Getting Top-of-the-Chart Ratings from Kindle

Many authors sigh and long to have their books qualify as a bestsellers. Pros know there are lots of ways to give a book a nudge along the path to that star status--ethically--but they don't know how. When I heard that Eileen Granfors had done something very similar, I asked her to share her secret with my SharingwithWriters blog readers.  What did she do? She elevated the Kindle edition of her Piñata-Maker's Daughter to a #1 position (top-of-the-chart) rating on Amazon using tags. And yes, "top-of-the-chart" can sound very sweet to readers--just as sweet as "bestseller."

 

PROPELLING YOUR BOOK TO #1 ON AMAZON'S KINDLE

 

Hello, fellow authors. Today, let me share a success story based on TAGS.

 

My new release, The Piñata -Maker’s Daughter, debuted at #1 in Hispanic Trilogy.

 

How did that happen?

 

TAGS.

 

First, let’s differentiate between categories and tags. Categories are required and set by Kindle's system--categories like science fiction/fantasy; literary fiction, women’s fiction, etc. These categories are filled with well-known authors’ books, pushing a new author out of sight until sales reach the top one hundred.

 

TAGS are different. Tags allow you to focus on your niche. And if your niche is specific enough, it will show up on Kindle.

 

Since The Piñata -Maker’s Daughter is part of a trilogy and because trilogies are popular, I made sure trilogy was a tag word. I also added Hispanic because the protagonist’s main struggle (and the title) reflect the Hispanic world. If you search for Hispanic trilogy, you will find my book at the top of the chart, #1 Hispanic trilogy.

 

Most people are not going to search for Hispanic trilogy, but it’s wonderful to have that ranking to use in guest blogs, interviews, and other parts of publicity. The Pinata-Maker’s Daughter is #1 in Amazon’s Kindle ranking of Hispanic Trilogies. Further, the title may appear in searches that use only the words "Hispanic" or "trilogy."

 

Next, I put in tag words that would appeal to any audience, Hispanic or not. Since my target audience is women, I used mothers, daughters, and relationships. I added tags for the college-bound, like roommate, protest, and sorority.

 

I am happy to say that by my fourth novel, I have found a logical way to tag that will appeal to the widest audience as well as to a narrow niche. Tag with specifics.

 

With the help of The Frugal Book Promoter, The Pinata-Maker’s Daughter is getting noticed and read. And that’s what I want for my books.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Eileen Granfors lives in Santa Clarita, California. Though born in New Orleans, Eileen grew up in her mother's hometown, Imperial Beach, California, the most southwesterly city in the U.S. Her mother’s love of Mexico and beaches influenced Eileen's strong ties with her Hispanic neighbors. When Eileen was a child, she and her brother could walk to Mexico down the beach, after crossing the Tijuana River mouth. Today, an iron fence extends out into the breakers at the border. Eileen is a proud UCLA alumna. She began writing after retiring from teaching high school literature and composition for thirty-four years. She enrolled in UCLA’s Extension Writers’ Program on the first day of her retirement.

 

MORE ABOUT THE MARISOL TRILOGY

 

Book 1, The Pinata-Maker’s Daughter

Scholarly Carmen Principia finds that she’s ready for everything at the university except Life 101.

 

Book trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQbpX5c8hbQ

 

 

 Book 2, Some Rivers End on the Day of the Dead

Marisol flees Tijuana, Mexico, with her mother after her journalist father is killed, probably by the drug lords. Living in a migrant camp under an oak tree in a posh suburb is not what Marisol had in mind for life in America.

 

Book trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPTBpbAULhE

 

 

Book 3: So You, Solimar

Solimar’s sister has the perky attitude and good looks. Solimar has the athletic genes. A tragedy after Homecoming brings the sisters into a more conflicted relationship. (due out Spring 2014)-----

Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of This Is the Place; Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered; Tracings, a chapbook of poetry; and how to books for writers including the award-winning second edition of, The Frugal Book Promoter: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher; The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success; and Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers . The Great First Impression Book Proposal is her newest booklet for writers. She has three FRUGAL books for retailers including A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques. Some of her other blogs are TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog where authors can recycle their favorite reviews. She also blogs at all things editing, grammar, formatting and more at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor . If your followers at Twitter would benefit from this blog post, please use the little Green widget to let them know about this blog: