Rarely do we get to share algorithm tricks that take so little time and effort. Using Amazon’s Author Central may be the best and easiest tip we can offer—one that can directly support your books on their sales page.
What is Author Central?
Amazon Author Central is a program that allows authors to create their own profile pages and link the Amazon listings of their titles. You can make edits to your page, like uploading your headshot and bio (you can use PRH’s or draft your own). Our Strategic Digital Operations team encourages authors to take advantage of this tool.
“We strongly believe that authors with Author Central pages get additional visibility in Amazon searches, and additionally, Amazon customers can ‘follow’ an author page and instantly get an email letting them know when a new book attaches to a page,” says Matt Schwartz, SVP and Director of Digital Strategy.
When you create an Amazon Author Central page, a “Follow” button shows up next to your author name on your titles’ sales pages. Readers who click it will be alerted to product updates and when new books go on sale. You will also see a new About the Author section on your sales page, under Product Details, that pulls the bio from your Author Central page. Sometimes Amazon surfaces these profiles at the top of a search as well.
How do I sign up?
Unlike some other sales platforms, authors do have to set up their own pages in Author Central. To create your page and connect your titles, join at this link.
You will first be asked to sign in to your Amazon account, or create one if you don’t have one. If you are already signed into Amazon in your browser, it will automatically sign you in, using the email associated with your personal Amazon account. If you want to use a different email address for your Author Central account, click “Sign out” on the far right before clicking on “Join.”
After you sign in, follow these steps:
1. Search for a book that you have already published. (In order to set up an account or sign in to Amazon Author Central, you must have at least one book available for purchase on Amazon under your author name.)
2.Click the book to claim your Author Page.
3.Agree to the terms and conditions.
4.Verify that you have chosen the right book and author to claim.
5.Click “Yes, join as [your author name].”
After you’ve completed these steps, Amazon will contact PRH to verify your identity by confirming your email address. If you’ve signed in with a different email address than the one your editor is familiar with, contact them with this information so that they can approve you.
Verification might take up to seven days. While you’re waiting for approval, you can use some of the Amazon Author Central features. For example, you can add or edit a photo or biography.
To add additional books to your page, sign in to Author Central, go to the Books tab, and click “Add a Book” at the bottom of the page. In the Search field, you can enter a title, ISBN, ASIN, or author name. Once you find the book, click the cover and “Add this book.”
If you have any questions about getting your page approved after submitting your request to Amazon, connect with your division’s Amazon representative for help (your imprint’s sales director can assist if you are unsure who that is!).
For general questions about Amazon Author Central pages and how to add titles to your page, reach out to Lisa Gonzalez, lgonzalez@penguinrandomhouse.com.