Preorders are nothing to be afraid of #MondayBlogs #AmWriting #BookMarketing
Although my current manuscript is still at the editor, I’ve already uploaded the book information to Amazon and Smashwords as a preorder. According to Smashwords, only slightly more than 12% of books were born as preorders (you can read the entire Smashwords survey here). Wow! I expected the number to be reversed – only 12% of books were NOT born as preorders. Why isn’t everyone using this opportunity?
I read in a chat that many indie writers don’t use the pre-release option because they’re scared. Yes, you read that right. Apparently, some writers have had issues with uploading the final manuscript. This issue is easily solved. Both Amazon and Smashwords tell you when you need to upload your final manuscript. In fact, if you go to your bookshelf in Amazon and hit ‘edit book details’, you will discover a clock at the top of the page indicating exactly when you need to upload your final manuscript.
Smashwords isn’t as accurate, but you will receive an email with the necessary information to ensure you don’t miss the deadline.
As I’m in Europe and on a different time zone than Amazon or Smashwords, I always make sure to upload my final manuscript at least a day before the deadline they’ve given me. I haven’t missed the deadline yet!
The only issue I’ve had is changing the price close to the release date. Amazon doesn’t allow any changes three days prior to release. If you’re going to do a sale for the pre-order, you need to make sure the sale ends three days prior to the release so that you have enough time to increase the price before Amazon locks you out.
A word of caution: Now that I’ve convinced you preorders are nothing to fear, I want to warn you about two things that can ruin a preorder’s effectiveness in bringing in sales.
The blurb. Your blurb needs to be well-written, properly edited, and enticing. Don’t just throw something together in a rush to have a preorder. If your blurb has errors, readers will worry about the professionalism of your manuscript.
The cover. I’m of the opinion that, unless you are a household name, a preorder should include a cover. As a reader, a preorder without a cover is a turn off.
Is your blurb and the cover ready? Get that book up on Amazon and any other retailers you use now!
I used pre-orders for my last series. It was fairly successful and I wish I’d put them on sooner. I’d like to have a longer period for pre-order, but I dither too much about the title.
And I dither around with the blurb!
Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
I was just wondering whether to do this… thank you for making up my mind!
Good luck! Now to figure out the marketing for preorders…
yes please?
Stay tuned. Working on an idea now. If I get if figured out, I’ll blog about it soon. But I’m off on vacation tomorrow, so no promises.
Enjoy!
Well, there’s book tours, scheduling them around the date of the release date. Book Cover Reveal day, Book trailer Reveal Day, and joining events like https://www.facebook.com/events/758688017665101/ and then there’s book trivia party like what I’m doing now. https://kernerangelina.live/2017/12/05/10-days-until-release-of-follow-the-snowflakes-post-16-see-pinned-post-for-contest-rules/
It’s a good way of increasing Amazon rankings before publishing.
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog.
I’m actually doing a pre-order now. ^_^ My novella releases Dec. 15th. I already got 10 reviews on Goodreads and the readers promised to post their review on Amazon on release day.
Go you!
Thank you!
Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
Reblogged this on Adam Boustead's Blog.