How To Rank On Amazon Kindle

Why9999 · 05-11-2011, 01:02 PM

I've noticed several threads on putting an eBook on Amazon in Kindle format.

Now the next question becomes: how do I rank within Amazon?

Well, you guys have helped me out so much, I hope I can return the favor to some of you here. Below I describe how I moved from page 3 for my keyword to page 1. (I still have a long ways to go as I fall back to page 2 quite often!)

1. Begin by joining a tagging thread. This is painful and rote, but you will find that it gives you a little ranking juice when you first start out. This bumped me up about a page.

2. Get a few mutual reviews from other authors. This will bump you up another half page or so. Good reviews are more important for your customers than your ranking. If they see a review that looks like it is from a non-spammy source, this makes them feel comfortable.

3. Get some sales going on your blog/homepage. Almost all of your ranking on Amazon comes from raw sales. In fact, you will see your ranking moving up and down by the day based on your Kindle sales.

Here is an idea for #2: In your Kindle book, put your email and/or ask for a review. I got a nice review from a guy who wrote in with questions. I answered his questions and then asked him to do a review, which he was more than happy to do.

Here is an idea for #3: Lower your price to drive up sales. I have suspicions that Amazon's algorithm weight not only sales per day but sales dollars per day. However, I moved onto page 1 when my sales went up and this moved my book more than anything else.

Finally, don't forget to submit to Smashwords. That's a whole 'nuther subject, but they will get you into Barnes and Noble, Sony, etc.

You can do VERY well by ranking within Amazon. Here is an interview on my site that I did with an author that is now making over $200,000 per year in eBook sales:

Interview Brian Pratt

NOTE: If any of you has started over in middle age and has an inspirational story in middle age, let me know.

I want to encourage all you budding authors out there: ebook authors are turning the publishing industry on its head and revolutionizing everything much the way the music industry is transforming right now.

It's a fascinating phenomenon to watch. It's time to jump in and get carried downstream!

Any ideas from others more experienced than me is much appreciated...

Why9999 · 05-11-2011, 02:55 PM

Guys,

Smashwords, the little brother to Amazon, has recently moved into the mobile market. One door after another is opening up for ebook authors:

Smashwords Partners with ScrollMotion to Deliver Indie Ebooks to Major Mobile App Marketplaces | TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics

Paul Coleman · 05-11-2011, 06:59 PM

Great advice. Also I recommend giving your book a "push" or two on the biggest blogs. You can email the owner of the blog and request a review:

Free & Bargain Kindle Books | Pixel of Ink

Free Kindle Books, Kindle Tips, News & Commentary | Kindle Nation Daily |

If you don't get reviewed, you can pay to be featured on these blogs. With enough "pushes" you can convince the Amazon algorithm that your book deserves to be recommended to a whole bunch of customers.

Another way to push is the good ole press release:

Press Release Distribution Services - WebWire

Paul

yukon · 05-11-2011, 07:43 PM

Anyone know If kindle imformational type books do any good with sales?

I have a couple of ebooks I've thought about starting, nothing to do with IM just some hobby type stuff.

yukon · 05-11-2011, 07:46 PM

I just checked my keyword on amazon (kindle search) & only one other ebook was returned in the search.

I'm not sure If that's a good sign (less competition), or nobody cares about the subject as far as kindle goes?

Paul Coleman · 05-11-2011, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yukon

Anyone know If kindle imformational type books do any good with sales?

I have a couple of ebooks I've thought about starting, nothing to do with IM just some hobby type stuff.

Do you mean non-fiction "how to" books? Absolutely. But before you launch always check the rank of similar books, check the various Amazon bestsellers lists, the "Customers also bought" recommendations, etc,

Paul

Why9999 · 05-11-2011, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yukon

Anyone know If kindle imformational type books do any good with sales?

I have a couple of ebooks I've thought about starting, nothing to do with IM just some hobby type stuff.

There are a few big eauthors, such as Amanda Hocking and Brian Pratt, that have made it very big in fiction. However, they are the rare exception. Fiction is actually incredibly competitive right now.

Non-fiction, such as your hobby books, have a much better chance of making steady, long term income. Yes, you may make a million dollars in one year like A. Hocking, but you how about ten years of study income instead?

On other boards I have read a number of fiction authors lamenting the decreased competition in the non-fiction markets. My advice: open the door while the door is open...

brobdingnagian · 05-30-2011, 07:25 PM

Hey Paul,

I just started on Kindle publishing after buying your outstanding WSO. I have 22 or so books already loaded onto amazon.

You mentioned a search process in this thread that wasn't in the WSO: you say that you search the Amazon marketplace for similar titles, reviews, etc. Can you please elaborate on your exact process with this part of it?

I plan to do a few thousand of these over the next year or so, but I need to perfect the entire process before I start trying to outsource (I watched that video, too.)

Thanks guys for this great thread.

Paul Coleman · 05-30-2011, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brobdingnagian

Hey Paul,

I just started on Kindle publishing after buying your outstanding WSO. I have 22 or so books already loaded onto amazon.

That is awesome. Talk about Taking Action!

As far as search, I do all the standard things: Check the book's rank, see what bestsellers lists it's on, read reviews. But I also check:

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

I look through every related book, check their rank, their keywords, reviews, and also check their related books. Basically I figure out which book is pulling which other book to the top. ;-)

Paul

blueorca17 · 05-30-2011, 08:34 PM

Just a tip for everyone who doesn't know....the key to getting sales on a kindle book is SEO optimization. Do some keyword research on Google, and also with the suggested search on Amazon. Place the keywords in your book title, and you'll have more chances of making a sale. I guarantee it. Amazon's product search is JUST like people who search for things in Google.

Jules1108 · 01-22-2012, 08:14 PM

I’m finding whenever i publish a book to kindle it never puts any of my keywords/words from the book in the url of my kindle like everyone else i just get amazon.com/dp/243123121 dp/ some number at the end every other book i check on amazon they have 4 keywords from their title before the dp/number part what am i doing wrong?
Jules

05-11-2011, 01:02 PM	#1
Why9999 HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 410 Thanks: 39 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts	How To Rank On Amazon Kindle I've noticed several threads on putting an eBook on Amazon in Kindle format. Now the next question becomes: how do I rank within Amazon? Well, you guys have helped me out so much, I hope I can return the favor to some of you here. Below I describe how I moved from page 3 for my keyword to page 1. (I still have a long ways to go as I fall back to page 2 quite often!) 1. Begin by joining a tagging thread. This is painful and rote, but you will find that it gives you a little ranking juice when you first start out. This bumped me up about a page. 2. Get a few mutual reviews from other authors. This will bump you up another half page or so. Good reviews are more important for your customers than your ranking. If they see a review that looks like it is from a non-spammy source, this makes them feel comfortable. 3. Get some sales going on your blog/homepage. Almost all of your ranking on Amazon comes from raw sales. In fact, you will see your ranking moving up and down by the day based on your Kindle sales. Here is an idea for #2: In your Kindle book, put your email and/or ask for a review. I got a nice review from a guy who wrote in with questions. I answered his questions and then asked him to do a review, which he was more than happy to do. Here is an idea for #3: Lower your price to drive up sales. I have suspicions that Amazon's algorithm weight not only sales per day but sales dollars per day. However, I moved onto page 1 when my sales went up and this moved my book more than anything else. Finally, don't forget to submit to Smashwords. That's a whole 'nuther subject, but they will get you into Barnes and Noble, Sony, etc. You can do VERY well by ranking within Amazon. Here is an interview on my site that I did with an author that is now making over $200,000 per year in eBook sales: Interview Brian Pratt NOTE: If any of you has started over in middle age and has an inspirational story in middle age, let me know. I want to encourage all you budding authors out there: ebook authors are turning the publishing industry on its head and revolutionizing everything much the way the music industry is transforming right now. It's a fascinating phenomenon to watch. It's time to jump in and get carried downstream! Any ideas from others more experienced than me is much appreciated...

05-11-2011, 06:59 PM	#3
Paul Coleman bookPumper.com War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: California + Mexico Posts: 1,161 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 715 Thanked 1,647 Times in 176 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: How To Rank On Amazon Kindle Great advice. Also I recommend giving your book a "push" or two on the biggest blogs. You can email the owner of the blog and request a review: Free & Bargain Kindle Books \| Pixel of Ink Free Kindle Books, Kindle Tips, News & Commentary \| Kindle Nation Daily \| If you don't get reviewed, you can pay to be featured on these blogs. With enough "pushes" you can convince the Amazon algorithm that your book deserves to be recommended to a whole bunch of customers. Another way to push is the good ole press release: Press Release Distribution Services - WebWire Paul
	The Girl Who HATES Kindle - Video Kindle REVOLUTIONS *- Full product free* in the WAR ROOM** .

05-11-2011, 07:43 PM	#4
yukon SEO Strategist War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 6,532 Thanks: 355 Thanked 1,992 Times in 1,273 Posts	Re: How To Rank On Amazon Kindle Anyone know If kindle imformational type books do any good with sales? I have a couple of ebooks I've thought about starting, nothing to do with IM just some hobby type stuff.
	- SEO Strategist -

05-11-2011, 07:46 PM	#5
yukon SEO Strategist War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 6,532 Thanks: 355 Thanked 1,992 Times in 1,273 Posts	Re: How To Rank On Amazon Kindle I just checked my keyword on amazon (kindle search) & only one other ebook was returned in the search. I'm not sure If that's a good sign (less competition), or nobody cares about the subject as far as kindle goes?
	- SEO Strategist -

05-30-2011, 07:25 PM	#8
brobdingnagian Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 77 Thanks: 4 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts	Re: How To Rank On Amazon Kindle Hey Paul, I just started on Kindle publishing after buying your outstanding WSO. I have 22 or so books already loaded onto amazon. You mentioned a search process in this thread that wasn't in the WSO: you say that you search the Amazon marketplace for similar titles, reviews, etc. Can you please elaborate on your exact process with this part of it? I plan to do a few thousand of these over the next year or so, but I need to perfect the entire process before I start trying to outsource (I watched that video, too.) Thanks guys for this great thread.

05-11-2011, 02:55 PM	#2
Why9999 HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 410 Thanks: 39 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts	Re: How To Rank On Amazon Kindle Guys, Smashwords, the little brother to Amazon, has recently moved into the mobile market. One door after another is opening up for ebook authors: Smashwords Partners with ScrollMotion to Deliver Indie Ebooks to Major Mobile App Marketplaces \| TeleRead: News and views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics

05-30-2011, 08:34 PM	#10
blueorca17 HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 159 Thanks: 4 Thanked 13 Times in 11 Posts	Re: How To Rank On Amazon Kindle Just a tip for everyone who doesn't know....the key to getting sales on a kindle book is SEO optimization. Do some keyword research on Google, and also with the suggested search on Amazon. Place the keywords in your book title, and you'll have more chances of making a sale. I guarantee it. Amazon's product search is JUST like people who search for things in Google.

01-22-2012, 08:14 PM	#11
Jules1108 Warrior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: How To Rank On Amazon Kindle I’m finding whenever i publish a book to kindle it never puts any of my keywords/words from the book in the url of my kindle like everyone else i just get amazon.com/dp/243123121 dp/ some number at the end every other book i check on amazon they have 4 keywords from their title before the dp/number part what am i doing wrong? Jules