Write the Damn Book Already

Ep 97: Offering Pre-Orders as a Self-Published Author

Elizabeth Lyons

Click Here to ask your book writing and publishing questions!

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-de

From communicating with your launch team to building long-term relationships with readers, my customizable templates take all the guesswork out of writing emails that turn email subscribers into loyal readers. They also help you help others know exactly what to say to their email lists to effortlessly promote your books to their audiences.

CLICK HERE to access to the templates here


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Write the Damn Book Already is a weekly podcast featuring interviews with authors as well as updates and insights on writing craft and the publishing industry.

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