This was a question that came up on Quora: is it enough to have an author page on Amazon?
Let’s start by clarifying what an author page is.
What is an author page on Amazon?
Have you ever bought a book on Amazon and noticed that the author’s name is a link? That link, if it has been set up, takes you to the author’s page. It’s a place where:
The author can upload a photo of themselves
They can show off all the books they’ve published and those they’re about to.
They can also recommend a book or two.
This is my author page.
Who can have an author’s page on Amazon?
Basically, anyone who has a book on Amazon can claim their author page. If you didn’t publish it yourself, then you will need to prove proof that it’s your book, but otherwise, it’s a fairly straightforward process.
Why would I want an author’s page on Amazon?
I’m an avid reader, so if I love an author’s books, then by clicking on the follow button by an author’s bio, Amazon messages me when a new book is being released. This allows me to pre-order the next book in the series. It also shows me which books I’ve already bought.
How do I claim my author page on Amazon?
Easy.
Just go to https://author.amazon.com .
- Login in with your normal Amazon credentials.
- Click on the Profile tab, add a photo of yourself and complete your bio.
Once you have done that, then click on the Books tab.
- Click on “Add a book” to claim a book and get it added to your profile page.
Why is it not enough to have an author’s page on Amazon?
Whilst an author page is an essential part of your marketing strategy, it’s only one small piece in a much bigger jigsaw.
It works because someone has already liked the author’s books enough to follow them, so it follows that it can only be effective after the author has been found. For this reason, you need a marketing strategy in place long before your book is even published. You need to be building your own audience and you need to keep them up to date consistently.
At the end of the day, people can’t buy a book if they don’t know it exists.