The Complete Amazon Bestseller Playbook: What Most Publishers Won’t Tell You

Let’s talk truth.

Every week, I hear from authors who’ve been misled, overcharged, or just plain under-informed about what it really takes to become an Amazon bestseller. Whether it’s bloated fees for “bestseller services” or flat-out bad advice, there’s too much confusion—and not enough transparency—around how the Amazon ranking system actually works.

That’s why I recorded an entire podcast episode breaking it down. And in case you’re more of a reader than a listener, I’m giving it to you here too.

Why We’re So Passionate About This

When Jonathan and I first got into publishing, it wasn’t part of the plan. But after publishing our own books and learning the ropes, we had author after author come to us for help—because their publisher was dropping the ball. They’d paid good money but weren’t seeing results. And worse? Many were about to completely miss their shot at hitting bestseller because of a few avoidable missteps.

That’s when we realized: most people have no idea what really goes into making a book an Amazon bestseller.

So let’s change that.

What Actually Counts Toward Amazon Bestseller Status?

The Amazon bestseller ranking is based on one-day orders within a specific category—not total sales, not reviews, not page reads.

The catch? Not all formats count the same way.

Here's what matters:

• Kindle orders: Count immediately after purchase. Digital delivery = instant order.

• Paperback/hardcover orders: Don't count until the book is printed and set to ship—which could take days depending on the queue.

So if you're launching all formats at once? You're diluting your impact. Your “release day” sales could be scattered across an entire week, wrecking your shot at bestseller.

The Right Way to Launch for Bestseller

1. Kindle-Only Release, One Day Only

This is your best chance to concentrate sales. Drop the Kindle version at the lowest price allowed—$0.99—for just one day.

2. Silent Publish a Week Early

Quietly publish the Kindle version 5–7 days ahead of your official launch day. This gives Amazon’s algorithm time to:

• Link your categories to your product page

• Establish a proper bestseller ranking

If you don’t do this? Your categories might not register at all during launch.

3. Paperback/Hardcover Launches Later

We recommend making your printed formats available the day after your Kindle launch to avoid muddying the sales pool.

Avoid These Common Mistakes

❌ Launching all formats at once

You won’t be able to pool one-day orders—so Kindle and print sales won’t combine toward your rank.

❌ Choosing the wrong categories

Some categories require 500+ sales in a day to hit #1. Others? Less than 50. If your category strategy isn’t dialed in, you could be setting yourself up to miss the mark by a mile.

❌ Forgetting keyword alignment

If your seven SEO keywords don’t match your chosen categories, Amazon might automatically move your book to a different one—throwing your whole plan off.

Behind-the-Scenes: What You Might Not Know

Amazon’s system has quirks.

• Sometimes they add your book to extra categories during launch if it starts selling well.

• Other times, weird glitches cause print book categories to appear on your Kindle edition—screwing up your rank comparison.

• The product page lags. Your actual bestseller rank might be #1, but it won’t show up on your product details right away. Always check by clicking the category link itself.

Final Word

Look, hitting Amazon bestseller isn’t rocket science—but it does require precision. Strategy. And a working knowledge of how Amazon operates behind the scenes.

At Smart Publishing, this is part of the game we play every single day. We know the nuances because we’ve lived them, tracked them, and helped hundreds of authors hit #1.

But even if you’re not working with us, I want you to have the knowledge you need to protect yourself and position your book for success.

If you’ve got questions, I’m an open book. Find me on Facebook (I’m the only Renee Loudermilk on there) or message us through the Smart Publishing page.

Let’s make sure your book gets the impact—and visibility—it deserves.