While it’s not a pre-order function, Amazon KDP’s new feature will allow you to schedule your paperback and hardcover releases and give self-published authors more freedom to plan around their book release marketing!
Recently, on the 3rd of October, Amazon KDP sent an email to all of their self-published authors, which announced that authors will now have the ability to schedule paperback and hardcover release dates.
Now, it’s important to note that this feature isn’t the same pre-order function that you have with ebooks on the Amazon KDP platform, but it’s still exciting!
Let’s jump into the latest Amazon KDP announcement and unpack what it means for authors to be able to schedule the public release of their paperback and hardcover books. If you need any assistance with self-publishing on Amazon KDP or other platforms such as IngramSpark, Author Service Australia is here to help. Contact us today for all your self-publishing services.
Release Your Book Now or Later?
From the 3rd of October 2023, Amazon KDP self-published authors will be able to schedule a release date anywhere between 5 and 90 days in the future for their paperback and hardcover books.
So, what does this mean?
It means you can now upload your book without it immediately going live on the Amazon KDP website. You’ll be able to select when your book goes live.
Now, it’s not a pre-order function, and people won’t be able to purchase your book until it goes live, but it gives you much more flexibility as an author to choose when your book goes live.
How Does Amazon KDP’s New Scheduling Tool Benefit Authors?
Let’s look at how you can use the Amazon KDP authors to schedule paperback and hardcover features to your benefit:
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- If you’re planning a big book release event or marketing campaign as part of your Author Marketing Plan, you can now schedule your paperback and hardcover books to be released the same day. In the past, you would have had to upload the books manually on that day and then order your proof copies and hope that everything was perfect.
- You can upload your paperback and hardcover books to Amazon KDP and then order your author-proof copies without the book being live on the website. In the past, you would have had to allow the book to go live, then order an author copy, and if any changes needed to be made, you had to rush to get them done.
- You’ll be able to ensure your book is perfect prior to it going live. This will allow authors more time to focus on their pre-release marketing and less time making tedious last-minute changes to their paperback or hardcover interiors.
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How Do Amazon KDP Authors Schedule Paperback and Hardcover Releases?
Let’s take a quick look at how you use the new paperback and hardcover release schedule on Amazon KDP.
When you’re creating a new paperback or hardcover book on Amazon KDP, on the first setup page right at the bottom, you’ll see that Amazon added the option to choose whether you release your book now or schedule it for later.
Step 1. Choose whether you want your book to go live straight away or schedule it for a later release date.
Step 2. Choose the date you want your paperback or hardcover to go live, between 5 and 90 days.
Step 3. Once you’ve chosen your release date, you can still go back in and edit when your paperback or hardcover releases up until five or six days before the scheduled release date.
Amazon KDP Now Allows Authors to Schedule Paperback and Hardcover Releases – Conclusion
There you go! Everything you wanted to know about Amazon KDP’s new advanced scheduling for paperback and hardcover releases.
If self-publishing is the path you want to pursue, but you need help, don’t hesitate to reach out and contact us directly. Our experienced team has successfully helped hundreds of authors self-publish their books on Amazon KDP and other self-publishing platforms.
Our friendly and professional team at Author Services Australia is happy to help! Need help with self-publishing, such as ghostwriting, editing, formatting, cover design, or uploading? Our experienced team is here to help.
If you need any assistance with author marketing or social media, please don’t hesitate to reach out and contact us directly.