How do I find the link to my book on Amazon? And how do I copy and paste a link?
All authors need to know how to find, copy and paste links to Internet page addresses to promote their books, blogs, websites, social media accounts, and promotions.
However, some find the task of copying and pasting an accurate URL address difficult. But it is easy to learn how to use this very simple computer skill.
Let’s look first at what linking and Internet addresses are and do. And then why they are so vital for your book and author promotion.
The correct URL address
Every page or location you visit on the Internet has a unique address.
This is so people can find it among billions of pages.
Imagine if you posted a letter to Mary Smith, United States.
Do you think the postman would be able to deliver it?
Of course not.
This is why you need to be able to copy and paste a link to Internet addresses accurately.
These website addresses are called a URL (Uniform Resource Locator). You can see it in the address bar of any desktop or mobile browser.
Some web browsers truncate the address.
But if you click on the address bar, you will see the full address or URL.
I have indicated the addresses with red arrows in the images below.
How to view any URL in your browser address bar
Amazon book page URL
It’s easy to find the URL for your book on Amazon. Go to your book page, and then click on your browser’s address bar.
Make sure the URL address is highlighted in full. Then you can copy the link to use to promote your book.
Facebook URL
For Facebook, make sure you are on your profile page. Click on your profile name next to your small image.
You are on the correct page now to copy your page address from the address bar.
Twitter URL
For Twitter, select your profile page by clicking on your Tweets. Now you can copy your account address from the address bar.
Website URL
For any general website, click on the address bar of the page you are viewing to see the URL address link.
For all the sites above, just right-click in the address bar.
Then you can copy the full URL address and paste it into Word or a text editor to save it.
They will look something like this.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/derekhainesauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Derek_Haines
Websites: https://derekhaines.ch/god-has-gone-fishing/
Copy and paste a URL link
1. Use your mouse button to click on the address bar and then right-click. Then select Copy from the dropdown menu.
On some computers, you might need to use a keyboard shortcut. These are press Ctrl+C for Windows and Cmd+C for Mac.
2. Open a new document in Notepad or Word. Then right-click anywhere in the document. Now select paste.
You can also paste using the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+V for Windows and Cmd+V for Mac.
3. You have copied and pasted your link.
This method works for every site or location on the Internet.
You can copy the address of any web page.
This includes your profile pages on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, or any other social media sites you use.
It works for your book pages on Amazon and your blog posts or website.
Go to any site you use to promote your books. Then just right-click and copy the link in the address bar.
You can also click and drag a URL to copy and paste.
Hold the link with your mouse button and drag it to a text editor, Word document, or computer desktop.
By copying URLs, you can do a lot more
Copy and paste all the links you need into one text file or Word document.
You have collected the addresses for all the sites you use to promote yourself and your books.
You can now send them in emails, social media posts, and messages or to book promotion services.
Sometimes though, a URL can be very long, like the one below on Amazon.
`https://www.amazon.com/God-Has-Gone-Fishing-Destruction-ebook/dp/B01E2GMVNQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl.ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0&linkCode=sl1&tag=whizbuzwp-20&linkId=8953e0fec8b8db2f8b326d977d338d2c`
Sending a long ugly link like this in an email, Twitter, or Facebook post is really not very appealing.
Short link URLs
However, there is an easy way to make what is commonly called a short link.
There are many sites where you can make a short link from a long URL. I will give an example by using Bit.ly, a popular link shortening service.
Once you are registered, start by clicking, Create Bitlink. A new screen will appear.
Now you can paste your long URL link. I’ll use my long link from Amazon.
`https://www.amazon.com/God-Has-Gone-Fishing-Destruction-ebook/dp/B01E2GMVNQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0&linkCode=sl1&tag=whizbuzwp-20&linkId=8953e0fec8b8db2f8b326d977d338d2c`
My very long Amazon URL is now shortened and is now https://amzn.to/2ji9atm. It is much better to use on social media.
But there is one more thing you can do with your new short link. You can change it! Click on Customize.
Now I have a short URL that I can keep and easily identify as the link to my book.
You can see from the image above how the long Amazon URL is now shortened to ‘bit.ly/godhasdh.’
I can share, copy, or even edit it.
You should do this for all the links that you need and use regularly. It will save a lot of time on your book promotion.
You will also be sure that the links you send to the world are absolutely 100% accurate.
Related reading: How You Can Make Much Better Use Of Book Buy Links
Thank you for sharing this very important information. As a reviewer, I often find it difficult to get author information because of broken or nonexistent links.
It is not a tracking link, Rogena. It is an Amazon Associates link, which is very standard practice.
Something that should be mentioned is to remove the “tracking” information included in links. Your example of the long link includes tracking. That should be removed before making the short link.