Here are some ideas about how you can use free features on Amazon to make yourself famous even–if you haven’t written a book.
Friends and Favorites
From the main page, click on the (Your) Amazon.com tab near the top of the page. Then, click on the tab that says Your Profile. You will find the following features there. For examples, take a look at my About You Page at http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A24B990VP9QC6C/ref=cm_psrch_profile/104-8951639-5736732
Your About You Page
Set up an account with a public ID that promotes you, your Web site, your book or your company. For example, my ID is “Cathy Stucker, IdeaLady.com.” Dan Poynter’s is “Dan Poynter, Author of The Self-Publishing Manual.” (This seems to be the only place where Amazon won’t edit out a URL.) Your ID can be changed, so if you already have one and want to improve it, just log on and make the change.
Once you have your ID, you can enter information about yourself, and even a picture. This can be read by anyone who visits your About You area. As you create Listmania lists, So You’d Like To . . . guides, and write reviews, you will draw people to your About You area. Make it good!
Writing Reviews
Create an expert reputation by writing reviews of books, DVDs, products and just about anything Amazon sells. Focus on products of interest to your target market to get the best effect. You are not supposed to put URLs in your reviews; however, you can mention your book and include other promotional info in the context of the review.
Listmania
Compile a list of related books (related in any way you choose) and create a Listmania list. Include your book if you have one (in the number three position or lower) and other titles that would appeal to the same audience. Make sure you include several best sellers. Including those books will get your list onto many of those book’s pages, and will expose you and your book to more people. As with reviews, even if you don’t have a book, you can put some promotional language here. As an example, see Randy Gilbert’s About You Page and read his Listmania lists at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/cm/member-glance/-/A1AU3EZI91N8ND/103-9536198-5967036
So You’d Like To . . . Guides
Similar to Listmania, but a bit more work to put together. Include three or more products (including your book in the number three position or lower) in a narrative about how to do something. Include some best selling titles in your genre to get your guide on those books’ pages.
