Posted on June 10, 2026 at 8:00 AM by Jeffrey Bruner
Many authors evaluate a free promotion based on what happens during the first 24 hours.
Here's what one recent KDP Select promotion looked like when viewed over the entire free period.
Promotion Summary
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Total appearances: 3
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Total clicks: 2,143
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Additional clicks after initial promotion date: 1,141
Placement History
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May 3: Free Ebook Newsletter
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May 4: Free Ebook Newsletter
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May 5: Free Ebook Newsletter
The guaranteed promotion date generated the largest burst of activity, but it wasn't the end of the promotion.
Because the book remained free after its scheduled promotion date, it remained eligible for additional appearances while the free period continued.
More than half of the promotion's clicks occurred after the guaranteed promotion date.
What We Learned
Many authors think of a free promotion as a single event. In reality, readers open newsletters at different times and engage at different frequencies.
When a book remains available, additional appearances can continue introducing it to new readers throughout the free period.
For authors using KDP Select, scheduling a promotion on the first day of the free window gives the book the greatest opportunity to benefit from those additional appearances.
Categories: Library Updates