Three marketing tips for writers
It’s that time of month again—AuthorToolBoxBlogHop, where like-minded writers exchange tips on writing, marketing, editing, querying, etc. For July, I’ve selected three marketing tips for writers that I don’t think are well known. It’s always a pleasure sharing marketing secrets.
1. The right way to share your book’s Amazon link
Okay, you’ve finally published a book. Hooray you! And naturally, you’re social media-ing the heck out of it. Whether on your blog, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or any other platform, you’re getting the word out. “Buy my book. Here’s the link ______”.
But did you know there’s a little known secret to copying an Amazon’s link?
Here’s the unedited link to my last novel, Snow White and the Eighth Dwarf:
Snow White and the Eighth Dwarf
https://www.amazon.com/Snow-White-Eighth-Dwarf-Enchanted-ebook/dp/B06XPH21PW/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1500258454&sr=8-9&keywords=cheryl+sterling
(whew!)
See that bolded ASIN (Amazon book ID Number)? All that gibberish behind it is an Amazon electronic time stamp. It tells Amazon the exact time of your purchase.
Here’s the thing. Every time you sell a book with that time stamp, Amazon will see an abnormal amount of sales FOR THE SAME EXACT TIME. It might send up a red flag. Your sales might not be counted.
Here’s an easy workaround
Remove everything after the ASIN. Whether you shorten the link with tinyURL or not, only use the link between www.amazon to the ASID.
2. Sticking a post to Twitter and Facebook
Going back to your new book scenario (Yeah, you!). You write a post about it on Twitter and your Facebook Page—then what? How do you keep it at the top of all your posts so it’s the first thing visitors see?
Write your post/tweet as usual and publish. Find it on your feed and look for a V symbol in the upper right hand corner of the post. Click on it and bring down the pull down menu.
Permanently pin a post to the top of your Facebook page.
On Twitter, click on “Pin to your profile page.”
On Facebook, click on “Pin to top of page.” This only works on Facebook Pages. You do have a Facebook page, right?
Add a C.T.A. to all your correspondence
What is C.T.A.? It stands for Call To Action. Yes, you, introverted author, are going to ask your readers to buy your books.
In the front and back material of your published book (Yeah, you!) add all your contact info: email, blog link, Facebook page, Twitter page, all social media, and a link to your Amazon Author Page. You do have an Amazon Author page, right? In addition, add Amazon links to other books, and an excerpt of one of your books.
It’s okay to ask your current readers to buy something else of yours. Or contact you. Or follow you on social media. Perhaps write a review. Where better than at the back of your book?
Nudge your readers with a C.T.A. This article explains how effective a C.T.A. can be.
Today’s #AuthorToolBoxBlogHop was brought to you by the letters “A” (Amazon link), “P” (Pin your post), and “C”, “T”, and “A” (Call to Action). I hope my three marketing tips for writers will bring you many, many sales (at different Amazon time stamps, of course).
To continue hopping through other great blogs in the monthly #AuthorToolboxBlogHop or to join, click here.
Bonus C.T.A.
Thanks for reading to the bottom of this post. I’m sending out my own Call To Action. I’ve finished the sequel to Snow White and the Eighth Dwarf, titled Red Riding Hood and the Lone Wolfe.
I’m looking for beta readers. If you’re interested, please contact me at cherylsterling@hotmail.com
See, CTAs are painless.
Blessings,
Cheryl
by 
Great post! It always amazes me how few people know the secret about the Amazon links.
Good reminders here!
Leslie
Thank you for all these tips. 🙂
So many authors are compaining that Amazon isn’t correstly tallying their sales. thanks for the tip. Hopefully, Amazon can fix the issue without causing more problems.
Ah! I didn’t know that about Facebook posts. Excuse me while I go pin something to my page. Um, I also didn’t know that about Amazon links. You’re just a wealth of information. Love this post. Regarding your CTA, I’m swamped with my critique partner’s MS at the moment. I want more time to read all the books!
Does anyone else use Booklinker.net? I use it to create a universal link for my books on Amazon. What is means it when a person clicks the link, they are taken to their country specific Amazon. For me, this is really important. I’m Canadian, but my books mostly sell in US, UK and Canada. When someone from the US clicks on my Booklinker link, they are taken to Amazon.com. Someone from Canada goes to Amazon.ca. This means one less click, and reduces the chances you lose the person before they get to the right site.
Such a simple trick. Why is it a secret?
Hi, Cheryl! This is my first time here and I’ve signed up for your blog and free e-book. I’ll try to connect with you online and share this post.
Thank you for this wonderful info. I’ve no book–yet! But I’ll keep this info handy when I do.
~Victoria Marie Lees
http://victoriamarielees.blogspot.com
Wow!! I had no idea about the Amazon link. I made a note of this and make sure to be careful with this!! Thank you so much Cheryl and congrats on publishing your book!! ?
I didn’t know about Booklinker. Sounds like an easy tool for readers to find your books.
Victoria, welcome! Enjoy the free ebook and let me know if you have publishing questions (and when you do publish). Keep at it. Perseverance is the key to getting published. Don’t be one of those “someday I’ll write a book” people.
I’ve heard conflicting information on the Amazon links. Some say as you do, that it’s a no-no. But I’ve read a convincing post from an IT geek explaining why it doesn’t matter (although they do agree that the long link is ugly, and the shorter link looks more professional).
Also, if you actually want people to buy a book, why not use an affiliate link, so you get the extra 4%+ of the sale price?
hehehe. Okay you got me. Thanks for this.
Anna from elements of emaginette
Great info. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Great tips 🙂 I never knew about the Amazon link workaround!
I think including a CTA to my social media page might actually help gain more traction for my book. Thanks for the tips!
Great tips Cheryl, thanks so much for sharing, I never would have realised about the Amazon link timestamp! I absolutely adore fairytale retellings so I’m going to go check out your book and if I finish it in a respectable amount of time I’ll definitely be up for beta reading book 2! 😀
Lyndsey, I’d love to have you beta read for book 2-Red Riding Hood and the Lone Wolf if you’re still interested. I should have the final edits done this week. Let me know. Thanks!