John F. Kennedy lived a long time before the Internet and the mega online bookstore Amazon. And yet, the more I learn about social media and using Amazon to promote books, the more I keep thinking about Kennedy’s famous inaugural speech back in January 1961. Toward the end of his speech he says:

“And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.” Inaugural Address by John F. Kennedy - January 20th 1961

A few months ago I walked into the Sam Wellers bookstore, an independent bookstore here in Salt Lake City, Utah and I asked the General Manager what kind of author he likes to work with. He simply said, “a famous one.” That got me thinking about JFK’s speech. How often are we so caught up in what we want or need that we do not think about what the bookstore owner wants or what an agent wants or a publisher or Amazon?

In the month of October, I will be discussing 10 tactics authors can use to promote their books on Amazon. When you look at these tactics, you will notice that most of them are geared to helping Amazon sell more books. You will also be interacting with your competitors. To be successful on Amazon, authors will need to be comfortable with these two concepts: helping Amazon and helping other authors, authors who sell books similar to yours. But, as you go through these 10 tactics, you will begin to see how these tactics will also help you build your own author platform.

So here are the top 10 tactics I’ll be discussing in the month of October:

1. Building your Amazon profile
2. Using your Amazon blog
3. Using Listmania
4. Using Amazon Guides
5. Building your book detail page
6. Using Amazon Advantage
7. Using the search inside function
8. Using Amazon Marketplace
9. Why you might want to use the BXGY service
10. Using the CAP program