I. Introduction of this Book Sales

BookBub is a popular platform that connects readers with discounted ebooks, making it an invaluable tool for authors seeking to boost their book sales and increase book visibility.

One of the most effective ways for authors to utilize BookBub is through their Featured Deals, which promote your book to a large audience of targeted readers.

In this blog post, I will share my experience using a BookBub Featured Deal as part of my book marketing strategy, detailing the process of securing the deal and the results I achieved. My goal is to provide you with insights and tips that you can apply to your own book promotion efforts and enhance your author’s success.

II. The Process of Securing a Featured Deal

A. Submission process

1. 1. Criteria for eligibility: To be considered for a BookBub Featured Deal, your book must meet certain criteria. These include having a professionally designed cover, a compelling blurb, and a substantial number of positive reviews. The book should also be available in multiple formats and not have been featured in a BookBub promotion within the last six months.

1. 1. Importance of a strong cover, blurb, and reviews: Your book’s cover, blurb, and reviews are crucial factors in BookBub’s selection process for Featured Deals. A visually appealing cover will draw readers’ attention, while an engaging blurb will make them want to learn more about your story. Positive reviews not only build credibility but also demonstrate that readers have enjoyed your book, contributing to your overall author success.

B. My experience with the submission and approval process

1. 1. Which promotion to choose from: Bookbub gives you the option of setting your book as a FREE download or available at discounted prices of either 99cts, $1.99, or $2.99. For the greatest reach a.k.a most number of downloads, I personally feel that setting your book FREE is the most impactful if you are looking to increase your author reach.

1. 1. Time to get approved: This was my second time submitting an application for a Book Bub Featured Deal. I waited around 3 months for my book reviews on Amazon to pass 100 reviews when I submitted a second time. I received approval within a week. However, the waiting period may vary depending on the current demand for Featured Deals and the number of submissions BookBub receives.

1. Challenges and lessons learned: One challenge I faced during the submission process was ensuring that my book met all of BookBub’s eligibility criteria for Featured Deals. I found that ensuring my book reviews passed 100 reviews and refreshing my book description in Amazon probably helped to increase my chances of being featured. Through this experience, I learned the importance of presenting a polished and marketable product to increase my chances of approval.

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood from Pexels

III. Preparing for Your Featured Deal

A. Marketing strategies before the deal went live

1. 1. Building anticipation on social media: Before my BookBub Featured Deal went live, I posted teasers and countdowns on my social media accounts to generate excitement among my followers.

1. 1. Emailing newsletter subscribers: I sent a special announcement to my newsletter subscribers, informing them of my upcoming BookBub Featured Deal and encouraging them to take advantage of the limited-time discount.

1. 1. Adjusting book price: To maximize the impact of my Featured Deal and boost book sales, I made my book FREE to make it more appealing to potential readers. Though my book was featured in Bookbub on 12 Apr, I kept it FREE in Amazon for 3 days from 12-14 Apr to increase the likelihood of being downloaded.

B. Tips for optimizing your book’s metadata and online presence

1. 1. Updating author bio and book description: Before my Featured Deal, I reviewed and updated my author bio and book description to ensure they were current and engaging. This helped present a consistent and professional image to potential readers who discovered my book through the BookBub promotion.

1. 1. Ensuring your book is available in multiple formats: To cater to a wide range of reader preferences, I made sure my book was available in ebook, paperback, and hardcover formats.

IV. Results of My BookBub Featured Deal

A. Specific metrics related to my BookBub promotion

1. 1. Number of downloads: During my BookBub Featured Deal, I achieved a total of 3,492 downloads. While this was a few hundred shy of the 4,000 downloads that BookBub says that a children’s book will receive, it was still a significant boost in book visibility and readership for my book, contributing to my author’s success.

1. 1. Cost of the promotion: The cost of my Featured Deal was USD $104. Given the number of downloads I received, I found this to be a worthwhile investment in promoting my book and increasing book sales.

1. Increase in reviews: In the five days following my BookBub promotion, the number of reviews for my book increased from 100 to 128. This growth in reviews not only helped validate my book’s quality but also increased its credibility for potential readers.

B. Positive impact on book ratings and reviews

Initially, I was concerned that my book’s ratings of 4.3 might be dragged down by unhelpful reviews from the influx of new readers. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the additional reviews I received were largely positive and constructive, further boosting my book sales and author success.

Photo by Markus Winkler from Unsplash

V. Tips for Authors Considering a BookBub Featured Deal

A. Advice based on my experience and results

1. 1. Maximizing the chances of approval: To increase your chances of being approved for a Featured Deal, invest in a professionally designed cover, write a compelling blurb, and actively seek positive reviews from your target audience. These efforts will help strengthen your book marketing strategy and enhance your author success.

1. 1. Promoting the deal effectively: Utilize social media, email newsletters, and other marketing channels to build anticipation and spread the word about your upcoming BookBub promotion.

1. 1. Managing expectations: While the results of your Featured Deal may not exactly match BookBub’s published averages, it’s important to recognize the value of increased book visibility and readership. The promotion can still be considered a success, even if it falls short of the projected numbers.

VI. Conclusion

In conclusion, my experience with a BookBub Featured Deal was both positive and rewarding. The promotion not only increased my book’s downloads but also led to a significant growth in reviews, validating the quality of my work.

I encourage authors to consider using a BookBub Featured Deal as part of their book marketing strategy to boost book sales and increase book visibility. By applying the insights and tips I’ve shared in this blog post, you can make the most of your promotion and achieve greater author success.

Finally, I invite you to share your own experiences with BookBub promotions or ask any questions you may have in the comments section below.

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