I think we did it, y’all. I think we tripped Amazon’s new algorithm. THANK YOU for playing a part in that. You helped!
After months (and months) of goose eggs in my KDP and D2D dashboards, I decided my books needed an intervention. A revival of sorts. So, to jumpstart Amazon’s still-new algorithm, I pulled my books from wide distribution and placed them in Kindle Unlimited.
We needed to move a bunch of books in a short amount of time to make a difference. So, in hopes of getting there, I slashed the prices of all five of my eBooks from Jan 31 - Feb 7, and set the first books of the trilogy and the prequel to free.
I don’t know yet whether our endeavor worked, but during the sale, we gave away 573 copies of Awen Rising, 44 copies of The Druids of Marduk, Part 1: An Awen Prequel, sold 9 copies each of Awen Storm and Awen Tide, and 2 copies of The Druids of Marduk, Part II: UnderEarth.
During that time, Awen Rising ranked #1 for several days in the free store in one category and #2 in another, and The Druids of Marduk, Part I got up to #4 in a different category. The other books also rose in their ranks. (The prequel begins in outer space, so it leans more toward Sci-Fi Fantasy and is also considered a short read.)
So thank you, thank you for everything you did to help with the boost.
Profit-wise, I spent $55 on a promo with The Fussy Librarian, versus $23 in royalties. But, the main goal was to trip Amazon’s new-ish algorithm into recommending my books again.
For seven days following the sale, the campaign looked like a bust. My KDP dashboard showed big fat zeros. Nothing. Nada. No activity whatsoever. Not even any KU page reads. Talk about disappointing.
So, I toggled off KU auto renew for the Awen Trilogy — meaning they would no longer be available in Kindle Unlimited after February 22.
Then, a few days later, on Day 8, something wondrous happened.
Somebody read the first half of Awen Rising on Kindle Unlimited. The next day, Day 9, they finished Awen Rising and read half of Awen Storm, and someone else read a big chunk of Awen Rising. On Day 10, all three books were in play, including Awen Tide, and a third person began Book One. Day 11, yesterday, same thing. And today (Tues, 2/17), Awen Tide is still being read.
Now, I’m wondering. Is this a delayed effect?
Because if it is, and this keeps going, my books will remain in KU even though it pays less than a sale. Because they are meant to be read. And if they’re sitting on a virtual shelf gathering cyber dust, that is not happening.
So, I will watch the numbers, and if the streak continues, I’ll reenroll these books in Kindle Select. That way, readers can continue to borrow and read them after Feb 22. Either way, the prequels stay in KU.
Did I make a dollar profit? No. Even when you count the new page reads.
Did 600 people download my books? Yes.
Did I get new reviews? Yes! Awen Rising has a new 5-star rating, bringing it up to 121. Hopefully, more are coming for all five books.
Did Amazon’s algorithm start recommending my books? Yes, I think it has.
All in all, I’m inclined to consider this campaign a win.
New readers are discovering my books on Kindle Unlimited, so the algorithm must be recommending them. With any luck at all, it will also drive new sales, this trend will continue, and my page reads will increase exponentially.
And those things, my friend, will make a world of difference.
Look for an update in a week or two. Meanwhile…
Wait, what? You haven’t read my trilogy? The prequels either? Now is your chance.
And yes, I’ve already reenrolled in KU, so you have no time limit. Unless the page reads stop, and I change my mind. But if I do? DM me, and I’ll send you the epub.
If you enjoyed reading about this algorithm jumpstart, please drop a like and a comment, and share this post with your friends.
Have you had to jumpstart the Amazon algorithm? What did you do, and were your efforts successful?👇👇
Thank you for being here and for all you do.
From my heart to yours, Olivia/O.J.❤️
Can you spare a cup of tea for a friend? Help is always welcome and greatly appreciated. Thanks a million!⬇️
Thank you for the restack, @Walt Shuler!
I think it’s nice that you’re putting these things up for us to emulate if does work. Congratulations, seems that it did trip the algo!😊happy to have contributed a little to this goal.