A BookBub Featured Deal is a paid placement in BookBub’s email newsletter for a discounted or free eBook, and it is selective: BookBub’s editors choose titles based on quality, reviews, price and category, and no one can buy or guarantee a place. To improve your chances, prepare a polished book with a professional cover, a strong description, a solid base of honest reviews and a real discount, then submit early and be ready to try again.
This guide explains what BookBub looks for, how to prepare, what to do before and after a deal and what to try if you are not accepted. Rules and prices change, so check BookBub’s current guidance. If you want expert help, our BookBub and promo site strategy service prepares the submission and the plan. For wider context, see a book marketing plan.
Key takeaways
- BookBub Featured Deals are selective, and acceptance cannot be bought or promised
- A professional cover, a clear description and honest reviews help most
- The book must be discounted or free for the deal, and the price change needs planning
- Prepare back matter, a newsletter signup and the next book, so the deal builds a readership
- If you are rejected, you can try again later and use other promotions meanwhile
In this article
- What is a BookBub Featured Deal?
- What does BookBub look for?
- How should I prepare my book and listing?
- How many reviews do I need?
- How do I submit, and when?
- What should I do before and after the deal?
- What if I am rejected?
- What are the alternatives to a Featured Deal?
- Frequently asked questions
- Services that can help
What is a BookBub Featured Deal?
BookBub is a service that emails readers deals on books in their favourite genres. A Featured Deal is a placement in that email for a book that is free or discounted for a short time. Authors pay a fee that depends on genre, price and the size of the audience. The placement can bring many readers to a book in a single day, which can boost sales, reviews and sell-through to later books. Because the slots are limited, the service is competitive.
What does BookBub look for?
BookBub says that it looks for books that readers will enjoy, and it weighs signals such as the quality of the cover and the writing, the number and rating of reviews, the price and the author’s previous results. A book that looks professional, fits a clear genre and has a healthy number of positive, honest reviews is more likely to be considered. The service also considers variety in its lists, so even a strong book may wait. Read BookBub’s current partner guidance for the latest criteria.
How should I prepare my book and listing?
Start with the basics: a professional cover that matches the genre, a clear description that opens with a hook and a clean, well-edited text. Check that your categories and keywords are accurate using our guide to Amazon categories and keywords, and improve your description with how to write a book description that sells. Make sure your series information is complete and the next book is available or announced.
How many reviews do I need?
There is no fixed number, but a deal site wants evidence that readers like the book. Many authors aim for a few dozen honest reviews with a strong average before submitting. Build them in line with the rules, using genuine early readers, as set out in how to get early book reviews. Never buy reviews or use fake accounts, because that can damage your book and your account and does not help your chances.
How do I submit, and when?
Submit through the partner site, and give the details it asks for: the book, the price you plan, the date range and the stores where the book is available. Submit well before the date you want, because the process takes time and slots fill. You can submit more than one book and more than one date. Keep your submission accurate and honest. If you are accepted, plan the price change and the stores so that the discount shows correctly across all of them.
What should I do before and after the deal?
Before the deal, check that your book is live at the discounted price on every store in your submission, that your back matter links to your newsletter and your next book and that your description is ready. After the deal, thank new readers, watch your reviews and page reads or sales and use the momentum to promote the next book. A deal helps most when readers have somewhere to go next, so make sure the series path is clear.
What if I am rejected?
A rejection is common and does not mean the book is bad. Look for what you can improve, such as the cover, the description, the number of reviews or the price. Try again after a while, and meanwhile use other promotions: BookBub ads, other deal newsletters, your own list and targeted social posts. Our guide to KDP Select versus going wide explains how your distribution choice affects which tools you can use.
What are the alternatives to a Featured Deal?
- BookBub ads, which let you pay to promote a book to chosen readers
- Other deal newsletters and promotion sites, each with its own rules and prices
- Your own newsletter, which is often your best-converting channel
- Amazon’s promotion tools for books in KDP Select
- Genre-specific groups and reader communities, used within their rules
Test small and measure, instead of betting everything on one deal.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a BookBub Featured Deal cost?
The price varies with genre, price and audience size, and BookBub publishes its current rates. Check them before you submit.
Can I pay to guarantee a Featured Deal?
No. BookBub chooses the books, and no one can buy or promise a place.
Does my book need to be free or discounted?
Yes. Featured Deals are for books at a reduced or free price for the promotion period.
Do I need many reviews to apply?
A healthy number of honest reviews with a good average helps. There is no guaranteed minimum.
Can I apply again after a rejection?
Yes. Improve your book and listing, then submit again when you are ready.
Will a deal make my book a bestseller?
It can boost sales for a time, but results vary and nothing is guaranteed.
Services that can help
- BookBub and promo site strategy
- ARC reader team setup
- Amazon book listing optimization
- Book launch strategy
- Amazon ads management
This guide is part of our book marketing guides and connects to our book marketing services.