Using Kindle Pre-Order?

[little and large]

Interestig to see KDP authors are now able to set up pre-orders for their books

To me, it knocks down another brick in the wall that separates the indie and the 'mainstream' publisher.

Anyone out there going to trial it soon? Would be interested to see the results.

Good luck.

[gmw]

I'd have to be a lot more organised with my writing process than I am currently, to consider preorders.

[crich70]

I don't know about KDP in particular but I have found that Pre-Order books do have one advantage over books that are just out for sale. You save a percentage of the normal price that the book is to be sold at by exercising the pre-order option. And saving some $ while getting a good book is always good. I'm waiting on one such now. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir is due out at Amazon as a kindle book in Sept.

[little and large]

Originally Posted by crich70

I don't know about KDP in particular but I have found that Pre-Order books do have one advantage over books that are just out for sale. You save a percentage of the normal price that the book is to be sold at by exercising the pre-order option. And saving some $ while getting a good book is always good. I'm waiting on one such now. The Ghost and Mrs. Muir is due out at Amazon as a kindle book in Sept.

How does that 'save' work? Do you get a different deal for the pre-order period, I wonder?

[VydorScope]

I use pre-order at other stores, I find it tremendously helpful for coordinating release dates. When you set up the pre-order you get the url/asin/etc all in advance so you can set up your marketing, website, backmatter, etc all in advance and have nothing to worry about on release day. Taking my time 1-2 weeks out and getting everything right is much preferable to rushing around like a headless chicken at the last minute.

Some notes:

1) Rank is impacted at time of pre-order click, not on release day so there is no waterfall effect on rank.

2) You can NOT review a book in advance

3) Sales are credited on release day (as in when you actually get paid)

4) You have to upload a draft to do the pre-order, and the final is 10 days before release. You can set a pre-order just a few days out if you upload the final only.

5) IMO - it is great for getting stuff ready ahead of time (links, back matter, etc) and having the release scheduled so that you don't actually have to do anything on release day.

6) It is great for syncing up the Audio and Ebook release dates

7) it is open to everyone in KDP.

8) If you miss a pre-order date, you are banned from the system for 1 year.

Here is the offical Amazon FAQ: https://kdp.amazon.com/help?topicId=...B_PREORDER_phl

[VydorScope]

Originally Posted by little and large

How does that 'save' work? Do you get a different deal for the pre-order period, I wonder?

No, if you preorder you get the lowest price that is offered so if the publisher drops the price at any point between your order and the release date you get that price. Some have used this as a way to build excitement. They offer a lower price during pre-order, and then crank up the price at release. Everyone who pre-ordered gets the lower price, and the slow-pokes pay full price.

[little and large]

Originally Posted by VydorScope

No, if you preorder you get the lowest price that is offered so if the publisher drops the price at any point between your order and the release date you get that price. Some have used this as a way to build excitement. They offer a lower price during pre-order, and then crank up the price at release. Everyone who pre-ordered gets the lower price, and the slow-pokes pay full price.

Thorough answers - thanks. I'll keep them in mind for the time my day finally arrives.

I can see why it's helpful and quite like the lower price bonus for the early takers.

[cromag]

Originally Posted by gmw

I'd have to be a lot more organised with my writing process than I am currently, to consider preorders.

Pretty much sums it up for me.

[Dallionz]

Very interesting! I could see this being a great option. I just finished publishing my first novel so I'm thinking I would probably want to get all of this organized and figured out. But a few novels down the road, I would definitely look into it.

[Flowerfang]

Originally Posted by VydorScope

I use pre-order at other stores, I find it tremendously helpful for coordinating release dates. When you set up the pre-order you get the url/asin/etc all in advance so you can set up your marketing, website, backmatter, etc all in advance and have nothing to worry about on release day. Taking my time 1-2 weeks out and getting everything right is much preferable to rushing around like a headless chicken at the last minute.

Some notes:

1) Rank is impacted at time of pre-order click, not on release day so there is no waterfall effect on rank.

2) You can NOT review a book in advance

3) Sales are credited on release day (as in when you actually get paid)

4) You have to upload a draft to do the pre-order, and the final is 10 days before release. You can set a pre-order just a few days out if you upload the final only.

5) IMO - it is great for getting stuff ready ahead of time (links, back matter, etc) and having the release scheduled so that you don't actually have to do anything on release day.

6) It is great for syncing up the Audio and Ebook release dates

7) it is open to everyone in KDP.

8) If you miss a pre-order date, you are banned from the system for 1 year.

Here is the offical Amazon FAQ: https://kdp.amazon.com/help?topicId=...B_PREORDER_phl

I've set my book up for pre-order to come out the first day of October. I've had a few friends tell me they pre-ordered it, but I'm still showing 0 sales. Is there a way to see how many pre-orders you've gotten? Or do you just have to wait for release day?