I'm happy to sign bookplates if my publisher wants to run them (which they've done two out of three times), but yeah, I think Preorder Fatigue is real and ultimately we all end up spending more on swag than those orders even bring in. I'm always happy to send a bookmark and sign a bookplate for someone who preorders, since I always have those on hand anyway, but I shan't be buying new stuff.
Thank you so much for sharing this! I'm debuting this year, and it is hard not to feel pressure to do ALL the things. I like the idea of having something to give kids in person because that feels more fun. So I think I'm going to make some stickers since they aren't expensive and I'm excited about them (they are designed like those friendship bracelets with two halves of a heart but in sticker form!), but not worry about organizing a huge preorder campaign. What a relief! Anyway, thanks for your newsletter and for being amazing :)
This feels like the right choice, Jason. I mourn the old days of making oodles of swag, but I've learned a similar lesson in the picture book arena. I still get to make/share fun things for school visits, workshops, and events.
This is super helpful. I know pre-orders don't sway me much, personally, because I live in a smaller apartment and am also always in declutter mode like Caroline above. Plus I have about a zillion bookmarks. I really REALLY want to partner with a local bean-to-bar chocolate shop for my next book, which does include a chocolate shop, but that's the only swag that sounds fun to me and I know there's no way I can afford it. So thank you, dear Captain JJ, for cementing that I am not going to spend time or energy on pre-order goodies whenever it is that my next book finally comes out!
I've tried lots of pre-order swag. I still have the homemade necklaces, bookmarks, pencils, fridge magnets, cookie cutters, and postcards to show for it. Loved this post since it validated my decision not to do a pre-order for my next book. Thanks for sharing the inside story. If only there was a fail-proof sales method that did work. (And cost nothing and led to no stress.) :)
Oh god that sales method would be fabulous! And I'm so with you that I have all kinds of swag clutter. Here's to no longer cluttering up our spaces with stuff and spending all our hard-earned cash to make it!
I also don't like extra stuff around, and I didn't get my sh*t together in time to do a preorder campaign, but I did order stuff and now have like a post-order campaign going and it's stressing me tf out. I'm not doing this again!
Two things I will always spend my advance money on until my last breath: Character art (even if it’s just to beautify my Instagram feed) and a live-action book trailer. These things make my heart sing, so when I learned that neither affected my book sales drastically, I iced the bruises and vowed to keep them in my line-up because of the level of happiness it brings me. Forever obsessed. Let’s toast and commiserate on the deck! 🍹✨
Yes! And I'm a firm believer that that happiness is just as important as sales, to keep our blood pumping and hearts in it! Yes to toasting together (and I gotta make this happen in real life soon too!)
Yeah, sadly, I'm on the same page as you here. I feel like preorder bonuses were hot for a few years, and now, for all the reasons you wrote about, they're just not anymore. I know personally that I just don't want more clutter around, even if it's a lovely souvenir of a dear friend's book.
These days, I direct people to my indie for preorders and say I'll sign the book and include a bookmark, but that's it. A couple of books ago I had it so everyone who preordered was in the running to win a class set of books (that the publisher kindly provided) that they could use or donate to a school or organization, which I thought would be a great incentive. But I don't think it led to more than about the 40s-ish preorder numbers you mentioned.
I love linking up with a local bookstore and signing/personalizing books too. That's totally the most rewarding part, and it seems like that's what readers are leaning more and more toward preferring too!
I'm happy to sign bookplates if my publisher wants to run them (which they've done two out of three times), but yeah, I think Preorder Fatigue is real and ultimately we all end up spending more on swag than those orders even bring in. I'm always happy to send a bookmark and sign a bookplate for someone who preorders, since I always have those on hand anyway, but I shan't be buying new stuff.
Yes yes yes to this! Bookmarks and bookplates from here on out for me too!
Thank you so much for sharing this! I'm debuting this year, and it is hard not to feel pressure to do ALL the things. I like the idea of having something to give kids in person because that feels more fun. So I think I'm going to make some stickers since they aren't expensive and I'm excited about them (they are designed like those friendship bracelets with two halves of a heart but in sticker form!), but not worry about organizing a huge preorder campaign. What a relief! Anyway, thanks for your newsletter and for being amazing :)
I love that sticker idea!! And I can fully relate to the pressure of feeling like you need to do all the things. Thank YOU for being amazing!!
This feels like the right choice, Jason. I mourn the old days of making oodles of swag, but I've learned a similar lesson in the picture book arena. I still get to make/share fun things for school visits, workshops, and events.
And those event interactions just seem so much more rewarding where you actually get to see folks face to face!
This is super helpful. I know pre-orders don't sway me much, personally, because I live in a smaller apartment and am also always in declutter mode like Caroline above. Plus I have about a zillion bookmarks. I really REALLY want to partner with a local bean-to-bar chocolate shop for my next book, which does include a chocolate shop, but that's the only swag that sounds fun to me and I know there's no way I can afford it. So thank you, dear Captain JJ, for cementing that I am not going to spend time or energy on pre-order goodies whenever it is that my next book finally comes out!
We are in this together! And when that next book comes out, let's go to that chocolate shop together and celebrate!
YES PLLLEEEAAAZZZEEE!!!!
Yeah I’m just not a stuff person, so I don’t care for goodies. I’m always in declutter mode. I’ll preorder because it’s a friend and that’s kinda it 😬
I'm becoming less and less of a clutter person myself so I totally understand when people are like, "Uh...I don't want that stuff."
I've tried lots of pre-order swag. I still have the homemade necklaces, bookmarks, pencils, fridge magnets, cookie cutters, and postcards to show for it. Loved this post since it validated my decision not to do a pre-order for my next book. Thanks for sharing the inside story. If only there was a fail-proof sales method that did work. (And cost nothing and led to no stress.) :)
Oh god that sales method would be fabulous! And I'm so with you that I have all kinds of swag clutter. Here's to no longer cluttering up our spaces with stuff and spending all our hard-earned cash to make it!
I also don't like extra stuff around, and I didn't get my sh*t together in time to do a preorder campaign, but I did order stuff and now have like a post-order campaign going and it's stressing me tf out. I'm not doing this again!
The stress factor of it all is so important! If our marketing efforts aren't fun, then I'm with you that it's not worth it.
Two things I will always spend my advance money on until my last breath: Character art (even if it’s just to beautify my Instagram feed) and a live-action book trailer. These things make my heart sing, so when I learned that neither affected my book sales drastically, I iced the bruises and vowed to keep them in my line-up because of the level of happiness it brings me. Forever obsessed. Let’s toast and commiserate on the deck! 🍹✨
Yes! And I'm a firm believer that that happiness is just as important as sales, to keep our blood pumping and hearts in it! Yes to toasting together (and I gotta make this happen in real life soon too!)
I love this post because it validates my decision to not do preorder goodies with my debut novel 🤣.
I got you! And I will so be preordering your book regardless of goodies!
Thank you! 🥹💜
Yeah, sadly, I'm on the same page as you here. I feel like preorder bonuses were hot for a few years, and now, for all the reasons you wrote about, they're just not anymore. I know personally that I just don't want more clutter around, even if it's a lovely souvenir of a dear friend's book.
These days, I direct people to my indie for preorders and say I'll sign the book and include a bookmark, but that's it. A couple of books ago I had it so everyone who preordered was in the running to win a class set of books (that the publisher kindly provided) that they could use or donate to a school or organization, which I thought would be a great incentive. But I don't think it led to more than about the 40s-ish preorder numbers you mentioned.
I love linking up with a local bookstore and signing/personalizing books too. That's totally the most rewarding part, and it seems like that's what readers are leaning more and more toward preferring too!