How do Amazon ads work for books—and why does it sometimes feel like the system is working against you? If you’ve ever found yourself battling bizarre ad rejections or scratching your head over Amazon’s approval process, you’re not alone. In this episode, we’re diving deep into the frustrating (and often inconsistent) world of Amazon book ads, giving authors a behind-the-scenes look at what’s really going on.
Take, for example, a mystery thriller author whose ad was rejected because the cover—a bloody knife—was deemed “too menacing” and appeared to be “pointing at the consumer.” Yet, the print version of the book with the same cover? Approved. Welcome to the contradictory world of Amazon’s advertising policies.
So, how do Amazon ads work for books, really? We break it down:
- How Amazon’s ad approval process works across eBook and print formats
- Why visual content like book covers and images can get flagged—and how to avoid common pitfalls
- What kinds of inconsistencies authors face between departments (Ads vs. A+ Content, for example)
- How Amazon applies content guidelines differently across genres like thriller and romance
- Why ad rejections often have little to do with your actual content quality—and everything to do with subjective interpretation
But this episode isn’t just about the problems. It’s about solutions. We share our hard-earned insights and actionable strategies to overcome ad rejection roadblocks. Our top tip? Channel your inner toddler: be persistent, escalate your case, submit multiple support tickets, and don’t accept the first “no” as the final word. We’ll show you how real authors—like the one behind the thriller in question—won their appeals and got their ads approved.
Whether you’re a new author asking “how do Amazon ads work for books?” or a seasoned pro dealing with yet another baffling policy shift, this episode arms you with the tools to navigate Amazon’s ad labyrinth with confidence.
Tune in to learn how to advocate for yourself, improve your chances of ad approval, and make Amazon ads work for your book—not against it.
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