$Amazon

What kind of algorithm are they using? According to Rob Nightingale, in his April 2014 article, "8 Things Most People Don't Know About Amazon's Bestsellers Rank (Sales Rank)," few people know how to promote their works through Amazon for sales rank and even Amazon won't specifically state how the Bestsellers Rank is calculated. Do you think your Sales Rank is achieved through reviews?

The good news: It's not. (The bad news: It's not.)

If you've self-published your novels and are beating your head against the wall trying to market and promote your book by badgering friends and relatives to post a review, you can relax as it really won't make a difference.

So then what Is the Amazon Bestsellers Rank? (Remember I'm specifically referring to the sale of books.)

In all Amazon book categories (including Kindle paid and free books--notice I included "FREE"), your title will include a "Product Details" section where all the stats are located. Included in those stats is the "Amazon Bestsellers Rank". Nightingale, as well as Amazon's  $Amazon   own explanation for rank, is that the "calculation is based on Amazon.com sales and is updated hourly to reflect recent and historical sales... " Well, updated hourly for those who actively achieve sales per hour (in other words, the top 10,000 books are calculated hourly).

The rank is based on sales, not reviews or ratings. But sales made when or through which outlet? (Because that can change the computation too.)

The common idea about rank is that it takes into account more than sales (and both you and I were hoping it was reviewed). But nay, it's sales. "Sales" though, can mean more than dollars and cents out the door.

Rates and reviews can be good for the soul, of course, and still may help indirectly with your sales through positive, descriptive reviews or recommendations, however, achieved. (Word of mouth is a positive sales tool.)