The Direct Pre-Order Method

Here's a fascinating trend I've noticed among non-fiction authors: The Direct Pre-Order

Instead of doing pre-orders through Amazon, B&N, and other major marketplaces, you sell your books directly through your own (or your publisher's) online store.

Why do this? There are three huge benefits:

1. Build a direct connection with your readers
2. Offer bundles and unique pre-order perks
3. Keep 40% more of each sale by avoiding Amazon royalty fees

Plus, it's just a better experience for your readers. Look at the examples I share in the video.

We are doing direct pre-orders for Damn Gravity's two upcoming titles: 'The Experimentation Machine' by Jeffrey Bussgang and 'Building Rocketships' by Oji Udezue and Ezinne Udezue

But we aren't the only ones. James O'Shaughnessy is doing this with his new book (published by Infinite Books). Louis Grenier and Justin Moore are too (Tilt Publishing).

It's not a new thing... HBR and other indie publishers have experimented with this for a long time. But now it's easier than ever to pull off with platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, etc.

The Direct Pre-Order has tradeoffs... your sales don't count towards major lists and shipping is a bit more expensive (compared to FREE via Amazon Prime). But I believe it's worth the direct connection to you make with your readers.

We will offer our books on Amazon, B&N, and all the major platforms when we launch early next year. But for Pre-Orders, we love being direct.

What do you think?