There are countless masterpieces in an author’s studio that they have completed, but they never achieve the fame they deserve. The primary reason is that they are unaware of how to promote a self-published book. They just don’t know how to do it, and perhaps they were never confident enough to ask for external help.
Though not anymore!
This needs to change, and we are here to push the winds by informing you how to pull out that self-published script from your drawers. We will also be sharing with you how to promote it on Amazon and boost the sales of this shelved product of yours. Are you ready?
Promoting Your Self-Published Book on Amazon
No matter what happens to your script, know that if it is worthwhile, it will grow with the right strategy. So, whether it was shelved after failed advertising campaigns or it was never promoted in the first place, just read the steps below, and you will know how to fix the mess.
First things first, let’s discuss the importance of the expert ebook publishers in this journey. It is true that Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) allows authors to self-publish directly without needing a traditional publisher.
However, when you engage with professional book publishers or marketing experts, it can significantly boost your self-published manuscript’s promotion and sales.
So, yes, you need to get help from expert publishers and use their valuable services like editing, cover design, and strategic marketing. All of this will eventually help you in making your manuscript more competitive and visible on Amazon.
Step #1 is to Create a Sales Page
A sales page is also known as the PDP, short for Product Details Page. It is a digital storefront from your script on the Amazon marketplace. This is where the product’s name, images, description, features, and other details go.
So, as an author, it is your responsibility to make your PDP more comprehensive and appealing. The more informed a customer is, the more he will trust you. Therefore –
- Invest in a professional-looking cover to grab attention and reflect the book’s genre.
- Choose a catchy title and subtitle that accurately targets the audience.
- Write a compelling description that highlights the book’s unique selling points.
- Optimize your book’s metadata to increase visibility in search results.
Step #2 is to Use Amazon’s Advertising Tools
The platform is very generous with the authors and offers them several advertising tools to help them sell and promote their scripts. The three types of advertising are sponsored product ads, sponsored brands, and product display ads. This means that as the owner of the book, you can run targeted advertising campaigns to reach potential readers.
It is no rocket science. You do it based on their interests and browsing history. Then, later, you can enroll in KDP Select to participate in free book promotions and countdown deals to significantly boost visibility and sales. In the end, you should use the discount trick on your customers to attract more buyers and increase your manuscript’s ranking.
Step #3 is to Create an Email Marketing List
Moving on in the journey of how to promote a self-published script, the next step is to create an email marketing list. If you ask us, this is the easiest thing you can do, and it barely takes any additional effort. You simply have to start by knowing and researching your target audience’s interests, preferences, and online behavior.
All of this will come in handy in tailoring your marketing efforts. Then, you need to build an email list to communicate directly with your readers. Through this list, you will also be able to keep them informed about your book and future releases. Furthermore, you can use social media platforms to share updates and engage with your audience.
Step #4 is to Collaborate with Influencers
Now, for the next step, if you are not taking the help of a Kindle Direct Publishing agency, you need to reach out to book bloggers and reviewers. These are the new thought leaders of society, and they are the best people to support you in securing reviews and recommendations.
Once you get positive reviews on your page, half of your promotions are over. In addition, you can also partner with influencers who are dealing with the same age bracket audience as yours.
Step #5 is to Encourage Reviews from the Target Audience
Last but not least, the reviews, as we said, are very crucial; you need to pay special attention to them. A clever advice is that you make sure to use Amazon’s built-in tools to request reviews from your readers.
However, if that doesn’t work for you, you can offer incentives for reviews, such as discounts or freebies. These are effective tricks for encouraging readers to leave feedback. Lastly, as an author, you need to respond to both positive and negative reviews. This helps build trust and improve the reputation of your manuscript.
Common Promotional Mistakes and Solutions
Like any other process, the advertising and marketing of a book also has some pitfalls that authors fall into. However, there is no shame in it. You should rather own your mistakes and learn how to fix them.
| Mistakes | Solutions |
| 1. Neglecting proper formatting | You should use a professional formatting service or utilise Amazon KDP’s formatting tools to ensure a polished and readable book. |
| 2. Overlooking a catchy cover | It is important to invest in professional cover designs. So, try to use Amazon KDP’s cover templates or hire a professional designer. |
| 3. Ignoring keywords and categories | Doing this can make it difficult for potential readers to find your book in Amazon’s search results. So, thoroughly research and select categories that truly reflect your script. |
| 4. Underpricing or Overpricing | If you use the wrong prices when promoting the book, the campaign might not work as effectively and discourage potential buyers. |
Q. How can I advertise my script on the platform?
Start by signing in to http:/kdp.amazon.com/. Then, select a book from your list on the app that you wish to advertise. After that, tap on ‘promote and advertise,’ and when the menu drops down, choose ‘run an ad campaign.’ It will prompt you to select a marketplace, and then you will be able to create an ad campaign.
Q. How can I increase the visibility of my book?
For increased visibility, you need to use keywords that accurately portray your book’s content. Moreover, the words you choose must reflect the ones that the reader uses when they are searching.
Q. Is getting my book ranked on Amazon easy?
Yes, it is easy if you follow the right path and take action in a timely manner. So, all it takes is the customer reviews. Your script only ranks if the platform notices that you are fully satisfying your readers’ hunger for good books. Therefore, reviews are necessary as evidence.
Q. What is the metadata for my manuscript, and how do I write it?
Metadata is the text that is on the manuscript or about it, such as the information that describes it. Generally, it includes the title, the author’s name, the keywords, the publication date, genre, etc.
The Final Verdict
In the case of how to promote a self-published book, we learned that there are a few standard practices. For example, the existence of an author page and a Product Description Page (PDP). Other than that, you need to use the advertising tools and have an email marketing list with the names of your target audience on it. Apart from this, you also need to collaborate with influencers and take them on board to reach increased visibility. Finally, have a nice front cover and spine and use the most relevant keywords to attract the reader’s attention.