Ep 97: Offering Pre-Orders as a Self-Published Author
Until somewhat recently, streamlined pre-orders were only possible for traditionally published authors. Now, indie authors can also benefit from pre-orders as well, helping them with:
Building Excitement and Engagement: Pre-orders allow authors to generate buzz and excitement around their upcoming book, encouraging readers to take action before the release date.
Community Building: Offering pre-orders helps authors build and nurture a community by gathering email addresses and establishing a direct connection with readers, which can lead to quicker reviews and word-of-mouth promotion.
Data Collection: Through pre-orders, authors can collect valuable reader data (like email addresses) that is otherwise inaccessible when books are sold through platforms like Amazon. This data allows authors to maintain a relationship with their readers post-purchase and make future marketing efforts more effective.
This episode of Write the Damn Book Already discusses not only the benefits and considerations of offering books for pre-order but also the potential hiccups (and how to avoid them!) such as unexpected costs due to Amazon's handling of pre-orders through IngramSpark.
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Publish the Damn Book Already self-publishing course - 25% off with code AUTHOR25
Jane Friedman's Hot Sheet bestseller list
Pre-Order Packages workshop with Mary Belle
Follow Mary Belle on Instagram: @mary.belle.books
Jenn Hanson-dePaula's website (author marketing/PR)
Follow Jenn Hanson-dePaula on Instagram: @mixtusmedia
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