Sell More Books Using Amazon Ads with Alana Terry
This post was adapted from Writing Off Social: The Podcast, Episode 67. You can listen in here!
Today we sat down with Alana Terry—an award-winning Christian suspense novelist, USA Today bestseller, co-founder of the Successful Writer Marketplace, and well-known ads coach for authors—to talk about one powerful, practical way to sell more books without social media: Amazon ads. This conversation is packed with encouragement, clarity, and extremely practical steps. Let’s jump in.
Life Without Social Media (Yes, It’s Possible!)
We always ask our guests about their relationship with social media—not because being “off social” is a requirement for being on the show, but because we’re fascinated by the spectrum of experiences. Alana’s response was everything: “I have not checked my notifications in like two or three years, which feels amazing.”
She uses social media only to run paid ads. She doesn’t scroll. She doesn’t post. She doesn’t track likes. And because Instagram requires occasional mobile-only functions, she keeps the app on a backup phone—not the one she uses daily. It’s strategic. It’s intentional. And it’s a level of peace most writers don’t realize is possible.
Why Amazon Ads Work for Christian Authors
So what does she do instead? She focuses on Amazon ads, and here’s why they work so beautifully for Christian authors: people on Amazon are already shopping for books. You’re not trying to convert a casual scroller into a reader. You’re simply placing your book in front of someone who is already inclined to buy.
Alana explained it perfectly: “Posting something organic on Facebook and hoping that three years later they’ll remember to buy your book? That’s just not efficient.” With Amazon ads, you can track exactly what you spent, exactly what you earned, and exactly which ads are performing. It’s clear. It’s measurable. It’s controllable. This is why Amazon ads work so well for Christian writers who want to build a sustainable career without the grind of social media.
How Amazon Ads Sell Books While You Sleep
While Alana primarily uses Amazon ads and Facebook ads (exclusively paid, never organic posting), the deepest magic happens on Amazon. She walked us through what makes these ads work, and the first thing she emphasized surprised us: your book cover is everything. Amazon ads display your book cover—not a designed graphic. It has to be eye-catching, look fantastic as a small thumbnail, and match genre expectations. A weak cover means weak results. A great cover means half the battle is already won.
But even a stunning cover won’t save you if your Amazon book page isn’t doing its job. The ad’s only job is to bring someone to your page. Once they click, your sales page needs to hook them with a strong blurb, show social proof through reviews, be categorized correctly, feature a clear title and subtitle, and instantly signal the right genre. If your page isn’t converting, the ad can’t save it.
Then Alana got very honest with us about reviews. “If you have fewer than 30 reviews, your ads are less likely to really turn on.” Amazon wants ads that convert, and reviews tell Amazon that readers like this book. This is why leaving reviews for authors you love is more impactful than most people realize.
The #1 Amazon Ads Mistake to Avoid
When we asked about budget, Alana’s answer was refreshingly practical. Forget the people who say you need a thousand dollars to start. When Alana began running ads in 2017, she and her husband (a pastor at the time) had three young kids, no credit cards, and a grocery budget where eggs were a luxury. Her words: “A thousand dollars would have been like someone asking me to sell my middle child.”
She started with five dollars a day, and even then Amazon rarely spent it all. You can set daily caps, monthly caps, and cap total campaign spend. This is one of the safest ad platforms out there, and you really can start small.
Of course, there are pitfalls to avoid. The number one Amazon ads mistake? Choosing obscure categories just so you can hit number one. If you’ve heard this advice, please don’t follow it. Here’s why: it confuses Amazon’s entire targeting system. If Amazon isn’t sure what your book is—or who actually wants it—it won’t know who to show your ad to. Even well-meaning friends can throw off the algorithm. If your mom’s gardening club buys your Christian suspense novel, Amazon may decide this must be a gardening book. Stick with accurate, appropriate categories. Your ads will thank you.
Who Amazon Ads Work Best For (and Who Not So Much)
We asked Alana who Amazon ads work best for, and she painted a clear picture. Ads tend to thrive when you have multiple books in a series, you have a review base (ideally thirty or more), your genre has active readers on Amazon, and your cover and blurb are strong. Fiction categories that often perform well include cozy mystery, Christian suspense, certain romance categories, and popular genre fiction with consistent readership. Nonfiction categories like business can be expensive due to competition.
On the flip side, ads may not perform well if your book sells fewer than two or three copies per month, you have fewer than ten reviews, your book is extremely niche or controversial, or your cover doesn’t fit genre expectations. This doesn’t mean your book is bad. It just means you may need to strengthen foundational pieces before scaling ads.
Overwhelmed? Start Here.
If all of this feels too techy, too big, or too outside your comfort zone, Alana wants you to hear this: “It’s bigger in your head than it is. It will be simpler than you think.” Her advice is to choose one teacher, follow one system, and start with one five-dollar-a-day ad. Assess after you’ve spent ten to fifteen dollars. Either keep it or kill it.
She has a free resource to guide you step-by-step called “How to Set Up Your First 7 Amazon Ads.” She also offers a book on Amazon ads and done-for-you ad services at the Successful Writer Marketplace. Find out more about Alana and her books and visit her book website Christian Books Today. You’re not alone in this.
A Final Word of Encouragement
Alana ended our conversation with this reminder: “If it works, you will be buying yourself significantly more time.” Imagine your book selling while you sleep, your career growing while you write, your audience expanding without you dancing for the algorithm. There are sustainable, God-honoring ways to grow your platform. Amazon ads might be one of the simplest.
This post was reformatted from our original transcript by ChatGPT and edited for accuracy by Mary K.
