Crafting an Amazon Author Central page: Enhancing Your Online Presence as an Author, An Amazon Author Central page holds significant value in an author’s digital footprint.
Similar to a Facebook author page, it serves as a central hub for showcasing your books and directing attention to your website and blog. However, there’s one key distinction: it resides on Amazon, the largest online marketplace for books.
At selfpublishondemand, we recognize that you prioritize your role as a writer over being a marketer. Setting up an impeccable Amazon Author profile can feel like a daunting task.
That’s why we’ve collaborated with K J Waters, an internationally bestselling author, the creator of the Stealing Time Series, and an author consultant, to provide you with the ultimate guide to constructing an Amazon Author Central Page.
Without further ado, let’s delve into the topic.
Table of Contents
What exactly is an Amazon Author Central Page?
It serves as the homepage for an author’s Amazon listing. Inside Author Central, you have the freedom to personalize your Amazon Author page and acquire a custom URL on the Amazon platform.
All that’s required to customize this listing is the publication of your book on Amazon.
Why is Amazon Author Central Pages crucial?
These pages help establish your credibility and relatability with potential readers.
They offer a consolidated space for all your published books, making it convenient for readers to discover your content. Additionally, authors can share status updates, fostering a deeper connection with their audience.
Most readers typically access your Amazon Author Central page through Amazon’s search engine or via a Google search.
The Process of Creating your Amazon Author Central account
If you reside in the US, begin by visiting author.amazon.com to initiate the account creation process.
Remember, you must have a published book listed on Amazon to qualify for an Amazon Author Central account. Also, ensure that you are signed in to the Amazon account from which you want to claim your book. This can be done either through your Amazon shopping site or by signing in to KDP.com, where you manage your books directly on Amazon.
Following this, you’ll need to undergo Amazon’s verification process to ensure the legitimacy of your account and claim.
This verification process typically takes a few days, up to a maximum of one week. Meanwhile, you can focus on completing your profile, which we’ll guide you through below.
Crafting an Engaging Author Bio
Author Bio is a vital aspect of your Amazon Author Central page.
Regardless of whether you write fiction or nonfiction, your bio should exude professionalism. Since web browsing tends to involve short attention spans, it’s advisable to keep your bio concise.
Within your bio, emphasize any relevant accomplishments, accolades, and credentials that can resonate with potential readers. Have you received any writing awards? Are you an authority on the subject of your book? If not, don’t worry. Your objective is to establish a genuine and personable connection with potential readers.
Share your identity and provide insights into the types of books readers can expect from you. Do you write heartwarming romance, suspenseful stories with a touch of murder, or self-help books aimed at transforming lives? Additionally, consider mentioning any upcoming releases that readers can look forward to.
If you feel comfortable, sharing personal details such as your location, information about your family and children, and your hobbies can help readers relate to your work. Lastly, include references to your author website and social media channels, enabling readers to stay connected with you. Although Amazon doesn’t allow links in this section, you can mention the URLs in plain text format, for example, selfpublishondemand.com.
Incorporating a Professional photographer is another crucial element to consider.
Profile with a Captivating Photo
The next step is to select a photo for your profile that aligns with your brand and captures the essence of your books. Let the details in the photo reflect the mood of your literary works.
Take inspiration from renowned mystery/thriller author Michael Connelly’s profile picture, which effectively conveys the intensity, seriousness, and professionalism present in his books.
Pay attention to the small details, such as his jacket and open-collared shirt, his serious expression, and the subtle hint of an exotic location. If you’re a romance author, consider wearing a stylish dress in your photo to complement the genre.
Take note of Tiana Cole’s well-executed photo, which showcases soft colours and a wistful expression that perfectly matches the mood of her romance novels. If you haven’t taken your photo yet, here are some tips:
- Avoid wearing red.
- Angle your shoulders towards the camera.
- Steer clear of clothing with busy patterns or stripes.
- Select a background that is not distracting.
Consistency in branding is vital when choosing a photo for your page. Ensure that you use the same photo on your other social media platforms, book covers, and anywhere your author name is mentioned.
If you make any changes to the photo in one place, remember to update it in all other locations.
The Power of Author Updates
Author Updates are an excellent way to bring life to your Amazon Author Central page and engage potential readers. Keeping your profile active and up-to-date is crucial both for algorithms and human interaction.
Let’s explore the different types of updates and how to make the most of them.
Blog Posts
Share links to your blog posts, which allow for more in-depth engagement with your readers compared to the limitations of Amazon’s page.
Blog posts can help you collect email addresses and gather valuable data for your online advertising efforts. Set up an RSS feed to automatically update your Amazon author central page with the latest content. Amazon provides a guide to linking your blog posts.
Pictures and Videos
Use pictures and videos to showcase your personality and offer glimpses into your daily life, fostering a stronger connection with your fans.
These visual elements can be easily embedded in your author profile and shared on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. Familiarise yourself with Amazon’s guidelines for photos and videos.
Editorial Reviews:
Enhance the credibility of your author page by including editorial reviews. It’s recommended to feature well-known authors within your genre, as their recognition can leave a lasting impression on readers.
Highlight the reviewers’ accomplishments, such as being a “New York Times Best Selling Author.” These editorial reviews don’t necessarily have to be verified through Amazon, but they should be authentic.
Creating a Custom Author Profile URL
Amazon provides the opportunity to host your page at a custom URL, offering a more professional and consistent appearance.
Leaving the URL as the default, which consists of a random string of letters and numbers, is not recommended. Opt for a simple and readable custom URL, using hyphens between your names.
If you want to further customise your URL, consider using Geniuslink. This platform allows you to personalise the domain name and the slug while also providing advanced analytics.
International Author Pages
By default, authors don’t need to create separate pages for different Amazon stores, as they are automatically generated.
However, if your books are translated into various languages, it can be beneficial to establish country-specific Amazon Author Central pages. This approach helps you connect with potential readers by presenting content in their language or incorporating custom elements specific to a particular country.
Here are the login URLs for the main international pages:
- United Kingdom: https://author.amazon.co.uk
- Germany: https://author.amazon.de
- Japan: https://author.amazon.co.jp
- France: https://author.amazon.fr
Follow Button
Each Amazon Author Central page includes a follow button that allows prospective readers to follow an author.
From the author’s perspective, they won’t receive notifications or have knowledge of the number of followers they have.
However, from the reader’s perspective, they will receive emails from Amazon regarding any updates from the author’s central page or future book launches.
Since emails from Amazon typically land in the main inbox due to its popularity, it serves as a powerful book marketing tool. A useful tip is to encourage your audience on social media to follow your Amazon page by providing reminders and calls to action.
This can significantly boost sales in the long run.
Customers Also Bought Items By
The “Customers Also Bought Items By” section on an Amazon Author Central page is not something you can control.
This section dynamically changes based on sales data from Amazon.
However, the authors listed here can be valuable for creating lookalike audiences in your ad campaigns or for engaging in newsletter swaps.
FAQs
Is Amazon Author Central free?
Yes, Amazon Author Central is a completely free service. You only need to have a published book.
Where can I sign up for Amazon Author Central?
You can sign up for Amazon Author Central at this link: https://author.amazon.com/claim/join. Remember, you need to have a published book to create a profile.
How do I claim my books?
To attach a book to your Amazon Author Central page, you can either visit https://author.amazon.com/claim/join or find the book on Amazon and claim it directly from its hosted page.
Can you claim co-authored books?
Yes, Amazon Author Central allows you to claim co-authored books.
Does self-publish-on-demand support Amazon Author Central?
No, self-publish-on-demand currently doesn’t support generating links to author pages or review pages.
Can you delete an Amazon Author Central page?
Yes, you can delete your Amazon Author Central page, although it’s not recommended. Once deleted, the page will be permanently gone, and you’ll need to rebuild it from scratch.
Conclusion
Now that you understand what an Amazon Author page is and its usefulness, it’s time to create your own!
If the idea of creating an Amazon Author page seems overwhelming, start by adding one component at a time. Begin with a photo, a bio, and claiming your books when initially setting up the page. As your book marketing efforts expand, you can gradually incorporate more elements.
Feel free to ask any questions about Amazon Author Central or Author pages in the comments below!
