So You Want to Get to Amazon Bestseller?
Stop guessing. Start ranking. How smart authors win with data, not luck.
For many authors, that little orange #1 Best Seller badge feels like the holy grail — instant credibility, powerful social proof, and a shot of validation that says yes, this book matters.
But behind the badge is a truth that surprises most writers: you don’t need thousands of sales to become an Amazon bestseller.
You just need a plan.
Why Most Authors Miss Their Chance
Here’s what happens to most authors:
They pour everything into writing a great book. They spend months polishing every paragraph. Then they upload to Amazon, choose the first few categories that sound right… and wait.
Weeks pass. Crickets.
It’s not because the book isn’t good — it’s because it’s hidden. It’s buried under thousands of other titles in overcrowded, high-competition categories where even 500 sales in an hour wouldn’t break the Top 10.
The quality of your book matters, sure. But so does visibility.
How the Bestseller Algorithm Really Works
Amazon’s bestseller rankings refresh every hour. That means every 60–90 minutes, your book is being compared to every other book in its category.
Sell more copies than others in that short window, and you climb. Sell enough, and you hit #1 — and that’s when the orange badge appears.
What most authors never realise is that each category has its own competition level. Some are packed with giants like Colleen Hoover or James Clear. Others are quiet corners of Amazon where only a few sales can launch you to the top.
The Game You Can Actually Win
The difference between those two realities can be thousands of sales — or just a handful.
The key is to place your book where it can shine.
Strategic category selection — paired with a small, well-timed sales burst — can transform your launch from invisible to irresistible.
I’ve seen it over and over again: debut and unknown authors hitting #1 in their niche with less than 10 sales in 90 minutes. Because they were strategic.
Every single author in our Substack community, The Substack Bookstore, who has launched a bestseller campaign to our 17k+ followers has ended up with a Number One Bestseller in their category on Amazon. Some in multiple categories in multiple markets.
What This Means for You
You don’t need a massive audience.
You don’t need ads.
You don’t need luck.
You need to know where your book can actually compete — and how to plan your launch to make it happen.
If you’re tired of guessing, we can help you take the shortcut.
Your Shortcut to the Orange Badge
If you’re serious about becoming an Amazon bestselling author, here’s how we can help through the Substack Bookstore:
Low-Competition Category List: We’ll share the categories where fewer than 10 sales in 90 minutes can earn your #1 spot — so you can target where you actually stand a chance.
Bestseller Campaign Plan & Execution: We’ll help you plan and run a legitimate bestseller campaign through the Substack Bookstore — connecting your book to real readers, real reviewers, and coordinated visibility across our 17K+ network.
No gimmicks. No bots. Just data, timing, and community.
Because we understand you wrote your book to be seen.
Join The Substack Bookstore and let’s plan your bestseller campaign today. Or get your list of Low-Competition Categories now.
