From Inbox to Bestseller: How to Master Email Promotions for Your Book

Marketing your book can feel like a daunting task—especially when you’d rather be writing the next chapter of your series or basking in the glow of a freshly published title. But here’s the deal: effective book marketing is the secret sauce that can transform your work from “just another book” to a bestseller.

And email promotions? They’re the cherry on top. Let’s dive into how you can wield this powerful tool to boost visibility, drive sales, and build an audience that’s eager for your next release. Whether you’re just dipping your toes into book marketing or looking to level up your promotional game, we’ve got the tips you need.

What is a Price Promotion?

You’ve likely seen these promotions all over: “Get this eBook for only $0.99 for a limited time!” or even better, “Free for this week only!” Dropping the price of your eBook for a short period is an excellent way to grab readers’ attention, especially if you’re a self-published author battling that “unknown name” bias.

Authors can also choose to keep their book at a permanently low price (like $0.99 or free), but most go for the limited-time offer approach to create urgency. This strategy is especially powerful for indie authors because it gives readers a low-risk way to discover new books. Who doesn’t love a great deal?

Why Should Indie Authors Run Price Promotions?

There are five key reasons price promotions work wonders for indie authors:

1. Break through the “unknown name” bias – Lower prices encourage readers to take a chance on new authors.
2. Boost exposure – It’s one of the most effective ways to get your book in front of more eyeballs.
3. Generate reviews and ratings – More readers means more chances to build feedback and social proof on retailers like Amazon.
4. Drive series read-through – Entice readers to buy the next book in your series.
5. Grow your newsletter and social media following – Reach a wider audience and encourage readers to stay connected—be sure to give them links to your website and social media profiles in the backmatter of your eBook.

Who Should Run a Price Promotion?

Spoiler alert: pretty much everyone can benefit from running a price promotion at least once. Whether you’re a seasoned author looking to reignite interest in your backlist or a debut novelist in need of reviews, price promotions are for you. Here’s a quick list of who stands to gain the most:

• Authors who need reviews – New or existing, they’re essential.
• Anyone with a backlist – Breathe new life into older titles.
• Authors with a series – Use your first book as bait to hook readers into the rest.
• Authors looking to collect data – This is a goldmine for gathering reader emails and building your audience.

The Step-by-Step Guide to Running a Price Promotion

Now that you’re convinced, let’s talk about how to run a price promotion effectively. We’ll break it down into five simple steps.

1. Get Your Fundamentals Right

Before you launch your promo, make sure the foundation of your book’s presence is rock-solid. This means:

• Cover: Eye-catching and genre-appropriate.
• Book Description: A compelling blurb that hooks readers without spoiling the plot. Add comparisons to similar books to help readers find yours.
• Author Page: A polished Amazon author page with a real photo and a call to action, such as “Follow me to stay updated on my latest releases.”
• Backmatter: Don’t forget the section at the back of your book where you can link to your other works or invite readers to join your newsletter.

2. Pick Your Promo Price

Do you go for free or a discounted price? Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Free: Best for boosting downloads and rankings but with less immediate revenue. Great for driving Kindle Unlimited reads and series read-throughs.
• $0.99 to $4.99: Less impact on rankings but generates revenue immediately. Readers have more “skin in the game” and are more likely to finish the book (and leave a review!).

3. Schedule Your Marketing

Timing is everything. Alongside your price drop, you’ll want to stack your marketing efforts to maximize visibility. This includes:

• Email promotions: Written Word Media offers email promo stacks that can help you achieve substantial results without the uncertainty of approval (as some other email promo sites only accept a fraction of the books submitted to them).
• Digital ads: Facebook, Amazon, or TikTok ads can give your promotion an extra push.
• Social media: Post to your social channels and encourage list swaps with other authors.
• Email your fans: Don’t forget to notify your existing readers!

4. Run Your Promotion

When the day arrives, double-check everything:

• Is your book priced correctly across all retailers?
• Are your scheduled social posts and email blasts ready to go?
• Keep an eye on your book’s rankings and any issues that may arise.

5. Evaluate Your Results

Once the dust has settled, it’s time to measure your success. Look at:

• Retailer charts: Where did your book rank during and after the promotion?
• Reviews and Kindle Unlimited reads: These may trickle in over the next two weeks, so be patient.
• New social media followers and email signups: Did your audience grow?

Use the data to plan your next promotion!

The Power of Promo Stacking

The key to successful price promotions is that the more marketing you invest in, the greater the results. By scheduling multiple promotions (email promos, ads, social media, etc.) to overlap during the price drop of your book, you can create a snowball effect that boosts your book’s visibility exponentially. With the right strategy, you can get thousands of downloads and significantly improve your rankings without relying on a single promo service.

Written Word Media offers ready-made Promo Stacks designed to deliver powerful results for authors. 

Conclusion

Running a price promotion can turn your book from a hidden gem into a bestseller. With the right strategy, you’ll boost exposure, gain new fans, and drive sales like never before. Remember, it all starts with getting your fundamentals right, choosing the best price, scheduling strategic marketing, and evaluating your results for the future.