Anatomy Of A Bestseller

Each year, almost one million eBooks are published on the Kindle Store, so it’s not surprising that the first question new or unestablished authors typically ask is: how can a writer like me, with no brand and no social media following, possibly hope to sell my books into such a crowded marketplace?

The answer may surprise you: because Amazon’s recommendation system is constantly on the lookout for great books … you just need to know how it finds them!

Over years of trial and error we have perfected a proven launch strategy that has pushed several books to the very top of the Amazon charts. Obviously, some of this information is proprietary, but we can basically break it down into three distinct steps where you’ll be pleased to see that good storytelling lies at the heart of the process.

Your book needs to be …

(1)   A great story that fully satisfies the tropes and expectations of the genre

(2)   Correctly branded so that it appeals to readers of the genre

(3)  Correctly launched so that it is made ‘visible’ to both readers of the genre and Amazon’s recommendation engine

In the Writers Room we discussed how we can help you develop stories that will resonate with hungry readers looking for the next great book. Now, let’s talk about how we brand and launch that book to give it the best possible chance of success.

With this is mind, your book needs to have …

  • A genre-appropriate cover
  • A compelling blurb specifically tailored for readers of your genre
  • Some initial – and genuine – reviews for ‘social proof’
  • Competitive pricing (particularly for the first few days of the launch)
  • Professional formatting, editing & proofing

Once your book has been appropriately branded, it is ready to be published. Through our hard-won understanding of how Amazon’s sales ranking algorithm works, we have developed a proven and effective method of launching books high into the charts.

Here are some of the tools we use to launch your book –

  • Optimised Metadata
  • Mailing Lists
  • Facebook Ads
  • AMS (Amazon Marketing Services) Ads
  • Bookbub Ads
  • Book Promo Site Ads

Finally, it is important to understand that while your book must be correctly marketed, its success ultimately rests on your ability as a storyteller – perhaps more so than ever.

 That’s why, at Inkubator Books, we focus heavily on honing your story and — with our deep understanding of the Amazon ecosystem — delivering it to the hungry readers of your genre. Because we believe that a great story and a strong launch make it very likely your book can become an Amazon bestseller!