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AMAZON PRIME DAY, 2017

Tuesday, July 11, 2017 marks Amazon Prime Day this year.

It’s like a summer Black Friday exclusive for Amazon Prime customers.

Check out the deals at Amazon.

It kind of snuck up on me this year. Is July 11 really here so soon? Wait: It’s already July? Didn’t the year just start? I guess that means I’ve been busy writing, which is a good thing.

There has been a banner on Amazon’s home page for a few days mentioning it, but Amazon really didn’t tap into the indie potential. I didn’t see mention of it in the KDP newsletter. Maybe the reason is that Amazon’s emphasis is on other products, but it seems that if they encouraged indie authors to schedule a Countdown Deal on Prime Day, or if they would discount more CreateSpace paperbacks on this day and let authors know about it (rather, CreateSpace paperbacks are more likely to be discounted on other days, it seems), well… surely those authors would really help to spread the word about Prime Day and be excited about it. Imagine the millions of authors who would like to feel “included” in the deal, even if they are small names, and would be excited to let their fans (even if in small numbers) know that they were somehow involved, if only they were directly involved and encouraged to participate. Multiply their fan bases by the huge number of indie authors (many of whom have actually developed great marketing skills), and it could be helpful advertising for Amazon.

I do love Amazon, and Amazon has been great for me as an author (and customer). I’m just thinking that if Amazon could see the potential here, they could make Prime Day even better.

BUT YOU CAN STILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PRIME DAY—EVEN IF YOU MISSED IT

So maybe you’re an author and you weren’t prepared for Amazon Prime Day.

Maybe you weren’t given a heads up. Maybe you didn’t put any of your books on sale.

Or maybe you did have a sale on Prime Day and it was a DUD, considering all the other great deals going on.

If so, it’s not too late to use Amazon Prime Day to YOUR advantage.

Put one of your books on sale AFTER Amazon Prime Day. That’s right: after.

Probably a Kindle e-book that isn’t already at its minimum possible price. That’s the easiest way for an indie author to put a book on sale.

When your sale starts, use your marketing to promote it something like this: “Missed Amazon Prime Day? Don’t worry, you can still catch a great deal.”

(You could do this after Black Friday, Cyber Monday, etc.)

Now your book is on sale, but not at the same time as the majority of other items, and not when customers are too busy on other deals to look for indie books.

Sales aren’t easy to come by, even with discounts. Marketing isn’t easy, even when you have a good idea.

But there is an opportunity here. It can be pulled off if done right.

Much of marketing is learned through experience. Come up with ideas, try to find out which of them suit you.

HAPPY PRIME DAY

Maybe you can find some good deals on something you’d like and save some $$$.

Good luck!

Chris McMullen

Copyright © 2017

Chris McMullen, Author of A Detailed Guide to Self-Publishing with Amazon and Other Online Booksellers

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