Obtaining a Low Book Ranking is NOT Easy!

If you've ever published a book on Amazon KDP, you know that getting your book to rank well is no easy task. But what if I told you that I managed to get one of my books to rank under 3,000 in a KDP Marketplace other than Amazon.com? In my recent YouTube video, I share my journey and one of the key strategies I used to achieve this ranking. If you've been following my channel, you might be familiar with one of my books, "Archie the Bear Becomes a Big Brother." I was pleasantly surprised when I saw its ranking, especially since getting a book under 5,000 in the Australian Marketplace is considered a significant achievement. At its best, the book reached a ranking of 1,600, which was quite exciting. Today, I'll explain why I recommend focusing on marketing your book in different marketplaces outside of Amazon.com and share some insights into the strategies that helped me achieve this success.

View my YouTube Video HERE​

Diversifying Your Self-Publishing Efforts

To start, I made a conscious decision to diversify my self-publishing efforts by expanding my book series into different marketplaces. While Amazon.com is a dominant force in the book market, it can also be saturated with competition. So, I decided to put some time and energy into reaching readers in other parts of the world.

Archie the Bear has been one of those books that has proven to be evergreen. Regardless of the time of year, it continues to sell consistently. I deliberately avoided publishing books tied to specific holidays or seasons, such as Halloween, Valentine's Day, Christmas, or Easter. My reasoning was to maintain a consistent stream of sales for my books. This approach helps the algorithm better understand and promote the book. It's all about long-term sustainability, and this strategy has worked well for me.

Why Focus on Different Marketplaces

You might be wondering why it's essential to focus on different marketplaces. While Amazon.com is the largest online bookstore globally, expanding your reach can lead to several benefits:

1. Reduced Competition: Smaller marketplaces often have less competition, making it easier for your book to stand out.
2. Cost-Effective Marketing: If you're an author earning in US dollars and you're marketing to a marketplace with a less favorable conversion rate, your advertising budget can go further in other markets.
3. Targeted Audiences: Different regions have unique preferences and interests. Expanding to new markets allows you to cater to these audiences effectively.

Amazon Advertising in the Australian Marketplace

Now, let's delve into the nitty-gritty of how I used Amazon advertising to improve the ranking of "Archie the Bear" in the Australian Marketplace. The key here is effective marketing and strategic advertising.

1. Amazon Advertising Keyword Campaign: I focused on a single campaign for "Archie the Bear" in the Australian Marketplace, using relevant keywords. Over the last 30 days, I spent $19, generating a return of $150, with an Advertising Cost of Sales (ACoS) of 12.7%. This campaign garnered almost 35,000 impressions.
2. Year-to-Date Performance: Expanding our view to the year-to-date performance, I spent $56 (Australian dollars) and generated sales worth around $350, with an ACoS just over 11%. This consistent performance has been crucial in maintaining a low ACoS and driving sales.
3. Lifetime Performance: Tracking my book's performance over the year, the ACoS remained low overall, with a slight uptick in the early part of November. However, I continue to work on strategies to optimize and bring down the ACoS.

As you can see, by using different campaigns in various marketplaces and closely monitoring your advertising efforts, you can improve your book's ranking significantly.

"Archie the Bear" in the Australian Marketplace

Let's take a look at the current ranking of "Archie the Bear" in the Australian Marketplace. As of now, the book is ranked at 2,444 in the books category. In comparison, its ranking in the US Marketplace varies from as low as 25,000 to 200,000, but it's currently around 120,000. The difference in ranking between these two markets showcases the value of diversifying and targeting different regions. While the US might not be the ideal market for my book at this moment, Australia presents a unique opportunity.

Additionally, there's a hardcover version available, which is ranked at 56,000 in Australia. Exploring different formats and markets can help expand your book's reach.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, my experience with "Archie the Bear" in the Australian Marketplace highlights the importance of diversifying your self-publishing efforts and marketing your books in different marketplaces. Amazon advertising has been a powerful tool in achieving a ranking under 3,000 for my book.

Remember that it's not just about making money but also about the long-term impact your books can have on readers. Whether you're creating gift books, self-help books, or children's illustrated books, consider the value your work brings to people's lives.

Diversification, strategic advertising, and targeting specific marketplaces can significantly enhance your book's performance. So, if you're an author looking to boost your book's ranking, don't limit yourself to a single marketplace. Explore new horizons, engage with different audiences, and watch your book's success grow.

As you embark on your self-publishing journey, remember to enjoy the process and stay focused on what matters most to you as an author. Keep refining your strategies, experimenting with advertising, and reaching readers across the globe. By doing so, you can achieve remarkable results just like "Archie the Bear" did in the Australian Marketplace.

Thank you for joining me on this journey, and I wish you the best of luck in your self-publishing endeavors! If you want more resources, don't forget to check out my website, where you can find the "Seven Steps to Self-Publishing Children's Books" and my bestselling course on Udemy for a special November 2023 offer.

​www.globalselfpublishing.com

Happy publishing!

Kind Regards,

Romney Nelson

NOVEMBER 2023 SPECIAL - Purchase one of 8 courses for JUST $15 for the month of November 2023. Coupon code: november2023

​https://publishing-accelerator.thinkific.com