Amazon is the #1 bookseller in the world. Yet, most writers do not take advantage of the free tools Amazon provides to help them sell content. This presentation shows why metadata is important and the fuel that makes search and discovery for books by readers possible. The presentation provides the context of why it is important to populate Amazon Author Central with content. It includes links to two podcasts by Amazon. Also, the presentation includes free tools to encourage learning and skill building.

1. The Skinny on
Amazon Author Central for Writers
Melissa A. Rosati, CPCC
P: 917-628-4547
T: @melissarosati
B: melissarosati.tumblr.com
E: melissarosati@me.com
September 6, 2013

2. Amazon is the #1 bookseller in the world.
• You made it so.
• Amazon has over 150 million
customers.
• But when writers talk about “getting on
Amazon,” what does that mean?

3. Think of Amazon as a humungous brain.
• Amazon’s brain is an algorithm that crunches
our keystrokes and turns them into big data
that can be sliced and diced to help readers
find the content they are looking for on the
site.
• As a writer, you have the opportunity to use
all of the tools Amazon provides to you for
free.
• These tools make search and discovery easier
for readers, allowing you to sell more articles
and books.

4. Go to Amazon’s Author Central Page.
• Go to Amazon Author Central and fill out
your author page in as much complete detail
as possible.
• Every bit of content is metadata and it is
critical. For example, you can post up to eight
images, plus video, plus your blog, Facebook
fan page, and tweets, all direct feeds to your
author page.

5. Like Google, Amazon is a live index.
• The more content you index, the easier it is for
people to find you.
• In fact, Amazon provides you with a link to
place in your email signature that will take
people directly to your author page.

6. No Excuses.
• I know, selecting the information and
uploading it feels like drudge work.
• That’s the difference between so-so sales and
increasing sales.
• Successful authors put in the time to do what
others won’t.
• Amazon built the tools and made them free to
you because it is in their best interest for you
to be successful.

7. You don’t need to reinvent
the marketing wheel.
• Amazon will deliver your audience to you.
• But, you have to populate your profile with the
data.
• If you complete your profile thoroughly, you
will likely see a sales increase in the first two
weeks.
• Ready to invest the time?

8. Amazon Support for You!

9. From Book Expo America (BEA), here are
two podcasts by Amazon.
• Optimize Your Sales Potential: Amazon
for Authors
• Indie Publishing with Amazon
To listen, click the link.

10. • Melissa A. Rosati, CPCC, believes writers deserve to earn a
sustainable living from their work.
• An award-winning publisher, Melissa has 15+ years of experience in
content acquisitions, new product development, rights management,
and leading teams for publishers in New York and London.
• She is an adjunct faculty member in the Master of Science in
Publishing program, Pace University, New York City, where she
pioneered digital content, and online, accredited graduate-level
courses in publishing.
• Owner of Melissa’s Coaching Studio, LLC, Melissa coaches, consults,
and trains writers and artists in business development. She also
consults with nonprofit organizations on content marketing and
publishing.

11. Free Learning Tools

12. Keep learning and building your skills.
• Melissa’s Publishing Definitions Glossary
• Sign-up for Melissa’s newsletter
• Post your question to the Studio’s Facebook
page.
• Join the conversation on Twitter.

13. Wishing you much success!
Melissa A. Rosati, CPCC
P: 917-628-4547
T: @melissarosati
B: melissarosati.tumblr.com
E: melissarosati@me.com