Amazon Suggestions

In my Outlook, I keep a bunch of folders. The first reads, "1 To Do List." That way I know it will always be at the top of my inbox folders. Anyway, I was scrolling through my "1 To Do List" and found an interesting letter from Amazon Connect (of which I am a member). I believe Camy talked to you about this cool program.

Well today I realized I could offer search engine suggestions. So I did. Here's how you do it:

Go to your book's page on amazon. For instance, here's my page for Wishing on Dandelions. Scroll down just a tad until you see "Help Others Find This Item." Click on "Make a search suggestion." From that point on, it's pretty easy. Suggest a keyword. One I suggested was "sexual abuse recovery," since Wishing on Dandelions deals with a girl's struggle with putting the negative effects of sexual abuse behind her. Then they ask that you give a reason why you've suggested that phraseology. I said this:

Wishing on Dandelions shows how an adolescent girl deals with the sexual abuse from her past.

Then Amazon takes you to the next screen where you can add one more item. It starts with "Because you searched for sexual abuse recovery, . . . " That's where you can add a little more. So I added:

Watching the Tree Limbs is the prequel to Wishing on Dandelions.

Then hit submit. Your new search category is added! Keep in mind, you can't put in other titles or authors. In other words, I can't put in To Kill a Mockingbird and say, "Folks have said my book reminds them of To Kill a Mockingbird." That WOULD be cool, but I am not allowed to do that.

I did this last saturday. My amazon ratings were:

Building the Christian Family You Never Had 168,882

Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God 169,421

Wishing on Dandelions 447,616

Watching the Tree Limbs 449,962

I feel a little naked showing you those, but I thought I would see if my added search words helped any. By the way, if you want to see your rankings more easily, go to www.titlez.com. There, you can enter all your titles (or competing titles) and see all your rankings at once. It's a really cool tool if you don't get all obsessive compulsive about it.

Today the standings are:

OMEG: 40,084

BTCFYNH: 56,086

WOD: 98,748

WTTL: 558,405

So, three improved and one declined. I know this is not-so-scientific, and I'm keenly aware of the fickleness of amazon ratings, but I though it would be an interesting thing to discover anyway. So, head on down to amazon-land and make some search engine suggestions.

Another thing: on each amazon page, there is a place to tag a product. Why not get together with all your writing buddies and tag each other's books? Maybe it will help broaden each book's appeal.

Mary E. DeMuth

www.relevantprose.com

www.relevantblog.blogspot.com

www.pioneerparenting.blogspot.com

Comments

[Camy Tang]

Tagging each other's books is a GREAT idea! Good marketing.
Camy

[relevantgirl]

Thanks cute Camy!

[Ed J. Horton]

Thank you for the great information about using "Make a Search Suggestion!" I just went to Amazon and created a couple of search suggestions for my books. Seems like it has potential for boosting sales.

[Susie Larson]

I did it! Easy as pie!
Thanks for this, Mary~

[Dena Dyer]

What a simple, time-smart idea! Thanks!