Yesterday was Earth Day and today is World Book Day.
I’m thinking globally.
Most of you know of the “universal” or “global” link for books. I’ve seen some posts about it and a lot of indies using it. The link allows you to customize your book url so that it redirects interested readers to the correct country. (Amazon.com becomes Amazon.ca or Amazon.co.uk—you get the idea.)
So, yes, I do want this. And, sure, I’m willing to learn about different options. Which is why I’m here today.
The companies that change your link range from free to one-time fee to monthly subscription. So you can assume they range in services. (They do.) We’re going from cut-and-paste-your-link to tracking sales, customizing domains, and tons of other techie stuff I don’t understand.
Some give you a link that automatically redirects your Amazon customers. So your country’s Amazon store will become their country’s Amazon store. This allows readers to quickly and easily buy your book from the site where they have an account. This is Amazon only.
Others completely transform your link. They go global and create a link that works in every country, on every operating system (iOS, Android, Windows…), in every store (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks…) on every device (laptop, tablet, phone…) so you’re not only international, you’re, like, intergalactic.
Here are a few that I’ve seen. If you use any of these, please let me know in the comments. If you know of any I’ve missed, drop those in the comments, too. Inquiring minds want to know.
My Sunday thoughts in (a bit over) 200 words.
Do you use a universal link? Do you like it? Which company would you suggest and why (price, ease-of-use, accessibility for buyers)?
Happy Earth Day! 🌎
Happy World Book Day! 📚
Lemon Shark 
Happy Earth Day! Happy World Book Day! Sorry, I can’t help you find answers to your questions. Good luck with other sources.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. Happy Earth Day 🌎 and Happy World Book Day 📚 to you!
LikeLike
I just use the basic free Amazon version, Sarah. Affiliate Geo Target I get overwhelmed easily by technology and it takes a while for me to try something new. Plus I often feel pressed for time. I’ll be curious if you end up using one of these and recommend it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ack! I don’t even have that one listed. Do I? I don’t think so. Unless it’s a service provided through one of these others… ??? Clearly I am easily overwhelmed, and confused, by technology too. 😉 Does it work well? Obviously it’s an Amazon-only link. What do you do for other sellers? (Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Smashwords…) I’m going to peek around. I’ll let you know what I choose. Some look very user-friendly. Others, not so much. Thank you for this!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It works great, Sarah, but you’re right – it’s only Amazon. I only sell on Amazon so I can take advantage of all the KDP promotions.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah. Got it. Seems to work well for you. Excited to see your third book out in the Rose Shield series! 🌹
LikeLike
Clever title and seems like an important link to have. With so many outlets for selling books, and so many forms for which to download a digital version, authors need some techie guidance.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I sure need some techie guidance. I know there are a lot of authors talking about the importance of these (it’s brilliant, really) and using global links but, when I went looking, found there were a large range of them available. Pretty sure it directs them to a hard copy, too, not just digital. Although, again, that varies. I think. 😜
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is why I hope to use a certain resource. And please forgive my typos… My phone is uncooperative and sometimes I can’t even figure what I was wanting to type…🤔
LikeLiked by 1 person
What typos? 😉 When you figure it out, I’ll be here. But…I know what you mean. I think.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s so important I had to reread! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 Check out some of the comments, as well. Some great advice/suggestions here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! I will.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I use a universal link, but the one I use sends people to a landing page which says something along the lines of we believe you want to shop here based on your IP, but here are the other country links and I’m always concerned that some people might be put off that they have to click once more before they can buy.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hmm… 🤔 I see your point. Hopefully a click wouldn’t bother people but one never knows. So does this landing page go just to Amazon? And, if you don’t mind, could you share the link? Thanks, Allie!
LikeLike
I used authl.it which is a free site recommended in the Kindle User Forum
http://authl.it/B00PYYB06A
http://authl.it/B01678T7CU
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooh…pretty. Seriously, those are really nice. Thank you for sharing!
LikeLike
Hi Sarah. I use smarturl now for the past 3 years. I’m quite happy with it. It’s free! I use it mostly for my blog posts and for interviews when I hyper-link the name of my book with the url. That way the exact url doesn’t show up. You just sign up and add your book and all the amazons to the list and it will convert to the country of the person who clicks on the link. So for example when I’m writing a post and talking about my book, P.S. I Forgive You, that title will be hyper linked with http://www.smarturl.it/bookPSIForgiveYou Does that help? 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ooh, excellent. I like long-term use. 😉 That’s helpful. No bugs? No issues?
Yes, exactly. When you link from your blog or interviews, it’s perfect. People don’t have to hunt down your books (which they may not take the time to do). I just didn’t realize how many services there were! Thank you. 💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
No hassles at all. I’m quite happy everything works fine. Yes, these urls are free. They are free of course because I’m sure they become affiliate links to these sites, and as long as whatever profit they make from the links clicked doesn’t eat into my royalties, I couldn’t care less, lol. ❤ Personally speaking, the two most used by many authors is booklinker and smarturl. 🙂 ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Debby. 🙂💖
LikeLike
You’re talking way above my pay grade – but Happy Earth Day and World Book Day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! 😄 I know…some of these have lots of (expensive) bells and whistles.
Thanks! 🌎📚
LikeLike
I learned everything I know about these links from Debby Kaye. I use the one she talks about in her post. It works great and I never had to pay anything for it.
Here’s a link to her post.
https://dgkayewriter.com/universal-links-books/
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’ve seen a few posts about global links and I did read Debby’s a few months ago. It’s a great post. But when I went to look, I realized how many different options there were. Thanks for the comment and recommendation, Hugh. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re welcome, Sarah. I always go by what the professionals recommend. Being a brand new indie author, I knew I wouldn’t go wrong with Debby’s advice.
LikeLiked by 2 people
True! 😀
LikeLike
I use Booklinker, Sarah. It’s free and it seems to work fine (I’ve had no complaints so far!)
LikeLiked by 2 people
That one looks so user-friendly. I’m sorting through them and have decided I’ll sort out the ones I don’t want first then look into the ones left. 🙂 I guess the question is whether I want an Amazon-only link. At least to start with. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It has been very user friendly but yes, of course, it’s just Amazon. Sounds as though you’re taking all that into consideration though. Good luck with choosing 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Helen. Much appreciated.
LikeLike
Great idea of which I was unaware, so thanks for this post. Oh but another thing to think about when I just want to write!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ooh, I’m so glad you discovered this! I know, one more thing but, really, I think the global link is so worth it. And some of these are very quick and easy.
LikeLike
I use Booklinker. It’s free and easy to use. Does exactly what it says on the tin! Lol! Which is just what I wanted, no fancy tracking or gizmos etc. I use it on my book pages, beside link buttons to other popular selling sites. There probably are others which do more fancy work, but I’m happy with what this has done for me. Good luck!
LikeLiked by 2 people
“Does exactly what it says on the tin.” 😀 I love it. That’s what I need. Something that does what it says it will do and that’s that. Booklinker looked easy (one of the cut and paste options) and it’s about where I am, technologically speaking. Thanks, Ali!
LikeLike
Pingback: 7 Book Launch Lessons – #1 Book Marketing Mindset #MondayBlogs – SACHA BLACK
Pingback: One Link to Rule Them All | Lemon Shark