Choosing the right category for your book when you list it on Amazon is one of the best ways you can boost its visibility on Amazon. Selecting a category is like choosing where your book will be displayed in your local bookstore. Put it in the wrong place, and readers will miss it entirely. In the right place, and you'll get seen by people who may not know you, but are searching for the exact topic you're writing about.
I bet you've done some book shopping on Amazon where you searched by category, trying to find something new and exciting. You're not the only one! Many readers who shop on Amazon discover books by browsing by category. And, another bonus, if your title is assigned correctly, you'll increase the chances of it appearing in Amazon's automated marketing campaigns.
How to add Amazon book categories
Categories are added during the process of adding your book listing to Amazon. If you already have a book on Amazon, you can change or update listings as well. For full instructions and more information check out this page on Amazon's Author Central. And if you need help, one tool we've heard Vervante authors praise is called KDSpy. It's a unique software application that reverse-engineers the Kindle Marketplace to reveal lucrative Kindle keyword category niches. After all, when it comes to categories, the more specific, the better your results.
Mark your calendars and get ready - Amazon Prime Day (July 15 and 16) is just around the corner! If you have a book or product on Amazon (or for sale anywhere else!), this is a great opportunity to add some sizzle to your sales. Here's how:
Offer a special "prime" deal for your audience
Shoppers are excited and anticipating epic deals as Prime Day gets closer. You can take advantage of their attention by offering special deals directly to your audience if they purchase from your website (not Amazon!). The best way to do this is to reach out directly to your loyal customers and fans. This means sending emails to your list and posting updates to your social media.
Want to stand out from the crowd? Creating special offers and promotions will get their interest - and provide real value your customers will appreciate. This is your chance to get creative by offering value-boosting extras and irresistible promotions such as:
"Free plus shipping" offers where for a limited time only customers can get your book/product for free and only need to pay shipping. (This is a great one to use on social media and will also help add emails to your list).
Special "prime day" packages where for a limited time several products are bundled for one low price.
If your clients love packages, take it a step further by creating a subscription service and launch it on Prime Day with free extras or a special reduced rate that will catch people's attention.
Record a special audio podcast or video tutorial as an extra for one of your books or products and offer it as a special bonus on Prime Day.
Offer a special personal coaching session, or limited-time memberships to your masterminds or coaching groups, with any Prime Day purchase.
The key here is to be creative - and add value. You don't need to reduce your prices, just give more in a way that will excited your customers and make them feel like they got the best prime deal out there!
Build anticipation with sneak peeks
Here's one more tip to give your Prime Day deals some extra oomph: Be sure to share "sneak peeks" of the specials you'll be offering in your newsletters, social media and emails. It's a great way to spread the word, build anticipation and join in all of the Prime Day fun everyone is having.
As we celebrate here in the U.S. the blessings and benefits that independence brings to our lives, we can't help but think about how this affects authors too.
The world of self-publishing has opened so many doors for passionate, creative people with dreams and ideas that need to be shared with the world, and it's given them the freedom they need to write, design and share their book ideas in exactly the way the want - without holding back or changing to fit someone's ideas of what's "right."
For more than 30 years, we've dedicated ourselves to providing the resources, support and guidance authors need to turn their book and product ideas into viable, thriving businesses that give them the independence they deserve.
With Vervante, you have the freedom to:
Be in the driver's seat for all design and content decisions, so you can create exactly what you want, and what your customers will love
Create additional products that add value to your book and can create additional revenue streams
List your book for sale where ever you want: We can help you list on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Baker & Taylor, Vervante Bookstore and eBook venues including Kindle and Nook. PLUS we can also list your book through the Vervante Bookstore and personal websites
Use a shopping cart solution that works best for you (we can work with ANY)
Have access to a Free online storefront solution if you don't want to mess with shopping carts
Be in complete control of your listing prices, discounts, special offers, etc.
Gather customer emails and create a database that allows you to stay connected to your loyal fans and be free of the whims of social media for marketing and connecting with your audience
Choose shipping options that work for you - and not worry about bogus additional frees
Not be restricted by unnecessary contracts or high-priced publishing "package" requirements
Retain all rights as sole owner of your book with our unique non-exclusive agreements
Publish when you want, not when you're told to: If you are writing a book that cites current events or has a topic that is timely, bringing the book quickly to market is critical. Once you send your print-ready files to Vervante, your book can be ready to print and listed for sale in a matter of days.
Sell to a global audience: We ship anywhere in the world
Get all the expert help you need. We know how important it is for authors to have access to resources and guides that they trust. That's why we created a FREE Expert Guide Resource Library on our website filled with a wide range of free ebooks to inspire, educate and support your journey creating, sharing and selling books and other printed products with Vervante.
If you've been thinking about writing and publishing a book, but something's held you back, we hope that this holiday inspires you to finally take the leap to assert your own independence and become the author you were meant to be.
Because nothing's worse than having a dream inside you and keeping it hidden where the world can't see or benefit from it.
Happy Independence Day, authors. We're excited to watch you shine!
Choosing the right category for your book when you list it on Amazon is one of the best ways you can boost its visibility on Amazon. Selecting a category is like choosing where your book will be displayed in your local bookstore. Put it in the wrong place, and readers will miss it entirely. In the right place, and you'll get seen by people who may not know you, but are searching for the exact topic you're writing about. 
Mark your calendars and get ready - Amazon Prime Day (July 15 and 16) is just around the corner! If you have a book or product on Amazon (or for sale anywhere else!), this is a great opportunity to add some sizzle to your sales. Here's how:
As we celebrate here in the U.S. the blessings and benefits that independence brings to our lives, we can't help but think about how this affects authors too.