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When an author wants to sell more books, build credibility and get more attention as a speaker, author or expert in their industry, it’s common knowledge that becoming an Amazon bestseller is one of the quickest ways to success.

In fact, there’s an entire industry built around helping authors become Amazon bestsellers. Authors can purchase services that practically guarantee helping them become bestsellers no matter what type of book they write, with promises of wealth, influence and star status that are almost irresistible.

But there’s a secret behind all of the buzz about becoming an Amazon bestseller that no one is talking about. And a lot of misinformation that we feel should be addressed.

In fact, bestseller status:

• Is a lot easier to get than you think
• Doesn’t mean you sold a lot of books
• Won’t guarantee future book sales
• Can be achieved without blowing up your budget

When we started working with authors almost 20 years ago, bestseller status on Amazon had credibility and true value as it was achieved using the traditional method of counting book sales.

Over the years, however, Amazon’s methods for assigning bestseller status have changed and we’ve seen how achieving it can be relatively easy with only a few sales. In fact, since Amazon algorithms update nearly every hour, by coordinating friends and family to all purchase the book within a very short time frame, you have a very good chance of achieving “bestseller” status.

We’ve even heard of authors creating large batches of email addresses using different names then purchasing their book using those various email addresses within a short time frame to become a “bestseller.”

Hey, we even read a true-but-hilarious story about how this author became a bestseller on Amazon in five minutes and with only $3.

Don’t get us wrong, bestseller status is great. We just hate to hear stories of new authors blowing their budgets to get bestseller status by outsourcing expert help and purchasing large amounts of their own books when they really just need to learn a little bit more about how Amazon assigns bestseller status – and how they can work toward it on their own.

While we believe that good writing, quality printing, and access to a database of dedicated readers are the keys to a successful experience as an author, we’re happy to share how many authors are achieving bestseller status – and how you can too.  

It’s all about the categories

Here’s the secret about Amazon bestseller status – it’s all about the categories. When a book or ebook is first listed on Amazon, selecting categories is one of the first steps. Choosing the right ones can lead to bestseller status. Choose the wrong ones, and no matter how many books you sell, you’ll never achieve bestseller status.

Amazon assigns bestseller rankings to books based on how many sales or downloads they have over a period of time as compared to all other books on the Amazon market. You can find that number in the Product Details section on the book’s page. It looks like this:

Here’s what those numbers mean:

• If you’re in the Top 100 in your Amazon category, you will see a “best-seller ranking” below the title.
• A book at the #1 spot in any given category will get a “#1 Best Seller” banner featured next to the title.

Dominating a category is obviously key for bestseller status. So you can see how carefully choosing the right category is essential. Choose a broad category means you’re in competition with a larger pool of books. But choosing a much more niched category decreases the size of that pool and the size of your competition as well.

For example, if you’re writing a gardening book, you could choose the category of “gardening.” But if you are able to niche down even further using categories that pertain to the type of gardening, geographical locations, or even select fruits or vegetables, etc., you’ll be even more niched and have much less competition for bestseller status.

How to choose Amazon categories

Unfortunately, Amazon doesn’t list its categories, so you’ve got to do a little research to choose the ones you want to use. Start by researching other books that are similar to yours and see what categories they are using. You can see this in the Product Detail section (as seen in the image above).

Make a note of the ones that fit your book best, then try to niche down even further. Do this by clicking on one of the categories in the books you are researching. A page will open listing best sellers in that category. And the categories will be shown in a column on the left. Often there will be even more options for narrowing your category and you can explore those by clicking on any of the selections.

Here’s an example: In the image here you can see how we were able to niche down 6 categories from Kindle ebooks to Reference to Writing, Research & Publishing to Publishing & Books to Authorship. 

By researching books similar to yours, and their rankings in categories that are “super-niched,” you’ll be able to select categories that can boost your own status.

We hope this peek behind the curtain at how Amazon bestseller status is achieved – and what it really means – has been enlightening and helpful. Here at Vervante we offer free listing services for Amazon and if you want to learn more about choosing categories with the most potential for bestseller status we can help. Just reach out to one of our Amazon retail specialists at [email protected] or set up a call using this link.  

Your dream of publishing a book, CD, DVD or other unique product is almost to the point of becoming a reality. You’ve crafted the perfect content for it and are ready to take the next big step – publishing! The most important move you can make right now is to take the time to research your next steps in order to ensure your final product stays true to your vision. Choosing a publisher is a big decision – they will become an important part of your team and an essential element for bringing your dream to life.

To help you make an informed decision, we’ve gathered together the top 8 qualities you need to look for in an on-demand publisher for your project. After more than 30 years in the publishing industry, we’ve seen up close and personal what you need – and what you don’t need – in order to pick the right company to help you. And we know that no matter if you choose to work with a larger corporate publisher or specialized boutique organizations, these are universal truths that will help you make the right decisions to ensure that your publishing experience is valuable, productive and, above all, stress-free.

1. Easy to Use: Are you a DIY person, or do you want someone to be your personal guide and help you through the process? No matter which, make sure that the publisher you choose can work with your unique publishing mindset.
   1. DIY: For the person who prefers to do it themselves, check that the website has a full complement of online tools, training videos, whitepapers and information posted for those who prefer total automation. 
   2. A partner in publishing: For those who love to have access to personal help throughout their publishing experience, check to make sure your publisher has a team available to help with everything from file set up, graphic design, packaging and more.
2. Proven Track Record: How long has the company been around? What is their experience / track record in the industry? Who are the principles and what is their background? Your book or product is very important to you and you should have qualified, experienced professionals with satisfied clients and proven track records to be on your team.
   1. Check the publisher’s “About” page on their website for initial background info.
   2. Read up on the executive team. See what their background is and their level of experience within the publishing industry.
   3. Look for information about other clients who have used this publisher. If their contact information is public, reach out to them to hear about their publishing experience.
3. Customization. Your unique vision should know no boundaries. Check out what customization options are available to you. Are you required to use cookie-cutter templates or do you have access to various unique customization options for your product. “Off the shelf” ideas are great for certain standard projects, but you want to make sure that you can break out of the box and have access to all sorts of creative products and packaging depending on your needs. Ideas? Hmmm, how about drawstring bags for personalized card decks? Or t-shirts, framed certificates, goody bags, shipping boxes or clear newsletter packaging envelopes? A good publisher will take your ideas, bring them to life and then give you options that will elevate your project to even higher levels.
4. No strings, no hidden fees: This pretty much speaks for itself. Read the fine print in any agreement or product descriptions and choose a publisher who states all project fees upfront. Who needs the stress of worrying about each little thing along the way and adding up a ‘la carte fees? Not you! Look for a publisher who will work with you with no set up fees, no minimums, and allowing all items to be produced and shipped on demand or in bulk.  
5. Comprehensive Solutions: Check if the publishers you are looking at offer free coaching on product and packaging as well as dedicated team to support you, via email or phone support. You should never be left hanging. Check with your publisher about how progression through the publishing process will work – and that you will have access to an experienced guide who can walk you through everything from design and formatting, printing and shipping. Don’t forget to ask about comprehensive solutions ahead of time such as accdess to designers who can create artwork and packaging, edit audio files, master DVDs, and then produce and ship products. While it may be tempting to try to do it all yourself, it is worth asking about done-for-you packages that may end up saving you precious time and finances in the long run.
6. Marketing & Sales: Once you have your product in hand, can your publisher take the extra steps to help you realize your goals by providing sales, marketing and promotional opportunities? You’ve already worked together so much – at this point it is a relief to be able to continue that relationship with someone who can help you to manage retail channels such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble, as well as format and offer ebook solutions and help ensure distribution via the largest channels available.
7. Personal Relationships: Every step of the way you should have full access and quick response from your publisher. If you want to see how your potential publisher is with relating to their clients, go to the source, their customers. See if they have testimonials available. Reach out to those people – if they are really satisfied they will be delighted to tell you of their experiences. Referrals are the best – and truest – form of flattery. If colleagues and like-minded people have used the publisher you are looking at – and would do it again – then that’s telling you a lot.
8. Connect with Customers to Help Your Business Grow: While we listed this last, it may indeed be the most important point you should consider. If you want to publish more books in the future, create products, and continue to grow your audience and your business, having a subscriber list is the key. Ask your publishing company how they handle sales and customer contact information, and if they provide a way for you to stay in touch with your readers and fans.

By taking a close look at these 8 essential qualities, you’ll be able to easily narrow your search for the perfect publishing partner for your big project. When it comes to all of the qualities we describe above, Vervante continues to stand out from the crowd.

Vervante has the experience, solutions, and systems to help you publish, share and sell high-quality books and printed products easily and profitably. And when it comes to supporting you as a business, and helping your bottom line grow, Vervante offers what no other publisher does - the ability to connect with your customers. Subscriber email lists are your #1 asset for business growth, so why send your customers to another site to buy? What does that mean? Well, if you sell through self-publishing companies such as Amazon KDP (formerly CreateSpace), you’re selling directly from Amazon. And that means the people who purchase your book are essentially Amazon’s customers and you don’t have access to customer contact information.

We love Amazon, who doesn’t? But what we offer is the ability to sell your book in multiple ways, including via Amazon, with ALL customer contact information gathered for your business database. Here’s how it works:

• SELL FROM YOUR WEBSITE – You can sell your book via a website page you create, using your own shopping cart that’s set up to send sales details our way, and we will print and ship all orders for you.
• AMAZON SALES – We can also list your book on Amazon. When we list it for you, Amazon will send all order information to us, including customer information, and we will pass that info on to you. (Score!)

This is how using Vervante as your back-end publishing and distribution partner allows you to have the best of both worlds – your own solution where you sell the book from a site you control, collect customer contact information critical for building your business, and we handle printing and shipping. PLUS we list your book for sale on Amazon as an additional purchasing option. It’s a win-win solution: You have access to critical customer data AND your book will be available on Amazon.

We have more than 30 years of experience in the publishing industry and have worked with authors, business owners, entrepreneurs, corporations and visionaries just like you who are ready to share their brilliance and creativity. We specialize in easy, efficient and quick publishing solutions for books and products such as newsletters, CDs, DVDs, books, information products and card decks. Whether you are motivated by art, business, or life, we make it easy for you to realize your publishing dreams. For questions or help, we invite you to contact us at [email protected] or schedule a phone call with one of our publishing specialists at https://vervante.youcanbook.me/.

We love to connect with our customers and have great conversations by email and through our phone appointments. During those chats, we’ve heard over and over a few things that we’re told really make us stand out in this industry. So in case you’re new to Vervante, or want to learn more about the different products and services we offer, here’s the top 20 reasons people say they love working with us.

#1 Publishing Outside the Box: Here's why we are different: You sell from your site and we'll print and ship the product to your customer. You build your email list, make more money and we take care of the printing and shipping.

• You can use ANY shopping cart.
• No overpriced package deals, no hidden fees, and no flat shipping fee or marked up postage costs.

#2 Publishing Your Way: What you want, when you want it. That’s it! If you need one book or thousands, paperback or hard cover, digital or offset – we will print your book your way.

#3 Worldwide Order Fulfillment: We ship anywhere in the world using USPS and UPS services and keep you up-to-date on its status. Shipping confirmation emails are sent to recipients with tracking information. All of the order information such as status and tracking numbers are posted to your account online.

#4 Personal Customer Service & Support: Need help? No problem! We're here to make sure that your questions are addressed quickly and efficiently to ensure that your project is a success. We provide several ways to get help, beginning with an FAQ page that contains detailed answers to many common questions about our products and services and is available 24/7. Next steps are to either email us at [email protected] or schedule a phone conversation with one of our publishing specialists using the link on our Contact Us page. No matter how you reach out, you can be sure that someone experience, attentive and passionate about publishing is waiting to help.

#5 Inventory Management: We can print, store and drop ship on demand.  And we will manage your products and drop ship.  We provide you with access to online, real-time inventory reporting so you know exactly what we have on hand. You set the re-order points for each item and we'll automatically send you an email when it's time to replenish your inventory.

#6 Free Resources: We offer a wide variety of free Resources to inspire and help you create your products.

• Expert Guides and How-to's
• Videos that will educate and inspire
• FAQs that provide the answers you need
• Print Specs & Templates for preparing print files

#7 Monthly Subscription Boxes: Subscription boxes have become one of the most versatile, income-boosting and business-building products we’ve seen lately. If you’ve been thinking of adding a subscription service to your business, Vervante can help create, package, and fulfill each monthly shipment for your customers. We also offer a wide range of packaging options to help you create a box or package that stands out from the crowd. Customize your packaging on the outside with creative graphics, branding or stickers. And customize the inside with colorful tissue paper, attractive bags, mantra cards, or other unique inserts.

#8 No Hidden Costs: We believe in providing our customers with competitive prices and no hidden fees.  Some of our competitors add a markup of 33% on postage? Just think how this can really add up over time. We charge exact postage fees and no mark-ups.

#9 Card Decks and Packaging: Our card decks are highly customizable – they can be printed at any size, with square or round edges and in either full color or black-and-white. And when it comes to packaging – the only limit is your imagination! We’ve packaged card decks in drawstring bags, clear pop-up boxes, button/string poly envelopes and custom-printed boxes.

#10 Comprehensive Online Access to Reports, Orders, Tracking & More: The Vervante Author Dashboard is like having a central "mission control" for everything you create with us. It's an all-in-one location for placing orders, checking invoices, customizing products and more.

#11 No Monthly Minimums: Other companies require authors to purchase costly publishing packages to get started. These can range from $449 - $1999+ and usually include a lot of extras you probably don't need. We have no monthly fees and a no-hassle policy.

#12 Books!: We can print, prepare and ship all manner of books, whatever you want, how much you want and when you want. Paperback, hardcover, coloring (for kids or adults!), children’s books, collaborative books, cookbooks, journals, planners, and whatever else you can think of.  

#13 Automated Order Processing from ANY shopping cart: We accept orders from any shopping cart.

#14 ISBNS, LCCNS, & Copyright: If you’re going to share, sell or distribute a book in any way, it’s best to protect it legally and set it up correctly for industry specifications. We educate our customer on everything from purchasing ISBNs for retail sales to protecting their intellectual property using copyrights, and we can help them through the process to make sure it’s done right.

#15 Retail Distribution: We make it easy to sell your product through our Bookstore or on Amazon Marketplace.

#16 Flexible Book Sizes: We offer a wide variety of sizes, binding, and other variations to help you create exactly what you want, and what your customers will love.

#17 Book Publishing Industry Experience: We know how important it is for authors to have access to resources and guides that they trust. That’s why we offer free resources featuring a wide range of expert guides, how-to’s, technical specifications and more, all written by our team of experts with decades of experience in the publishing industry, that keep our clients up-to-date and in-the-know for all things publishing.

#18 Spiral Bound and Wire-O Books and Journals: Soft cover spiral bound books printed on demand, or hard cover spiral or wire-o printed in minimum print runs of 25. 

#19 Custom Packaging and Personalized Packing Slips: We offer a wide range of packaging from boxes to bags to creative options that you can customize to make your book or products really stand out. And every package we send out includes a packing slip that you can customize.

#20 USB Flash drives: Customized USB flash drives can be imprinted with company logos, taglines, or contact information to create a unique product clients and customers will love.