10 Amazon changes authors need to know about<\/h2>\nBy Rob Eagar<\/strong><\/h3>\nAmazon is a company that never sits still. It is constantly experimenting, pioneering, and creating new features for customers to enjoy. Its innovation also applies to authors.<\/p>\n
Amazon recently launched numerous updates that benefit authors in the following three areas:<\/p>\n
1. Amazon Advertising<\/strong>
\n2. Author Central account<\/strong>
\n3. KDP Self-publishing system<\/strong><\/p>\nHere\u2019s a rundown of the 10 most important updates you need to know.<\/p>\n
![\"Amazon](\"https:\/\/buildbookbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/10-Amazon-changes-authors-need-to-know-about.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nNew features for Amazon Ads<\/h2>\n
1. The release of Sponsored Brand Ads<\/strong>
\nHave you seen the special advertising box that appears at the very top of Amazon search results? It\u2019s called a Sponsored Brand Ad, and it represents some of the most coveted and powerful space on their website.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.startawildfire.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Amazon-SB-Ad-Rob-Eagar-1024x356.png\")
<\/p>\n
For years, this exclusive ad space was reserved for publishing houses and authors with a vendor account. But, Amazon recently made Sponsored Brand Ads available to authors who self-publish with KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing<\/a>). This ad feature levels the playing field between self-publishing and traditional publishing.<\/p>\nThere is a caveat, though. You must have at least three books published and be willing to pay top dollar for this ad space. But, any author with a reasonable ad budget can promote their books alongside the top publishing houses, including HarperCollins and Penguin Random House.<\/p>\n
2. Negative Product keywords<\/strong>
\nAmazon added another great feature within its advertising system called \u201cNegative Product Targeting.\u201d This option was sorely needed, because Amazon\u2019s \u201cautomatic\u201d targeting function sometimes wastes money by showing ads on irrelevant book detail pages.<\/p>\nFortunately, the addition of Negative Product Targeting gives greater control to limit losses from Amazon\u2019s automatic targeting algorithms. This feature helps improve profitability for author ad campaigns. Nice work, Amazon!<\/p>\n
3. Buy international ads in 8 countries<\/strong>
\nCan you say \u201cBuy my book\u201d in French or Spanish? Amazon makes it possible by offering new ad capabilities on its international websites, including the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Canada, and Australia. More countries will be added soon.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.startawildfire.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Amazon-International-Ads-1024x293.png\")
<\/p>\n
It\u2019s never been easier for authors and publishers to reach readers around the globe. In addition, there\u2019s less competition for ad space on Amazon\u2019s international sites. Those who act quickly can sell more books at a lower advertising cost.<\/p>\n
4. KENP reads and royalties results from ads<\/strong>
\nIf you self-published a book using Amazon\u2019s KDP service and enrolled your e-book into KDP Select, now Amazon shows how your ads drive KENP (Kindle edition normalized pages) reads and royalties.<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re unfamiliar with KDP Select, it\u2019s the option to sell an e-book exclusively on Amazon in exchange for extra income based on the \u201cpage reads.\u201d Amazon currently pays around $.0045 per page. So, an e-book that\u2019s equivalent to a 300-page paperback would yield $1.35 of royalties.<\/p>\n
Until now, Amazon\u2019s system didn\u2019t measure the performance of Amazon ads on e-book page reads and royalties. But, the company figured out how to make it happen, which is an impressive feature for KDP Select authors to enjoy.<\/p>\n
New features for Author Central<\/h2>\n
1. Author Central gets a makeover<\/strong>
\nEvery author should create a free Author Central account, regardless if you\u2019re self-published or traditionally published. But, Author Central looked woefully outdated until Amazon released a beautiful redesign last month.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.startawildfire.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Amazon-Author-Central-2-1024x590.png\")
<\/p>\n
Now, Author Central offers an intuitive interface and easier navigation to find your books, update your author profile, and review helpful reports. If you haven\u2019t visited Author Central, see the new look at:\u00a0https:\/\/authorcentral.amazon.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n[novashare_tweet tweet=”Now, Author Central offers an intuitive interface and easier navigation to find your books, update your author profile, and review helpful reports.” hide_hashtags=”true”]2. Easily update multiple formats<\/strong>
\nThe old Author Central version had a major flaw. You couldn\u2019t easily locate every format of your book to update the product descriptions. Amazon addressed this problem by making each book format visually stand out when a title is selected in your account, including Kindle and paperback versions. It\u2019s a much-needed improvement. Nice work, Lord Bezos!<\/p>\n3. Create international author pages<\/strong>
\nEarlier, I mentioned that Amazon offers multinational advertising in numerous countries. Author Central matched this global update by enabling authors to create \u201cAuthor Pages\u201d in the US, UK, Germany, France, Japan, and Brazil. Authors can also add bios using multiple foreign languages. Below is my Amazon Author Page in France:<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.startawildfire.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Author-Central-France-1024x485.png\")
<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a big world out there. If you\u2019re only focused on selling books in America, Amazon wants to help you think internationally.<\/p>\n
Updates to KDP Self-Publishing Service<\/h2>\n
1. New version of KDP Reports<\/strong>
\nIf you\u2019ve self-published a book using Amazon KDP, you\u2019ll love the new beta reporting features. It\u2019s easier than ever to gauge real-time book sales, compare title performance, and estimate monthly royalties. KENP page reads are also included along with an updated payment history section.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.startawildfire.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/KDP-Reports-Beta-1024x603.png\")
<\/p>\n
To access the beta reports version, click on the \u201cReports\u201d tab within your KDP account. Then, look for the link that says, \u201cTry the new KDP Reports beta.\u201d<\/p>\n
2. Nominate your e-book for a Kindle Deal<\/strong>
\nKDP added a new section labelled \u201cMarketing\u201d that acts as one-stop-shop for all of the book promotion tools. There are quick links to KDP Select, Amazon Advertising, Author Central, and Price Promotions.<\/p>\nBut, KDP also added a new marketing tool in beta version called \u201cKindle Deal Nomination.\u201d Kindle Deals are limited-time discounts on e-books typically priced at $.99 – $2.99. If Amazon accepts your nomination, your e-book could be featured on its website for a day and even possibly multiple weeks.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.startawildfire.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Amazon-Kindle-Deal-1024x386.png\")
<\/p>\n
You can nominate up to two eligible e-books at a time. If a book nomination isn\u2019t accepted, you can automatically renew it every 90 days. This is a great opportunity to gain prime promotional access to thousands of Amazon shoppers.<\/p>\n
3. Create and manage a book series<\/strong>
\nWriting books in a series is the smartest way to build your author career. But, arranging a series within KDP used to require reaching out to Amazon\u2019s customer service team. Now, you can create and manage a series on your own directly within KDP. This is a great time-saving feature that makes it easier to cross-promote related books to avid readers. Once again, Amazon did authors a huge favor. Bravo!<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.startawildfire.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/KDP-Manage-Book-Series-1024x154.png\")
<\/p>\n
[novashare_tweet tweet=”Now, you can create and manage a series on your own directly within KDP. ” hide_hashtags=”true”]<\/p>\n
\nIn my 14 years as a book marketing consultant, I\u2019ve never seen Amazon release so many updates in such a short period. These 10 upgrades are good news for authors, because they provide more control over your success.<\/p>\n
Learn more about Amazon<\/h2>\n
Note from Sandra:<\/strong><\/p>\nFriends, if you still haven\u2019t made Amazon your top priority for selling books, now is the time to get on board.<\/p>\n
Register for a FREE WEBINAR<\/strong> on Thursday, July 15th, at 2:00 pm Eastern, where Rob and I will discuss these Amazon updates and answer your questions. Click the link below to reserve your spot:<\/p>\nRegister for Free Webinar<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\nAmazon is leading the way with new innovation. Rob and I are here to help you stay on top of all the changes.<\/p>\n
Together, let\u2019s make 2021 the best year ever for you and your books!<\/p>\n
Are your books selling well on Amazon? What’s your best tip for succeeding on that retail platform? Please tell us in a comment!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"Amazon](\"https:\/\/buildbookbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Robert_Eagar_headshot-294x300.jpg\")
<\/a>Rob Eagar is one of the most accomplished book marketing experts in America. He\u2019s coached more than 800 authors, consulted with top publishing houses, and helped both fiction and nonfiction books hit <\/em>The New York Times bestseller list. Get three free e-books from Rob to help jumpstart your book sales at\u00a0http:\/\/www.RobEagar.com<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n10 Amazon changes authors need to know about<\/h2>\nBy Rob Eagar<\/strong><\/h3>\nAmazon is a company that never sits still. It is constantly experimenting, pioneering, and creating new features for customers to enjoy. Its innovation also applies to authors.<\/p>\n
Amazon recently launched numerous updates that benefit authors in the following three areas:<\/p>\n
1. Amazon Advertising<\/strong>
\n2. Author Central account<\/strong>
\n3. KDP Self-publishing system<\/strong><\/p>\nHere\u2019s a rundown of the 10 most important updates you need to know.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":19526,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,49,20,78,11],"tags":[689,1144,1387,1388,725,1389],"class_list":["post-14433","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fiction","category-guest-columns","category-news","category-opportunities-to-learn","category-tactics","tag-amazon","tag-amazon-ads","tag-amazon-changes","tag-author-central","tag-kdp","tag-kdp-select"],"yoast_head":"\n
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Amazon is a company that never sits still. It is constantly experimenting, pioneering, and creating new features for customers to enjoy. Its innovation also applies to authors.<\/p>\n
Amazon recently launched numerous updates that benefit authors in the following three areas:<\/p>\n
1. Amazon Advertising<\/strong> Here\u2019s a rundown of the 10 most important updates you need to know.<\/p>\n 1. The release of Sponsored Brand Ads<\/strong> For years, this exclusive ad space was reserved for publishing houses and authors with a vendor account. But, Amazon recently made Sponsored Brand Ads available to authors who self-publish with KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing<\/a>). This ad feature levels the playing field between self-publishing and traditional publishing.<\/p>\n There is a caveat, though. You must have at least three books published and be willing to pay top dollar for this ad space. But, any author with a reasonable ad budget can promote their books alongside the top publishing houses, including HarperCollins and Penguin Random House.<\/p>\n 2. Negative Product keywords<\/strong> Fortunately, the addition of Negative Product Targeting gives greater control to limit losses from Amazon\u2019s automatic targeting algorithms. This feature helps improve profitability for author ad campaigns. Nice work, Amazon!<\/p>\n 3. Buy international ads in 8 countries<\/strong> It\u2019s never been easier for authors and publishers to reach readers around the globe. In addition, there\u2019s less competition for ad space on Amazon\u2019s international sites. Those who act quickly can sell more books at a lower advertising cost.<\/p>\n 4. KENP reads and royalties results from ads<\/strong> If you\u2019re unfamiliar with KDP Select, it\u2019s the option to sell an e-book exclusively on Amazon in exchange for extra income based on the \u201cpage reads.\u201d Amazon currently pays around $.0045 per page. So, an e-book that\u2019s equivalent to a 300-page paperback would yield $1.35 of royalties.<\/p>\n Until now, Amazon\u2019s system didn\u2019t measure the performance of Amazon ads on e-book page reads and royalties. But, the company figured out how to make it happen, which is an impressive feature for KDP Select authors to enjoy.<\/p>\n 1. Author Central gets a makeover<\/strong> Now, Author Central offers an intuitive interface and easier navigation to find your books, update your author profile, and review helpful reports. If you haven\u2019t visited Author Central, see the new look at:\u00a0https:\/\/authorcentral.amazon.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n [novashare_tweet tweet=”Now, Author Central offers an intuitive interface and easier navigation to find your books, update your author profile, and review helpful reports.” hide_hashtags=”true”]2. Easily update multiple formats<\/strong> 3. Create international author pages<\/strong> It\u2019s a big world out there. If you\u2019re only focused on selling books in America, Amazon wants to help you think internationally.<\/p>\n 1. New version of KDP Reports<\/strong> To access the beta reports version, click on the \u201cReports\u201d tab within your KDP account. Then, look for the link that says, \u201cTry the new KDP Reports beta.\u201d<\/p>\n 2. Nominate your e-book for a Kindle Deal<\/strong> But, KDP also added a new marketing tool in beta version called \u201cKindle Deal Nomination.\u201d Kindle Deals are limited-time discounts on e-books typically priced at $.99 – $2.99. If Amazon accepts your nomination, your e-book could be featured on its website for a day and even possibly multiple weeks.<\/p>\n You can nominate up to two eligible e-books at a time. If a book nomination isn\u2019t accepted, you can automatically renew it every 90 days. This is a great opportunity to gain prime promotional access to thousands of Amazon shoppers.<\/p>\n 3. Create and manage a book series<\/strong> [novashare_tweet tweet=”Now, you can create and manage a series on your own directly within KDP. ” hide_hashtags=”true”]<\/p>\n In my 14 years as a book marketing consultant, I\u2019ve never seen Amazon release so many updates in such a short period. These 10 upgrades are good news for authors, because they provide more control over your success.<\/p>\n Note from Sandra:<\/strong><\/p>\n Friends, if you still haven\u2019t made Amazon your top priority for selling books, now is the time to get on board.<\/p>\n Register for a FREE WEBINAR<\/strong> on Thursday, July 15th, at 2:00 pm Eastern, where Rob and I will discuss these Amazon updates and answer your questions. Click the link below to reserve your spot:<\/p>\n Amazon is leading the way with new innovation. Rob and I are here to help you stay on top of all the changes.<\/p>\n Together, let\u2019s make 2021 the best year ever for you and your books!<\/p>\n Are your books selling well on Amazon? What’s your best tip for succeeding on that retail platform? Please tell us in a comment!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Amazon is a company that never sits still. It is constantly experimenting, pioneering, and creating new features for customers to enjoy. Its innovation also applies to authors.<\/p>\n Amazon recently launched numerous updates that benefit authors in the following three areas:<\/p>\n 1. Amazon Advertising<\/strong> Here\u2019s a rundown of the 10 most important updates you need to know.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":19526,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,49,20,78,11],"tags":[689,1144,1387,1388,725,1389],"class_list":["post-14433","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fiction","category-guest-columns","category-news","category-opportunities-to-learn","category-tactics","tag-amazon","tag-amazon-ads","tag-amazon-changes","tag-author-central","tag-kdp","tag-kdp-select"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n2. Author Central account<\/strong>
\n3. KDP Self-publishing system<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nNew features for Amazon Ads<\/h2>\n
\nHave you seen the special advertising box that appears at the very top of Amazon search results? It\u2019s called a Sponsored Brand Ad, and it represents some of the most coveted and powerful space on their website.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nAmazon added another great feature within its advertising system called \u201cNegative Product Targeting.\u201d This option was sorely needed, because Amazon\u2019s \u201cautomatic\u201d targeting function sometimes wastes money by showing ads on irrelevant book detail pages.<\/p>\n
\nCan you say \u201cBuy my book\u201d in French or Spanish? Amazon makes it possible by offering new ad capabilities on its international websites, including the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Canada, and Australia. More countries will be added soon.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nIf you self-published a book using Amazon\u2019s KDP service and enrolled your e-book into KDP Select, now Amazon shows how your ads drive KENP (Kindle edition normalized pages) reads and royalties.<\/p>\nNew features for Author Central<\/h2>\n
\nEvery author should create a free Author Central account, regardless if you\u2019re self-published or traditionally published. But, Author Central looked woefully outdated until Amazon released a beautiful redesign last month.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nThe old Author Central version had a major flaw. You couldn\u2019t easily locate every format of your book to update the product descriptions. Amazon addressed this problem by making each book format visually stand out when a title is selected in your account, including Kindle and paperback versions. It\u2019s a much-needed improvement. Nice work, Lord Bezos!<\/p>\n
\nEarlier, I mentioned that Amazon offers multinational advertising in numerous countries. Author Central matched this global update by enabling authors to create \u201cAuthor Pages\u201d in the US, UK, Germany, France, Japan, and Brazil. Authors can also add bios using multiple foreign languages. Below is my Amazon Author Page in France:<\/p>\n<\/p>\nUpdates to KDP Self-Publishing Service<\/h2>\n
\nIf you\u2019ve self-published a book using Amazon KDP, you\u2019ll love the new beta reporting features. It\u2019s easier than ever to gauge real-time book sales, compare title performance, and estimate monthly royalties. KENP page reads are also included along with an updated payment history section.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nKDP added a new section labelled \u201cMarketing\u201d that acts as one-stop-shop for all of the book promotion tools. There are quick links to KDP Select, Amazon Advertising, Author Central, and Price Promotions.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nWriting books in a series is the smartest way to build your author career. But, arranging a series within KDP used to require reaching out to Amazon\u2019s customer service team. Now, you can create and manage a series on your own directly within KDP. This is a great time-saving feature that makes it easier to cross-promote related books to avid readers. Once again, Amazon did authors a huge favor. Bravo!<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\nLearn more about Amazon<\/h2>\n
Register for Free Webinar<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/a>Rob Eagar is one of the most accomplished book marketing experts in America. He\u2019s coached more than 800 authors, consulted with top publishing houses, and helped both fiction and nonfiction books hit <\/em>The New York Times bestseller list. Get three free e-books from Rob to help jumpstart your book sales at\u00a0http:\/\/www.RobEagar.com<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n10 Amazon changes authors need to know about<\/h2>\n
By Rob Eagar<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n2. Author Central account<\/strong>
\n3. KDP Self-publishing system<\/strong><\/p>\n