Jul5

Guest Post: Using Amazon Categories to Sell More Books by Peggy Sansevieri

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Guest Post: Using Amazon Categories to Sell More Books by Peggy Sansevieri

Thank you to Peggy Sansevieri for this fascinating book marketing article which previously appeared on Writers in the Storm.

By now most authors know the importance of choosing great keywords on Amazon, but Amazon’s categories are equally important. Choosing the right categories can boost your exposure. And exposure drives book sales.

So, while it’s good to spend a lot of time focusing on keywords, you should also focus on finding narrow categories on Amazon. The reason to look narrow is this: categories with fewer books have lower competition for the #1 spot. And the top ten is a great place to hit, not only because it creates more visibility for your book, but Amazon’s algorithms kick in as you start to spike within categories.

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The BIG Secret about Amazon Categories

When speaking to a contact at Amazon recently, she told me they had rolled out ten categories for each book. Which means that instead of just two categories, you can have up to ten for each of your titles. Why is this good? Well, the more categories your book has, the more places it will show up. And because you have more flexibility now, you can pick some super niche categories, along with less niche ones. This is especially good in markets where there aren’t a ton of niches. Business books often sit in this segment. Having more categories levels the playing field a bit more.

How to Choose the Right Categories

First, when I talk about Amazon categories (and in previous posts I’ve done for this blog), you’ve probably noticed that I always refer to the eBook side of Amazon. This is because the categories on the eBook side are more creative because there are more of them.

To continue reading this article, click here.

Jul5

Video of the Week #156: Paper Sculpture

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Jul3

My Surgery is Making Me Cut Back…

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New posts will appear below this one for a while.

If you’re a regular reader, you may have caught on that surgery is imminent for me. I’m having hip replacement surgery today.

For months, as the pain has increased, my productivity has tanked. When you’re in pain, simple tasks, like grocery shopping or making the bed, become huge undertakings, taking much longer than it should.

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I’ve been struggling to keep up with my blog. Frankly, it is apparent I can not keep up with my daily pace.

So I’m letting myself off the hook.

I’m not worrying about the month of July at all.

I already have posts scheduled for all the Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays in July, so you’ll still be able to get your weekly From the Creator’s Heart, Monday Morning Wisdom, Video of the Week, and guest post. (They will show up below this post.)  I’m just not up to hustling the original content: the Tuesday/Saturday articles, the Wordless Wednesday photos, the Friday memes. So, they’re gone for a while.

Once I’m off pain meds, I’ll start writing again, but I’ll concentrate on August and beyond (and my book projects).

So, please, bear with me. And send up a prayer to the Great Physician that my healing will be fast. Thanks!

Jul2

Monday Morning Wisdom #161

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MMWWe do our art no favors when we keep God at a distance. He’s not the stern professor who evaluates our efforts with a shrug. He’s a wild artist, creator of oceans and mountains, flowers and lions. He’s more passionate than us about our art, eager to create together if we’ll ask. ~Allen Arnold, on Twitter

Jul1

From the Creator’s Heart #157

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From the Creator’s Heart #157

I urge then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone–for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness (1 Timothy 2:1-2 NIV).

Jun30

Ballet Exercise Routines

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Ballet Exercise Routines

I have an ulterior motive for compiling this post. I love ballet, but haven’t taken a class since the late 1970s. And I probably won’t. But I’m jealous of the strength these petite little dancers have.

I haven’t even done my folk dancing since November, because of my arthritis. The only place I can move without pain is the pool, so I’ve been in it a lot since the weather warmed up. I’ll be having hip replacement surgery next week, then six weeks of physical therapy. And eventually, I’ll be able to ease into dancing again. And I’d like to add ballet exercises to my workout rotation. So, I’m looking for YouTube videos.

And I’m generously sharing them with you.

(Some of these exercises will be forbidden for a while—risk of dislocation; so if you’ve just had hip replacement surgery, follow your doctor’s orders.)

The video below has an annoying purple rectangle blocking it. Click your cursor on its upper right corner to get rid of it.

So, do you think you’ll try some of these ballet exercise routines? Is this article helpful to you? Please click the “Like” button and share on all your social media. Thanks!

Jun30

#ALP: Star Spangled Banner

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#ALP: Star Spangled Banner

Can anyone sing it well? How do you feel about standing for it? If you could write a new anthem, what would your lyrics say? Is a professional ball game a suitable venue for the national anthem, or are we just asking for trouble playing it in a sports arena?

  • Use this prompt any way you wish—for a poem, memoir, painting, short story, photograph, no limits. Enjoy!
  • If you’d like to share a blog post (G-rated, please, and sensitive to the feelings of others—anything slightly objectionable will be deleted), create a pingback or leave a link in the comments below.
  • Be sure to visit at least two other participants to see how they interpreted the prompt.
  • Tag your entry #ALP (for ARHtistic License Prompt) to help others find your work on social media.