Marketing

What to Do the Week After Your Email Promo

So you ran an email promo. 🎉

Maybe it was a Freebooksy blast that sent your downloads into orbit. Maybe Bargain Booksy helped you reach new readers in droves or maybe you spent thousands of dollars on a BookBub promo. Hopefully, you saw your book crack the Top 100 in its category.

Cue the confetti and celebratory snacks; you did it. You put your book in front of readers, and they showed up. But now what?

The week after your promo can feel a bit…quiet. The dopamine hit of watching those numbers climb fades, and you’re left wondering what to do next. Don’t worry, we’ve got a game plan for turning that momentum into long-term gains.

1. Breathe and Reflect 🧘‍♀️

First things first: take a beat. Running a promo, even an email one that seems “set it and forget it,” still takes effort. Whether you adjusted pricing, sent an email to your own list, or stacked promos across multiple platforms, you put in the work.

Now’s the time to:

  • Check your sales or downloads data
  • Review your rankings on Amazon and other retailers
  • Take note of any spikes in email list signups or social media engagement

This is your promo post-mortem. Grab a notebook (or your favorite project tracking app) and jot down what worked, what didn’t, and any unexpected outcomes. Was there a genre list you didn’t expect to perform well? Did one day outperform the others? These insights will shape your next promo stack.

2. Nurture New Readers 📬

If your email promo did its job, you just got your book in front of hundreds or thousands of new readers. Some of them might’ve finished your book already. Some are just getting started. But all of them are now aware of you.

The week after your promo is a great time to:

  • Send a welcome email to new subscribers (if this is not automated)
  • Post a “thank you for reading” note on social media. You can absolutely humble-brag about your book hitting rank milestones in these posts.
  • Send an email to existing subscribers thanking them for their support and telling them how their support helps to shoot your book up the rankings.

And speaking of reviews…

3. Ask for Reviews ⭐

Did your promo move hundreds (or thousands) of copies? Even if a small percentage of readers leave a review, that can significantly boost your book’s credibility and discoverability.

You can:

  • Add a polite review request in the emails you send out
  • Include a short “I’d love your feedback” line in the back matter of your book
  • Post a gentle nudge on social media or in your author newsletter

No begging. No guilt trips. Just a kind reminder that reviews help authors, and you’d be grateful.

4. Check Your Sales Tail 📈

Promos often have a “tail”, a few days (or even weeks) of increased visibility, downloads, and sales after the initial promo day.

Keep an eye on:

  • Daily sales/downloads post-promo
  • Category rankings
  • Pages read (if you’re in Kindle Unlimited)

If the tail is strong, this might be a good time to…

5. Stack Follow-Up Marketing 📆

Momentum is magic. If your book is still climbing, or holding steady, it may be worth layering in additional marketing within a week or two. A smartly timed secondary price drop, email to your subscribers, or paid marketing can catch readers who missed the first one and keep your book top of mind (and top of charts).

Some ideas:

  • Send a “Let’s Keep the Momentum Going” email to your email list
  • Run Facebook or Amazon ads on the book that’s got momentum (or schedule a Reader Reach promo, and we can do it for you).
  • Run an email promo on a new platform to keep expanding your audience

And yes, you can absolutely re-run a promo with Written Word Media. Many authors build entire promo stacks with us to extend their visibility beyond a single day.

6. Set Up Your Next Steps 🛠️

You’re not starting over, you’re leveling up. Use the post-promo momentum to:

  • Plan your next launch strategy
  • Set goals for your next 90 days (new book? More reviews? Ad testing?)
  • Evaluate your email list growth and reader engagement

📌 Pro tip: If you saw strong results, consider upgrading to a Gold Membership or Platinum Membership. You’ll get early access to scheduling email promos (hello, high-demand dates!) and discounts on services that are proven to move the needle.

Final Thoughts

Running an email promo is one of the most effective, affordable ways to market your book, and the week after is your golden window for building on that success.

You don’t need to do everything at once. Start small, be consistent, and celebrate the wins (big and small).

And if you’re ever wondering what promo to run next, or how to stack them like a pro, we’re just an email away. After all, supporting authors is what we do.

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Published by
Harshini