What do you think?
Rate this book
Amazon Ads for Authors: Tips and Strategies to Sell Your Books
Make Amazon ads that work.
Learn to monitor, analyze, and optimize. Packed with tips and strategies to improve the quality of your advertising. Updated to reflect the latest Amazon changes in January 2020.
Learn to monitor, analyze, and optimize. Packed with tips and strategies to improve the quality of your advertising. Updated to reflect the latest Amazon changes in January 2020.
126 pages, Paperback
Published July 8, 2019
277 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
July 12, 2019
Deb Potter makes Amazon Ads so Painless!
I am the kind of person who is always skeptical about buying books that tell you they can do the impossible. When I see titles like “Tips and Strategies to Sell Your Books,” I immediately think: scam.
But a couple colleagues suggested this one so, begrudgingly, I bought myself a copy.
I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT I BOUGHT MYSELF A COPY.
I didn’t know it, but before reading this book, I had been CLUELESS about Amazon ads. Thank goodness she walks you through every step, because I had mostly just been setting mine to manual and only doing product targeting. Yikes!
Seriously, if you’re struggling with advertising on Amazon, spend the three bucks and buy this book. It’s a great starting point and I know I will continue to use it as a resource for many moons to come!
I am the kind of person who is always skeptical about buying books that tell you they can do the impossible. When I see titles like “Tips and Strategies to Sell Your Books,” I immediately think: scam.
But a couple colleagues suggested this one so, begrudgingly, I bought myself a copy.
I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT I BOUGHT MYSELF A COPY.
I didn’t know it, but before reading this book, I had been CLUELESS about Amazon ads. Thank goodness she walks you through every step, because I had mostly just been setting mine to manual and only doing product targeting. Yikes!
Seriously, if you’re struggling with advertising on Amazon, spend the three bucks and buy this book. It’s a great starting point and I know I will continue to use it as a resource for many moons to come!
June 13, 2022
This book is not for the faint of heart. (It's also not for those who are driven batty by poor editing. But I digress...)
If you love marketing, analysis, numbers, and spending lots of time with spreadsheets... you're going to love this book!
If, like many authors, your eyes start to glaze over when you read about return on investment, cost per click, click through rates, conversion, etc., then you're likely to struggle with this.
I sure did.
This is yet one more method to try to eke out any sort of profit by selling books on Amazon using their native advertising system. Yes, there are many ways to go about this. Results vary wildly.
The main issue I have with this book is that it's written by someone who obviously loves the analytics part of advertising, and it's aimed at people whose brains work in a similar way. I honestly don't know how people have the time to do everything that's suggested here and write books, but there it is.
This book also assumes that you are already making sales on Amazon, and you simply want to increase sales. There's so much about using the data from your ads (what got clicked on, which keywords led to a sale, etc.), but it's all irrelevant if you're not actually making any sales. How do you know which keywords to really focus on when you don't know which ones lead to sales... because you haven't had any sales? In fact, I laughed out loud at her suggestion to wait until you have 100 sales before experimenting with automatic ads. Seriously? 100 sales? Okay... I'll report back in 50 years.
A lot of the time while I was reading this, I felt like the author thought we were in her head and knew what she was talking about. She repeatedly talks about "wallpapering" different locations on the Amazon site with your ads. I have no idea what this means, and it wasn't really explained how, exactly, you go about doing this. (Using the search feature in the e-book, I found "wallpaper" mentioned 5 times. In each case, the advice is basically: Do it.)
Reading this is a little disheartening. The editing is terribly shoddy, and though it's not a book on grammar (so I can give it a bit of a pass), it is frustrating to see that someone can put out books like this and still make enough sales to be able to get decent data to analyze. It just rubs salt into the wound.
Some of the other advice:
• Write a novella to test out different types of ads. (Seriously? Where am I supposed to find time to write another 30K book when I'm spending hours a day trying to create effective ads for the books I've already published?)
• If your ads aren't converting, maybe you need new covers. Buy some. (With what? The money I'm not making because my ads aren't working?)
This isn't the first book/article I've seen that flows from the same flawed assumption: That you're already selling books and simply want to increase sales. For authors in that situation, fine. They might get something out of this.
But for those who are struggling to sell even a book a month (never mind selling enough to be able to collect data and draw conclusions), this book will probably be an exercise in frustration.
If you love marketing, analysis, numbers, and spending lots of time with spreadsheets... you're going to love this book!
If, like many authors, your eyes start to glaze over when you read about return on investment, cost per click, click through rates, conversion, etc., then you're likely to struggle with this.
I sure did.
This is yet one more method to try to eke out any sort of profit by selling books on Amazon using their native advertising system. Yes, there are many ways to go about this. Results vary wildly.
The main issue I have with this book is that it's written by someone who obviously loves the analytics part of advertising, and it's aimed at people whose brains work in a similar way. I honestly don't know how people have the time to do everything that's suggested here and write books, but there it is.
This book also assumes that you are already making sales on Amazon, and you simply want to increase sales. There's so much about using the data from your ads (what got clicked on, which keywords led to a sale, etc.), but it's all irrelevant if you're not actually making any sales. How do you know which keywords to really focus on when you don't know which ones lead to sales... because you haven't had any sales? In fact, I laughed out loud at her suggestion to wait until you have 100 sales before experimenting with automatic ads. Seriously? 100 sales? Okay... I'll report back in 50 years.
A lot of the time while I was reading this, I felt like the author thought we were in her head and knew what she was talking about. She repeatedly talks about "wallpapering" different locations on the Amazon site with your ads. I have no idea what this means, and it wasn't really explained how, exactly, you go about doing this. (Using the search feature in the e-book, I found "wallpaper" mentioned 5 times. In each case, the advice is basically: Do it.)
Reading this is a little disheartening. The editing is terribly shoddy, and though it's not a book on grammar (so I can give it a bit of a pass), it is frustrating to see that someone can put out books like this and still make enough sales to be able to get decent data to analyze. It just rubs salt into the wound.
Some of the other advice:
• Write a novella to test out different types of ads. (Seriously? Where am I supposed to find time to write another 30K book when I'm spending hours a day trying to create effective ads for the books I've already published?)
• If your ads aren't converting, maybe you need new covers. Buy some. (With what? The money I'm not making because my ads aren't working?)
This isn't the first book/article I've seen that flows from the same flawed assumption: That you're already selling books and simply want to increase sales. For authors in that situation, fine. They might get something out of this.
But for those who are struggling to sell even a book a month (never mind selling enough to be able to collect data and draw conclusions), this book will probably be an exercise in frustration.
July 10, 2019
Excellent
This book was recommended to me in 20 Books. I found it very insightful in understanding AMS ads. Already created some ads using the advice set out in the book.
This book was recommended to me in 20 Books. I found it very insightful in understanding AMS ads. Already created some ads using the advice set out in the book.
Read
March 25, 2023This is probably the most comprehensive guide to Amazon ads that I've read, and the in depth discussion of various AMS features was super helpful. I'm also really glad to have a book on Amazon ads that's right up to date - I read the 2023 edition.
January 10, 2020
A great book you must read and take notes then reread
August 8, 2019
A fantastic, must-have resource for beginners and more seasoned users of Amazon Ads alike. Deb Potter has managed to pitch her tips and strategies to both audiences in an easy-to-read no-nonsense guide, based on her many years of Amazon advertising of a broad range of book genres. Her wider experience of big data analysis adds an additional layer of value. Whereas I was familiar with many elements covered in the book (it turns out that we have been advertising for a similar length of time in the US and UK), there were still valuable additional nuggets that I learned - and others that I knew and have practised but had forgotten about! No matter where you are in your ads journey, don't miss this, not least for the handy 100 tips at the end. Five stars!
April 25, 2020
A reference book that needs more than one read through as you practice the recommendations. Glad I bought it but I didn't fully understand the data analysis selection with just one read.
July 18, 2022
What a great resource! I've been doing Amazon Ads for years but never got them to work well for me, and now I'm starting to understand why. There's a lot more involved in making and maintaining really good ads than I'd thought! I'm eager to see how my results change now that I'm applying what I've learned. There's so much good material here that I think I highlighted about a third of the book! Even though the book isn't long, it took me forever to read, because I kept stopping to go make or change ads on my dashboard as I learned new things.
In a few places, I would have liked step-by-step instructions to walk me through the process of what she was talking about more simply. Otherwise, I really don't have any complaints. If you're an author thinking of getting started with Amazon Ads, or if you've already started and are ready to dive deeper, I highly recommend this book!
In a few places, I would have liked step-by-step instructions to walk me through the process of what she was talking about more simply. Otherwise, I really don't have any complaints. If you're an author thinking of getting started with Amazon Ads, or if you've already started and are ready to dive deeper, I highly recommend this book!
January 30, 2021
Some of the information in this book is dated, which is a problem so reader beware. If you're brand new to Amazon Ads it has some great basics on how to find relevant keywords, how to set up an ad, and how to bid. I would recommend this book for the great info on organizing and analyzing the data you can get from Amazon but make sure to watch videos and/or read other more current books on ads before investing a ton of money.
July 22, 2021
All Amazon Ads books have value, this is a good one
This is more like a reference book, and may be better in print, but is a must read for authors just getting to know and refine Amazon Ads. I found some of the author’s articles difficult to follow without rereading, multiple times, but it is a good read. I have several of these types in my library and will be reading comparable books. I am glad I purchased and will be referring to it again.
This is more like a reference book, and may be better in print, but is a must read for authors just getting to know and refine Amazon Ads. I found some of the author’s articles difficult to follow without rereading, multiple times, but it is a good read. I have several of these types in my library and will be reading comparable books. I am glad I purchased and will be referring to it again.
October 2, 2022
Good Advice
And I have been using Amazon ads for over five years now, and I find many of the descriptions inside Amazon help or learning do not answer my question. Also the author gives a variety of use case interpretations I found beneficial for confirming. Whether you are advanced or a beginner I think you’ll find useful nuggets or this may be a large steppingstone to learning for you. Well formatted and easy to read as well.
And I have been using Amazon ads for over five years now, and I find many of the descriptions inside Amazon help or learning do not answer my question. Also the author gives a variety of use case interpretations I found beneficial for confirming. Whether you are advanced or a beginner I think you’ll find useful nuggets or this may be a large steppingstone to learning for you. Well formatted and easy to read as well.
April 24, 2024
What a great thorough book about creating your own Amazon ads for your books. Amazon ads are very difficult to master, and there are no magic formulas, but Deb Potter pretty much covers everything – choosing keywords, categories, bids, types of ads, reports, resources, ads in other regions, if you’re not getting impressions or sales, etc. Though I haven’t put this new information to the test yet.
June 30, 2020
Clear, concise and easy to follow, Deb Potter's book strips away a lot of the mystery surrounding Amazon Ads. Full of useful information that is easy to put into practice, I've come away from reading it with a much more thorough understanding of the whole platform and more confident to try new approaches while adjusting old practices going forward.
July 5, 2020
Great resource for understanding Amazon advertising
I'm a beginner with Amazon ads. I've read a lot of articles and watched countless videos, but still felt like the knowledge I acquired was too scattered. This book helped fill in the blanks. The author explains the options, then shares her strategies. I feel much more confident and am eager to begin an ad campaign.
I'm a beginner with Amazon ads. I've read a lot of articles and watched countless videos, but still felt like the knowledge I acquired was too scattered. This book helped fill in the blanks. The author explains the options, then shares her strategies. I feel much more confident and am eager to begin an ad campaign.
September 11, 2020
There is a lot of insight here, but much of it is a little advanced for the newbie. If you're just starting out, you might want to begin with something more basic. However-- I did learn from this and will probably return to it when I have launched and monitored campaign performance and have a bit more experience.
February 10, 2021
Super helpful
I've taken 2 expensive Amazon ads courses, and have still felt lost in understanding how to optimize. This book has helped alot, and after 6 months of running ads I am finally starting to play with optimizing them. It seems to be working, but time will tell. Practical easy advise here, and some information I had not heard before. Recommended.
I've taken 2 expensive Amazon ads courses, and have still felt lost in understanding how to optimize. This book has helped alot, and after 6 months of running ads I am finally starting to play with optimizing them. It seems to be working, but time will tell. Practical easy advise here, and some information I had not heard before. Recommended.
October 22, 2021
Read the 2021 edition of this. Probably the most helpful book on the subject I've read. Unlike Meeks, Potter keeps the maths at a level that will stretch the unwilling but not put them off, and her reasoning behind various ad strategies is sound and logical. When you're ready to start investing in your indie published books, this is the book you want. Highly recommend.
May 24, 2022
Just what I needed!
After hearing various podcasts and advice on starting book ads, I jumped in with both feet only to find myself months later asking, "What do I do next?" Deb has given me that and more. I'm quite sure that I will go through her suggestions, hints, and tricks many times in the next few weeks!
After hearing various podcasts and advice on starting book ads, I jumped in with both feet only to find myself months later asking, "What do I do next?" Deb has given me that and more. I'm quite sure that I will go through her suggestions, hints, and tricks many times in the next few weeks!
October 10, 2023
A Wealth of Practical Tips & Strategies
All the way until the last pages where she recommends other services that will help you with your Amazon ads, it's clear that she wants you to succeed. Now it's just a question of implementing her strategies. Good luck!
Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Luck usually comes to those who take action.
All the way until the last pages where she recommends other services that will help you with your Amazon ads, it's clear that she wants you to succeed. Now it's just a question of implementing her strategies. Good luck!
Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Luck usually comes to those who take action.
January 18, 2026
Amazon Ads for Authors: Tips and Strategies to Sell Your Books is fairly standard Kindle Unlimited fare—short, direct, and easy to get through.
The book lays out the basics clearly and doesn’t overstay its welcome, which I appreciated. If you’re new to Amazon Ads, there’s enough here to give you a general sense of how things work without drowning you in jargon or theory. It feels more like a practical overview than a deep dive.
That said, it doesn’t break much new ground. Much of the advice is familiar if you’ve spent any time reading blogs, watching videos, or experimenting on the platform yourself. The real test, of course, is whether the strategies actually translate into increased sales.
The proof will be in the pudding. Will it help me sell more books? Time will tell.
The book lays out the basics clearly and doesn’t overstay its welcome, which I appreciated. If you’re new to Amazon Ads, there’s enough here to give you a general sense of how things work without drowning you in jargon or theory. It feels more like a practical overview than a deep dive.
That said, it doesn’t break much new ground. Much of the advice is familiar if you’ve spent any time reading blogs, watching videos, or experimenting on the platform yourself. The real test, of course, is whether the strategies actually translate into increased sales.
The proof will be in the pudding. Will it help me sell more books? Time will tell.
February 26, 2020
A very useful and enjoyable read.
Clear, relevant and easy to implement. The information is up to date and will be helpful whether you are just starting with Amazon ads, or have some experience.
Clear, relevant and easy to implement. The information is up to date and will be helpful whether you are just starting with Amazon ads, or have some experience.
March 22, 2020
This is an invaluable resource that you will come back to again and again. There is so much packed into this book that you'll want to focus on one or two areas of improvement and then come back and re-read and retool your ads. I've already seen an improvement in my ads thanks to this book.
April 7, 2020
Interesting
This is the first book I have read on the subject, so I dont have much to compare ot to yet. However it seemed to be straightforward and the information provided was easy to understand.
This is the first book I have read on the subject, so I dont have much to compare ot to yet. However it seemed to be straightforward and the information provided was easy to understand.
May 9, 2020
A good take on AMS ads
Loved the book and started applying many of the methods taught in the book. The only thing I wished that it was longer and more about the learner than the writer which tended to drag the book out..
Loved the book and started applying many of the methods taught in the book. The only thing I wished that it was longer and more about the learner than the writer which tended to drag the book out..
September 30, 2020
Full of great tips
An enjoyable read, but I’m just as confused as ever by what to do with my ads. Have bought the paperback and am going to study it along with others. It’ll be like being back at university 🤣
An enjoyable read, but I’m just as confused as ever by what to do with my ads. Have bought the paperback and am going to study it along with others. It’ll be like being back at university 🤣
December 30, 2020
Some great in depth analysis of ads here
This is the forth or fifth book I've read on AMS. The fact I'm still reading tells you what a task it is to learn.
This book contains more low-level detailed analysis than I've seen elsewhere.
Hopefully this time I'll have the ever elusive eureka moment.
I can feel it brewing like a bad sprout.
Anytime now...
Great book.
This is the forth or fifth book I've read on AMS. The fact I'm still reading tells you what a task it is to learn.
This book contains more low-level detailed analysis than I've seen elsewhere.
Hopefully this time I'll have the ever elusive eureka moment.
I can feel it brewing like a bad sprout.
Anytime now...
Great book.
January 30, 2021
Short but insightful dive into the world of Amazon ads.
I found lots of value in the last part, but found the book a bit too overwhelming at the beginning.
Overall a book to read and reread that has the potential to level up your amazon game.
I found lots of value in the last part, but found the book a bit too overwhelming at the beginning.
Overall a book to read and reread that has the potential to level up your amazon game.
June 30, 2021
A great nuts and bolts resource
This been book is filled with practical advice and examples that demonstrate strategies for getting results from Amazon ads. The material is drawn from the author’s experience.
This been book is filled with practical advice and examples that demonstrate strategies for getting results from Amazon ads. The material is drawn from the author’s experience.
July 15, 2021
Excellent!
This was my third book to read on Amazon Ads and it is by far the best! Not too technical and easy to grasp. I recommend it for any author out there thinking about using Amazon Ads.
This was my third book to read on Amazon Ads and it is by far the best! Not too technical and easy to grasp. I recommend it for any author out there thinking about using Amazon Ads.
August 18, 2021
Packed full of awesome advice
Amazon ads can be a nightmare to try and understand. This book has broken it down really well and I’m excited to try some of the tips and strategies laid out so beautifully. Thank you for writing this, Deb. You are awesome
Amazon ads can be a nightmare to try and understand. This book has broken it down really well and I’m excited to try some of the tips and strategies laid out so beautifully. Thank you for writing this, Deb. You are awesome
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews