Book Launch Promotion: The Four-Week Timeline
A book launch is one week of spike on top of pages that have to be ready before it. Most launch plans skip the second half. This timeline puts the free, permanent steps four weeks out, the spike in launch week, and the spending in the month after, once you know whether the page converts.
Free
no fee, no card
2 days
usual turnaround
Forever
no expiry
Four weeks before launch
- ✓
Finish the product page: cover at thumbnail size, first two lines of the blurb, categories, keywords.
- ✓
Set up the permanent pages so they exist on day one: a free Skriuwer listing (pre-orders are fine once the Amazon page exists), Author Central, Goodreads, your own site.
- ✓
Send advance copies to readers who will review on launch day. Use a review exchange for the rest.
- ✓
Book one deal newsletter for launch week if you plan a discount.
Launch week
- ✓
Run the discount and the newsletter feature on the same day, so the spike lands on the page with reviews already on it.
- ✓
Mail your list once. Post once in the one community where you already contribute.
- ✓
Do not start ads yet. Watch whether the launch traffic converts first.
The month after
- ✓
If the page converted, buy the permanent thing: a placement inside a best-of article that ranks, one-time from €29, before you buy ads.
- ✓
If it did not convert, fix the page and the reviews, then try a smaller paid test.
- ✓
Put the mailing list link and the Skriuwer badge in the back matter of the next book.
Free listing, optional placement
The listing itself is free and permanent: your own book page, an Amazon buy button, and a badge for your site. Free pages stay out of Google on purpose.
Want readers? A placement puts your book inside one of the best-of articles that bring the traffic, and opens your page up to Google. One-time fee per book, no renewals. Buys the spot in the article, not the listing.
1 book
€29
one placement, one-time
3 books
€24 / book
€72 total, save €15
5 books
€19 / book
€95 total, save €50
10+ books
€14 / book
Best for series and publishers
Set up the permanent page before launch. It is free.
No fee, no card, no account. Fill in the form and we build your page, usually within 2 business days. Add a placement later if you want readers.
List my book for freeWant readers too? Placements from €29, one-time
Common questions
When should I list my book on Skriuwer for a launch?
Before launch, as soon as the Amazon page exists. The listing takes up to 2 business days to go live and it is permanent, so there is no reason to wait for launch day.
What is the best day to launch a book?
The day your reviews are ready and your newsletter feature runs. The weekday matters less than having both on the same day.
How much should a book launch cost?
It can cost nothing. The permanent steps are free, a newsletter feature is optional, and ads should wait until the page has proved it converts. A placement is a one-time fee from €29.
Does a launch matter for a book that has been out for a year?
You can relaunch: new cover or blurb, a fresh discount, the same timeline. The permanent listings you set up the first time are still there, which is the point of doing them.
Related: how to promote a self-published book, getting book reviews, and KDP book promotion.