*** Coming Soon!!!
I have a new book being released on April 3rd
and just for the heck of it, I went to see whether there’s a way to set up a
pre-order button for my readers so they can be notified when the book has finally
been released. It would act as a reminder to anyone reading my series that the
newest segment is ready for purchase.
and just for the heck of it, I went to see whether there’s a way to set up a
pre-order button for my readers so they can be notified when the book has finally
been released. It would act as a reminder to anyone reading my series that the
newest segment is ready for purchase.
Right???
Makes sense to me.
Of course, I went on Google to find my answer and
was rather disappointed. What I found on Amazon was that if you were hooked
with a big-name publisher, then yes, pre-orders were available. But sadly, for
the independent authors – not so much.
was rather disappointed. What I found on Amazon was that if you were hooked
with a big-name publisher, then yes, pre-orders were available. But sadly, for
the independent authors – not so much.
I guess there is a convoluted way around this dilemma
explained by a fellow author on the Kindle Direct Publishing page https://kdp.amazon.com/community/message.jspa?messageID=331672
who set up a cover, a welcome note, and instructions for getting the full ebook
when it became available. But this didn’t sound like the best solution for me.
Unless readers were aware of this being done, I can’t imagine most folks going
along with paying for a book and having to wait for it to be released.
explained by a fellow author on the Kindle Direct Publishing page https://kdp.amazon.com/community/message.jspa?messageID=331672
who set up a cover, a welcome note, and instructions for getting the full ebook
when it became available. But this didn’t sound like the best solution for me.
Unless readers were aware of this being done, I can’t imagine most folks going
along with paying for a book and having to wait for it to be released.
Besides, I wasn’t really thinking that money should be
paid up front, more along the lines of our fans being able to fill in some type
of notification form. For instance, as soon as the book written by Mimi Barbour
is released with the specific title of High
Stakes Gamble then the people who filled in the request would be
automatically sent a notice with a nice BIG link or buy button.
paid up front, more along the lines of our fans being able to fill in some type
of notification form. For instance, as soon as the book written by Mimi Barbour
is released with the specific title of High
Stakes Gamble then the people who filled in the request would be
automatically sent a notice with a nice BIG link or buy button.
Doesn’t that make sense?? Wished Amazon thought so.
Oh well! I guess if an author is really well
organized, he/she could put up a pre-order list where fans can sign up on their
website or blog to be notified when the book is released. Maybe they could
offer the reader a discount on the first few days before setting the proper price
to be charged.
organized, he/she could put up a pre-order list where fans can sign up on their
website or blog to be notified when the book is released. Maybe they could
offer the reader a discount on the first few days before setting the proper price
to be charged.
Wouldn’t work too well for me since I charge 99cents
for all my books…..grumble!! But the notification list for them to sign might not be a bad idea.
for all my books…..grumble!! But the notification list for them to sign might not be a bad idea.
Have any of you tried different methods to get
around this problem?
around this problem?
Please share J
What if you collect email addresses in a Google Form and send out a notification email on release day yourself?
Mimi, I have a feeling pre-orders for established indies may be on the way. We just had a conference with Liliana Hart, and she and a group of other indie authors she joined with created a compilation box set, one book from each author. They have it set up for pre-order.
I think the fact that like 9 out of 10 of the authors were USA today and NYTimes best-sellers, though.
Thanks for the idea Masquerade Ctrew…it's certainly something to think about!
JM I believe what you said is correct and that the fact that those authors were able to set up a pre-order is because of their status as best-sellers. Guess all I have to do is get to that level 🙂