How to use Kindle pre-orders to pre-sell your self-published book

I was excited that Kindle finally set up a pre-order option on KDP, which means self-publishing authors can finally compete with mainstream books by selling pre-orders. Pre-orders are great because you can build buzz and start talking about/selling your book before it’s really all polished up and ready to go. In addition (I believe) all the sales count on the first day the book is actually available, which means you can spike into the bestseller lists much easier.

All you need to do is Select Your Book Release Option and choose “I’m ready to publish now” or “make my book available for pre-order.”

I was about ready to upload my first, 100 common publishing questions answered, when I got an email from KDP saying I’d been banned from pre-selling books for one year because I hadn’t uploaded a final file by the appropriate deadline.

Dear Derek Murphy,

Thank you for making your book 100 common publishing questions answered available for pre-order.

You have not yet submitted the final version of the book file, which is now past due. You were required to provide the final version of your book file by 08/23/2014 . Maintaining a positive customer experience is important, and part of that experience is releasing books on schedule.

If you do not upload the final version of your book at least three days before its release date, then your pre-order will be cancelled, and customers will be notified that you did not publish your book.

Also, you have now lost pre-order access for one year since we did not receive the final version at least 10 days before the book’s release date.

Pre-order title: 100 common publishing questions answered

Final version of book file due: 08/23/2014 (past due)

Last date when you can upload book file: 08/30/2014

Release date: 09/02/2014

ASIN: B00MT0UOKA

Upload the final version of your book file here. Please remember to click on “Submit for pre-order” after uploading your book file.

For more details about pre-orders, check out this page.

Thanks again for choosing KDP to publish your work.

Best Regards,

Kindle Direct Publishing Team

That was a bit of a shock, since I’d double checked the book page on KDP and it told me the deadline was August 29th.

Here’s my reply letter.

Dear KDP – I’d already changed the publishing date and double checked to make sure when I was required to upload a final file: my KDP page for the book still says,

“Please submit the final version of your book by Friday, August 29, 2014, 12:00 AM US East Coast Time to ensure customers receive your book on time and to maintain your pre-order eligibility.”

I apologize if I’ve made an error but it seems your system is inconsistent. Losing pre-order access for one year seems especially harsh, since pre-orders a new feature that neither of us have much experience with. I trust you’ll give me another chance, and correct the issue with the KDP page apparently giving a false ‘final deadline’ date.

Sincerely,
Derek Murphy

But I just received this email (finally recognizing my change of date?)

Seems I may have accidentally burned my one and only chance at pre-selling books, because there’s no indication that I can’t just reset the publication date (no warning, for example, when I changed the date, only minutes after setting up the first one).

Make sure you upload a final version of your book at least 10 days (2 weeks to be safe) before the publishing date, since the consequences appear to be dire.

The 3 secrets to book marketing, and a haunted castle tour.

Totally free. Get it here.

Derek Murphy

I’m a philosophy dropout with a PhD in Literature. I covet a cabin full of cats, where I can write fantasy novels to pay for my cake addiction. Sometimes I live in castles.