The hidden value of our free-ebook newsletter’s bargain section

Most authors know about our bargain ebook newsletter.

Fewer realize that qualifying bargain books may also continue appearing in the bargain section of our free ebook newsletters. That additional exposure has quietly become one of the most valuable benefits of our new personalized newsletter system.

How It Used to Work

For years, we included a small bargain section in our free ebook newsletters.

It had several limitations. The books were selected manually. They generally appeared only on the guaranteed promotion date.

And because space was limited, many eligible bargain books never appeared there at all.

Once that day's newsletter was sent, the opportunity was gone.

What's Changed

Today, the process is completely different.

Instead of manually selecting a handful of books, our personalized newsletter system continuously looks for opportunities to recommend eligible bargain books to readers.

Every time a free ebook newsletter is assembled—remember, every subscriber receives a personalized newsletter—the system asks questions like:

• Is this reader interested in this genre?

• Has this reader already seen this book?

• Is the book still eligible?

• Is there room in today's newsletter?

If the answer is yes, the book may appear again. That means the bargain section is no longer a one-day opportunity. It has become another way for bargain books to continue finding new readers.

What Makes a Book Eligible?

This is where pricing becomes important.

As long as your ebook's regular price is $5.99 or less, it remains eligible for additional bargain section placements—even after your advertised sale period has ended.

For example:

Suppose your promotion advertises a one-week sale at 99 cents.

When the sale ends, your book returns to its regular price of $4.99.

Because $4.99 still qualifies as a bargain, your book may continue appearing in the bargain section if our system finds additional opportunities to match it with interested readers.

In other words: The end of your sale doesn't necessarily mean the end of your promotion.

A Real Example

One recent bargain promotion appeared in the bargain section on:

• May 21

• May 22

• May 23

• May 24

• May 25

• May 26

• May 27

• May 29

• May 30

• May 31

• June 1

• June 2

• June 3

That's 13 separate appearances inside our free ebook newsletters.

Those weren't duplicate promotions sent to the same readers every time. They represented additional opportunities to introduce the book to readers who hadn't previously seen it.

Why We Continue Promoting Eligible Books

Our goal isn't simply to fill space. It's to make every newsletter more useful for readers.

If someone enjoys mystery novels and hasn't yet seen a bargain mystery that still qualifies, why wouldn't we show it to them?

That's good for readers because they discover another book they may enjoy. It's good for authors because their promotion continues working. And it's good for the newsletter because every edition contains fresh recommendations for each subscriber.

Everyone wins.

One of the Biggest Benefits of the New 30-Day Reports

One of the nicest features of our new reporting system is that you no longer have to wonder whether your promotion continued working after the guaranteed promotion date.

Thirty days after your promotion, you'll receive a report showing:

• Every appearance your book received.

• Your total number of appearances.

• The complete placement history.

Instead of seeing only your guaranteed promotion date, you might discover your book also appeared:

• In the bargain section multiple times.

• In retailer newsletters.

• Across several weeks after your original promotion.

For many authors, seeing that complete placement history has been one of the biggest surprises.

Instead of a single promotion date, they discover a timeline showing how their bargain book continued finding new readers over the following days and weeks.

This Is One of the Biggest Changes We've Made

Under our previous system, a bargain promotion was largely a one-day event.

Today, the bargain section has become part of a much larger discovery system. Instead of thinking about one newsletter on one day, think about your book remaining eligible whenever another opportunity comes along.

Sometimes it's a handful of additional appearances. Sometimes it's dozens. Every promotion is different.

It all depends on reader matching, available newsletter inventory, and whether your book continues meeting our bargain criteria.

A Few Tips

• If you'd like to maximize your opportunities for additional bargain section placements:

• Schedule your promotion near the beginning of your sale.

• Enter accurate sale dates.

• Make sure your regular ebook price is entered correctly.

• If your regular ebook price is already $5.99 or less, keep that information up to date.

Those simple steps give our system the greatest opportunity to continue introducing your book to new readers.

The Bottom Line

The bargain section isn't just a bonus anymore.

It's become an important part of how bargain promotions continue working after the guaranteed promotion date.

Most readers never notice the technology behind it. They simply discover another bargain book that matches their interests. That's exactly the point.

If you've recently received one of our new 30-day reports, take another look at the placement history. You may be surprised by how many opportunities your book had to reach new readers after its guaranteed promotion date.

That's the hidden value of the bargain section—and one of the biggest advantages of our personalized newsletter system.