MSI Press Blog

  It is Tuesday. Monday's madness is over, and Wednesday will take us over the hump, so Tuesday it is--for some serious discussion with authors. Tuesday talks mean to address authors in waiting and self-published authors who would like to go a more traditional route or who would at least like to take their steps with a publisher by their side. Today's topic addresses the value of books that fit clear niches and platforms that are conduits to those niches. I am always a bit saddened and frustrated when authors of a pretty good book state in their proposal that no way is their book a niche book, that it will be of interest to everyone in the world, or millions of people, or every woman, etc., referring to a huge population base. Reaching a base that large, unless one has immense amounts of money (tens of thousands, if not more) to invest, is quite unrealistic -- and then there is the issue of creating your audience, i.e. interesting people who are not actively searching for your ...

  Most authors love the idea of having a “niche.” It sounds focused, intentional, even strategic. But when we talk about a small niche — especially on Amazon — we’re talking about something very different. A small niche is not just a topic with a narrow audience. It is a topic with very little traffic , very few daily sales , and very low algorithmic activity . And that reality affects everything: rankings, visibility, expectations, and what “success” looks like. Let’s break down what authors need to know. 1. What a Small Niche Actually Is A small niche on Amazon is a category where: Very few books sell each day Many books sell nothing on most days A handful of downloads (even free ones) can move rankings dramatically The category has low competition because it has low demand This is not a judgment about the value of the topic. It’s simply the math of the marketplace. A niche can be small because it is: Highly specialized (e.g., “Chr...

  Authors often assume that being in a large niche — parenting, spirituality, self‑help, memoir, wellness — is an advantage. More readers! More interest! More potential! But a large niche is not automatically a blessing. It is a crowded marketplace , a competitive algorithmic arena , and a place where visibility is earned, not granted . Let’s walk through what authors need to understand. 1. What a Large Niche Actually Is A large niche is a category where: Thousands of books compete for attention Many books sell daily Rankings move constantly Amazon’s algorithm is highly active Readers browse, search, and buy in high volume Large niches include: Parenting Spirituality Memoir Self-help Health & wellness Personal finance Leadership Relationships These categories are noisy, fast-moving, and unforgiving. 2. How a Large Niche Affects Category Ranking In a large niche, rankings behave very differently than in a small one. One sale will not move the needle Ten sales may not break the T...