Today, I am pleased to feature an article by Dave Chesson (aka the Kindlepreneur), the creator of the awesome app, Publisher Rocket (formerly known as KDP Rocket). This incredible tool makes book marketing as easy as a-b-c with its powerful features for keyword research, competitor analysis and even Amazon Ads! And it only keeps evolving with new exciting features all the time. Check out Dave Chesson’s article below and see what Publisher Rocket can do for you.
As it did for me, I know it can make a difference in your everyday marketing and research. Make sure to scroll all the way down for my review of the earlier version of the app, KDP Rocket. It’s unmissable for new users as it contains a plethora of insider tips!
AN INTRODUCTION TO PUBLISHER ROCKET
by Dave Chesson
When it comes to publishing on Amazon, there are plenty of things to think about–keywords, categories, AMS ads… The list goes on. But your publishing life doesn’t have to be so hard. As a matter of fact, you can make the process much, much simpler. But how? Publisher Rocket. Formerly known as KDP Rocket, this program has helped thousands of authors from first time self-publishers to the likes of Orson Scott Card and Pat Flynn. So how does Publisher Rocket work? And is it the right option for you?
The Basics of Publisher Rocket
What is Publisher Rocket? It’s a downloadable software (available for both Mac and Windows) that helps you shine a light into the inner machinations of Amazon.com. There are 4 key pieces of information that you need to know to help make your Amazon experience successful:
- What phrases are actually being searched by Amazon buyers
- The psychology of how readers choose to buy books
- How much money they are spending on certain niches and topics
- Comparative data of your closest competitors
And Publisher Rocket can actually give you this information! Here’s how: Publisher Rocket communicates directly with Amazon’s API to perform data pulls. The program provides you with actual information from real Amazon shoppers. Pretty cool if you ask me. This is accomplished by 4 different search functions.
- Keyword Search
- Competition Analyzer
- Category Search
- AMS Keyword Search
Keyword Search
Establishing your Amazon keywords is considered by experts to be one of the most vital parts of being successful on Amazon. Publisher Rocket’s keyword feature provides you with the ability to help achieve your full keyword potential. First, enter your idea into Rocket’s Keyword Search bar. After clicking “Go Get Em Rocket!”, within seconds you will be provided with a list of relevant keywords for your topic. But it’s not just keywords, it’s data as well. Here’s what each search provides besides keywords:
- Number of competitors
- Monthly earnings for that respective keyword
- Google searches per month
- Estimated Amazon searches per month
- Competitive score
But what should you do with all that data? Just select whichever is available? No. You do need to properly interpret the results. You see, you’re looking for a good balance between the variables. Best case scenario: High search volume, low competitive score, and good earnings. You won’t always find perfect keywords that match all three conditions. But you can get closer. And this real data is subject to change over time. So find your best keywords now and adjust later. Keywords aren’t necessarily a one time set. But therein lies the beauty of Rocket. Since the whole process of actually searching takes only seconds, keeping up with your keyword selections is made that much easier.
Category Search Feature
Categories are another important thing you need to consider as a self-publisher. These are the groupings in which Amazon will register your book on their website. Do not overlook the importance of this. How are readers supposed to find your cozy mystery novel if it’s placed in the cookbook categories? But here’s the thing. Some categories can give your book a better chance of becoming a bestseller. And that accolade alone can help you sell more books! So how do you know which categories are the best for your work? Once again, Publisher Rocket has you covered. The software comes with access to the entire database of Amazon categories and accompanying data–like the ABSR (Amazon Best Seller Rating) for both the #1 and #25 book in your category. Rocket also calculates just how many books you need to sell to rank #1 or #25. This can come in super handy when adjusting your marketing strategies.
Competition Analyzer Feature
One of the absolute biggest advantages to Publisher Rocket is their Competition Analyzer. This feature allocates all of the pertinent information you need to properly gauge your competitors. (What it won’t show you is your competitors’ actual keyword selections. While this may seem like a bummer, imagine how you would feel if Amazon gave away your keyword selections.)
In order to use this tool, just type your topic into the Competition Analyzer, and Rocket does the rest. Here’s the data that Publisher Rocket provides with each search:
- The Title
- Author
- Age of Book (in days)
- The ABSR
- Whether or not there is a Keyword in the Title
- Keyword in Subtitle
- Estimated Daily Sales
- Estimated Monthly Sales
- And a link to each book’s sales page
Now, the three features I’ve covered so far are awesome for a standard listing on Amazon. But what if you want to take your marketing to the next level with AMS ads?
AMS Keyword Search Feature
Ads are a great way to target keywords your book isn’t ranking for organically. For example, your new sci-fi novel will almost certainly never reach the first page for the term “Star Wars book,” but with the help of an AMS ad, you can pay to get in front of those people in one of the sponsored spots at the top. Publisher Rocket can provide you with great AMS keyword suggestions via its AMS Keyword Search feature. You’ll get keywords, book titles, author names, ASINs, and much more! For that sci-fi novel, you could discover keyword opportunities such as “books like Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” or “best sci-fi series” — all through one easy search. Not only that, but the creator of Publisher Rocket–Dave Chesson–has created a free AMS course for those looking to get into paid Amazon advertisement that shows you the ropes with step-by-step video tutorials.
Is Publisher Rocket Right for Me?
In my opinion, if you’re going to self-publish on Amazon.com… Then this program is right for you. Seriously. There’s an old saying that goes, “Time is money.” Every hour that Rocket can save you during your self-publishing process is absolutely worth it. And aside from the actual functionality of the program, Rocket has a top-notch support team to help guide you through any twists and turns you may experience. And if you aren’t satisfied for any reason, take advantage of Rocket’s 30 Day, No Questions Asked, Money Back Guarantee. It’s really a no-brainer for those looking for a secret advantage in their Amazon Publishing. However, notice I said Amazon.com earlier. For other Amazon marketplaces (outside the U.S.), you’ll just have to wait. That’s my biggest gripe about this program. I do understand that building international reach takes time, but it would be awesome if every self-publisher worldwide had access to this incredible tool. But there is good news in the distance, though. Publisher Rocket is working on a version for the German market. So more good things are coming soon!
Check out Dave Chesson’s FREE seminar on Amazon ads!
While you’re on my site, you may want to check out this page where I’ve crammed in plenty of author resources! Something useful is waiting for you there, without a doubt 🙂
Note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means that the admin of this site may earn affiliate fees from any resulting sales.
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Nice feature, Fros. I’ve been using KDP Rocket for years now and I’ve seen the difference in my own sales!
Pleased to hear it! It’s made a big difference for me too. Thank you for your visit, Nicholas 🙂