Amazone affiliate program - selling any books?

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   Website Examinerposted 14 years ago

   From your experience (or what you have heard from others), does being an Amazon affiliate actually materialize into selling books on a regular basis?
   
   If the answer is yes, what kind of contents - and presentation methods - do you think is best suited to make visitors interested in buying the book at Amazon?

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      Spacey Graceyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Hey - just checking you know that you can sell anything that's on Amazon, not just books. You in the UK? I think I just read fanmail from you.

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      relacheposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I sell lots of things that aren't books via Amazon...

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         Website Examinerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks, I have no doubt you do. Wondering specifically about books, though.

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      Mark Knowlesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Yes - I sell books but I think there will be an enormous difference between selling the best books on how to play pokerthan a self published book about whatever.

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         Website Examinerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks. That's what worries me as well. This is about works of fiction, crime fiction with some sci-fi elements.

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            Mark Knowlesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Well - I sell some  science fiction books as well, but - that is not the same as selling an unknown piece of fiction by a nobody.
            
            And no offense to your clients - I include myself as a nobody with fiction completed - I am just not desperate enough to self publish yet....

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               Website Examinerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               No, they are having some second thoughts, but there is no going back now. So there's a bit of urgency in the air.

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                  Mark Knowlesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Ah In that case - you might want to suggest using some one with a few book reviews under their belt and paying a nominal sum plus allowing them the Amazon commission.
                  
                  I will write 400 words of what I think for $100 and what you want me to say for $400............

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                     Website Examinerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     Now we are getting somewhere. I will surely keep that in mind, these people love spending money. What you think sounds most feasible.

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   Website Examinerposted 14 years ago

   Spacey Gracey, thanks. I am aware of this. However, I represent clients who are book authors and self-publishers, so that is where the interest lies at the moment.
   
   No, I am not in the UK. Sorry, that fan mail wasn't from me - although you have my every support, but currently I hardly follow anyone, as I do not have the time to read so many articles.

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      Spacey Graceyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I just recognised the name- think we may be on another thread together today. I shall wind my neck back in since you already know what you are doing

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         Website Examinerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, I answered your question about setting up a second account. I have no experience with Amazon whatsoever, your participation is very much appreciated.

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   ryankettposted 14 years ago

   Not really, although I find that a buyer of one book will often buy several other related books. I had somebody buy 5 academic texts through one of my links, didn't recommend them, but they were related to my topic and they were a truly great earner.

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      Website Examinerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks. I was wondering whether a thorough book review combined with an Amazon capsule for that book might work.

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         ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I'm not so sure that this would work for fiction, unless people were searching specifically for the author or book title.
         
         With non-fiction, it is possible to attract people searching for that precise topic.
         
         For example, Mark Knowles could publish the "Mark Knowles' Big Book of Cycling Tips"....
         
         The hub could be called - "Great Cycling Tips: The Best Book For Cyclists"....  that could sell a few.... *please note that no keyword research has been undertaken, this is hypothetical*

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            Website Examinerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I think we are on the same page. That is also why I believe the focus should be on the theme/topic as opposed to the author, then try to branch out from there and hopefully build an audience.

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               ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Cross marketing could work. If your authors are unknown, you could always write reviews of bestsellers or by well known authors in the same genre.... and then recommend your clients books at the end, in a section called... say "other great new romance reads"... or perhaps just by sending them to a standalone hubpage or website...

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                  Website Examinerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Thanks, that is a great idea. Sounds like the way to go, at least until the authors have gained some recognition.

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                     ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     I seem to have my thinking cap on, about time...

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                        Website Examinerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                        Either that or profound intuition.

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                           ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                           Well the candle has burnt out already, so I will stick with the thinking cap!

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                     ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     Another great way to go would be to produce a pdf version / eBook version of the book and email it across to hundreds of book review sites / literary sites / bloggers.... and just kindly ask that they produce a short review for their blog, they would likely do it just to use their own Amazon or AbeBooks affiliate links. Make sure that copyright information is included though!
                     
                     The success rate for this must be pretty small, but even one good review on a well read site could sell a fair bit, or at least get your Amazon page a few views. If they really like the book, they may even decide to do a feature and interview the author.

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                        Website Examinerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                        I agree. We have got to get some reviews and exposure one way or the other, so why not combine the two. If I understand correctly, such review sites / websites / blogs will likely provide the necessary backlink to Amazon, so that people can find the book.

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                           ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                           Yes, for their own gain, depending on their chosen affiliate really. I guess that Amazon is still the biggest, although AbeBooks (owned by Amazon) is another good choice with an affiliate scheme.
                           
                           It should be noted that Amazon affiliate capsules are nofollow though, so they won't do too much for pushing your Amazon page up google. SEO for Amazon pages is a more than feasible tactic though, one which I will exploit sometime soon as well with a non-fiction book which I have written (the title consists of two well searched for keyword phrases!). I am going to backlink the hell out of the Amazon sales page once I have ironed out a few minor details...

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                              Website Examinerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                              I will look forward to hearing about your progress and to reading your book. Whether fiction written by unknown authors will benefit as much from SEO is perhaps less certain.

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      Home Girlposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      i do not really know what is going with Amazon, but I cannot even get into my account. My password never works, I changed it several times and got message that I am not registered with Amazon.com ,that I should check Amazon.ca and looks like that I am not registered with them either!!! I am sure (almost) that I am not crazy, and My settings on Hubpages show that i am set. I just let it be for now for the lack of time.

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         ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Surely it will only take you 30 seconds to sign up? They don't need many details...

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         Home Girlposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         My problem is not with signing up. I have to investigate why I cannot sign up. I already done it like 2 times and kind of pissed off I think. Though it may be, I am doing something wrong.

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      Audreveaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Putting my customer hat on, when I order books from Amazon I always buy more than one. I do like Amazon for books - but the postage to Australia takes for-ev-er.
      
      I don't always know much about the author before I get to Amazon, but they make such great online facilities available that there are always reviews from other buyers etc. I think a listing with none of that supporting info (no reviews or previous sales) might struggle.
      
      You'd need to find other ways to brand the author first and generate interest.

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         Website Examinerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks, this is very useful information.

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   ryankettposted 14 years ago

   Bidding for 2 cent clicks on AdWords for related long string phrases, and sending the clickers to the Amazon page (complete with a couple of fake reviews, some great cover art, and an exciting sypnosis) could well work. Although this is always trial and error, I would recommend a trial with say $30 and seeing whether it converts.
   
   Are they self publishing? Sellers of Kindle books get something like 75% of the sale, if AdWords is going to work, then it stands the best chance in Kindle version I suspect...

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      Website Examinerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks, Adwords is yet another possibility I hadn't thought of. Yes, they are self-publishing - there is a triology. The option of e-books hasn't been seriously discussed, but that surely must be considered due to lower selling price and a fair profit margin.

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   Nelle Hoxieposted 14 years ago

   I sell quite few books off of my Laurell Hamlton Reviews. I think it helps that I've been reviewing them as I read them and readers can see that I've read 10 or so of them - so they must be good.
   
   I also attend author signings and write about those, and that seems to bring in sales as well.

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      Website Examinerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks, I like the idea of writing quality book reviews, then let the advertisements speak for themselves without interfering with the reviewer's judgment. The very fact that a book was reviewed is a kind of implicit endorsement.

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   tobey100posted 14 years ago

   Not a one.

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      Website Examinerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Sorry to hear that, I was afraid that could happen. But with a bit of extra effort, who knows?

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