Landing a BookBub Featured Deal: What Editors Look For

What a Featured Deal Is

BookBub sends daily emails to readers who have signed up for discounted books in the genres they love. A Featured Deal is a paid spot in those emails, chosen by BookBub's editorial team. Because the audience is large and actively looking for deals, a feature can produce a sharp spike in sales and rankings.

The catch is selectivity. BookBub says only around 10 to 20 percent of eligible deals are chosen for a feature. Meeting the requirements gets your book considered; it does not guarantee a slot.

Featured Deals are separate from BookBub Ads, the self-serve platform anyone can use. You apply for a Featured Deal and pay only if you are selected.

The Official Requirements

BookBub publishes its criteria for Featured Deal submissions. The main ones are:

The discount is measured against the price the book has actually sold at recently, not an inflated list price set just before submitting. BookBub's support pages and its partner requirements describe the price-history rule slightly differently, so read both carefully before you plan your dates.

What the Editors Weigh

Beyond the formal rules, BookBub's editors choose books they believe their readers will love. They do not publish a checklist, but these factors consistently matter:

• A professional, genre-appropriate cover. It is the first thing editors and readers see.
• A compelling description. Clear, well-written copy that shows what makes the book appealing.
• Reviews and ratings. Strong reader response signals that subscribers will enjoy the book. BookBub does not publish a minimum number, but a solid base of good reviews helps.
• The quality of the deal. A deeper discount on a book that usually sells at full price is more attractive.
• Fit with the list. Editors balance each day's email, so timing and genre mix affect selection.
• Availability across stores. Books available in more retailers can reach more of BookBub's readers.

Choosing Your Deal Price

BookBub notes that deal performance drops noticeably as the price rises from $0.99 to $1.99 to $2.99. Lower prices generally bring more downloads, while slightly higher prices earn more per copy.

Many authors use a free or 99-cent deal on the first book of a series, aiming for readers who then buy later books at full price. A standalone book often needs a price that still earns something per sale. Our guide to KDP book pricing strategy explains how promotional prices fit with your regular pricing.

BookBub's fee for a feature depends on the category and the deal price. Larger categories cost more, and so do paid deals compared with free ones. BookBub publishes its current pricing on its partner pages, so check it before you submit.

Is a Featured Deal Worth the Cost?

The direct royalties from a discount are small. At 99 cents, KDP pays 35% because the price is below its 70% band, so each sale earns about 35 cents, and a free book earns nothing at all. If you judged a feature only on deal-day royalties, many would lose money.

The real value comes from what happens next. A feature can push a book high in its store categories, bring in reviews from new readers and send readers on to your other books at full price. That is why the first book of a series, with several books behind it, usually gets the most out of a feature.

Before you submit, estimate how many readers of the discounted book typically go on to buy the next one. If you have a series with steady read-through, a feature is far more likely to pay off than for a standalone title.

A Simple Timeline

• Several weeks before: polish the product page, update the back matter and choose a flexible date range.
• When you submit: pick the price, stores and category, and add any awards or standout reviews.
• After acceptance: book supporting promotions and plan your ads.
• A few days before: set the discount in every store and confirm it is live.
• After the feature: return to your regular price and track read-through over the following weeks.

Submitting Step by Step

1. Create a free partner account on BookBub and add your book.
2. Pick a date range, not a single day. Flexible dates improve your chances of fitting the editors' schedule.
3. Choose the deal price and stores where the discount will run.
4. Select the most accurate category, since a mismatch can count against you.
5. Add details that help editors decide, such as awards, notable reviews or series information.
6. Wait for a decision, then confirm and pay if selected.
7. Set the deal price in every store before the feature date and check it is live.

If Your Submission Is Declined

Most submissions are declined, including many good books, so a rejection is not a verdict on your writing. To improve your odds next time:

• Resubmit later. BookBub allows new submissions after a waiting period, and timing changes the outcome.
• Offer a better deal, such as free instead of 99 cents, or a deeper discount.
• Widen your stores and dates. More availability and flexibility give editors more options.
• Strengthen the page. A new cover, a sharper description or more reviews can change the result.
• Try a different book, such as the first in a series, which editors often favor for deals.

While you wait, BookBub Ads and other deal newsletters can support a discount. Our comparison of Amazon, Facebook and BookBub ads explains how they differ.

Making the Most of a Feature

A feature lasts a day, but you can stretch its value:

• Stack a few smaller promotions around the feature date to keep momentum.
• Update your back matter so new readers find your next book and your newsletter.
• Run Amazon Ads during and after the feature to capture readers browsing similar books.
• Discount later books lightly or keep them at full price to benefit from read-through.
• Track results beyond the day itself, including sales of other books and new subscribers.

Other Deal Newsletters

BookBub is the largest deal service, but it is not the only one. Smaller newsletters such as those run by Written Word Media, The Fussy Librarian and Ereader News Today also promote discounted books, often with easier acceptance. Authors commonly stack several of them across a promotion week, with or without a BookBub feature.

International Editions

BookBub runs editions for several countries as well as the US. Making your deal available in those markets, with the price set correctly in each store, lets the editors consider your book for more lists.

Frequently Asked Questions