and competitive categories like fiction and nonfiction and then you have subcategories like business and money and self-help. There are over 10,000 sub-categories on Amazon which means there are over 10,000 bestsellers lists. They key to getting on these bestsellers lists is to NOT select the highly competitive categories where the celebrity authors are. You will most likely NOT make those lists (at least in the beginning, but over time you may). The key is to pick a semi-competitive categories (not obscure) and make sure you do a book launch and get the sales to make it to the #1 bestsellers list. There are many tools for analyzing categories and keywords. I personally use Publisher Rocket.
PILLAR 3
Pillar 3 is doing an organized and professional book launch. Similar to the way new movies are promoted and launched. When a movie is coming out you start seeing trailers and commercials and promotions all over the place. A book launch is designed for one thing: to get the highest amount of sales in the shortest amount of time. That’s how you get on a bestsellers list. I do 2 day book launches for my clients and often get their book in 4-16 bestsellers lists and many of those are #1. Of course, we have a high quality book, with a great cover, an amazing book description, a professionally edited and formatted manuscript and we have also chosen the correct keywords and categories; so now the launch will put us at the top of the bestsellers lists.
Once a book is doing well and Amazon recognizes it, then Amazon starts promoting their book in multiple ways such as the hot new releases list, the movers and shakers list, the top rated list, the recommendations list, etc. After the launch we set up Amazon ads and add thousands of keywords to show up for. I have an Amazon ads training course done with author Marc Reklau who is making $20K+ a month with his books. You can learn more about that in my 8-week coaching program, Digital Retirement Academy which opens up 4 times a year.
In addition to having the title of bestselling author, you will be able to leverage your book to obtain speaking engagements, sell digital courses, fill up high ticket programs, get media attention, and be seen as the go to expert in your field.
The online world is inundated with thousands of experts and a book will set you apart from the masses.