Is BookFunnels Worth It?

In this article, we’ll review if BookFunnels is worth it or not.

Researchers estimate that there are between 600,000 and one million books published every year in the United States alone.

Are you preparing to add your name to that growing list of authors?

The journey of book publication can be long and laborious, whether you work with a designated publishing house or go the self-published route.

When you’re ready to share your work with the world, you want to get it in front of as many eyes as possible.

Even experienced authors aren’t always adept in the skill of book marketing.

That’s where services like BookFunnel can help.

This platform offers a range of features designed to help writers connect with their target readership.

From distributing advanced copies for reviewers to organizing promos, you can do it all with a BookFunnel account.

Today, we’re taking a closer look at how the service works and why you need it.

What Is BookFunnel?

Before we dive into all of the services it can deliver, let’s briefly cover what BookFunnel entails.

In short, this is an online service for authors.

While anyone can create an account, it’s primarily designed to support indie authors who may need assistance reaching new readers and building buzz around their titles.

BookFunnel specializes in e-book and audiobook distribution, making it easy for writers to share their written words in digital formats.

In addition, it also helps writers complete a range of marketing-related tasks, including:

• Building customized landing pages
• Organizing 1:1 author swaps
• Short audio and audiobook delivery
• Cross-promoting with other indie authors
• Building e-mail lists of current and prospective readers
• Fulfilling direct sales
• Distribute early review copies
• Sending private download links to select recipients
• Creating printable download codes

That’s a lot of features, which makes this one of the most effective and valuable book marketing tools on the web.

Let’s dive into the details of each one.

What Are the Key Features of BookFunnel?

One of the main reasons to check out BookFunnel is its long list of impressive features. Here’s what you can get by signing up for a plan.

Customized Landing Pages

A landing page is a separate, standalone page on your website, created specifically for a marketing or advertising campaign.

Businesses across various industries use them to direct viewers to learn more about a specific promotion, sign up for a newsletter, or join an email list.

Authors can use them to highlight new releases and give readers the opportunity to purchase them.

Unless you’re familiar with web design and development, it can be challenging to create a landing page from scratch.

BookFunnel takes the guesswork and the legwork out of the process.

With just a few clicks, you can customize their template by adding an image of your book cover. You can also change the background color, edit the text, and add a design accent that complements the cover.

In addition to selling their book, you can also use BookFunnel to show advance readers how to sign up for early review copies before mass publication occurs. This is possible because the landing page tool includes settings that allow you to customize who can see each page, and who cannot.

You can also add a field to your landing page that allows readers to sign up and join your mailing list.

BookFunnel refers to this strategy as a “reader magnet” because you’re doing just that — enticing readers to stick close to your book as you deliver important updates.

Customized Landing Pages: Other Helpful Features

Two helpful features in BookFunnels Landing Page tool include:

• Download limits
• Real-time statistics

If you use your landing page to show readers how to download your e-book, you may eventually want to cap the number of downloads you allow.

This can encourage visitors to perform the action as soon as possible so they don’t risk missing out.

The download limit tool enables you to cut downloads off after a certain number are completed or when a designated expiration date occurs.

BookFunnel takes care of everything, managing the feature and shutting it off for you.

The real-time statistics feature is also helpful in this regard.

As your downloads inch closer toward their limit, you can monitor the count closely.

Then, you can adjust the settings and verbiage on your landing page accordingly.

1:1 Author Swaps

New and established writers all know that networking is key in this business.

Treating other authors as competition can significantly limit the number of readers you can reach, especially if you’re trying to succeed in the same field.

If an author promotes your book to their readers, it can do wonders to advance your advertising efforts.

However, it isn’t always easy to find authors who are willing to do that.

Those connections can take years to build, and if you have a release deadline looming, you need the exposure as soon as possible.

Thankfully, BookFunnel can facilitate those exchanges for you.

Their Author Swap feature connects you with authors who will share your sales links or signup links with their readership, as long as you agree to do the same for their book in return.

Short Audio and Audiobook Delivery

BookFunnel can help authors distribute short audio clips to their readers. In addition, the company also has an extended audiobook delivery service currently in beta.

Once it’s completed, authors will be able to sell audiobooks directly from their websites. They can also:

• Leverage their audiobook as an incentive for email list sign-ups
• Send reviewers advance reader copies of their audiobooks
• Create individual download pages for their audiobooks
• Create unique download codes for their audiobooks
• Gift their audiobooks to readers
• Deliver their audiobooks via direct sales
• Send audiobooks as thank-yous to Patreon subscribers

Cross-Promoting With Other Authors

Author swaps are a great way to build your network, find new readers, and grow your sales numbers.

However, they aren’t the only way BookFunnel helps you interface with other writers.

When you sign in to your BookFunnel dashboard, you can also visit a section called the Promotions Board.

Here, you can cross-promote your title with other indie authors who have written books in the same genre.

Once you set up those promotions, the platform also makes it easy to share them with your own readers.

Building Email Lists

Email marketing is an effective outreach tactic for authors.

Once you have a list of readers who have willingly shared their emails with you, then you can deliver content straight to their inboxes.

This allows you to:

• Speak directly to your readership
• Save money on traditional forms of marketing
• Control who sees your content
• Deliver reader-exclusive updates, specials, and promotions

As mentioned, you can use your BookFunnel landing page to ask your web visitors to join your email list.

When they click on the link, it will prompt them to enter their email address.

Once they opt-in, you can digitally send your weekly or monthly newsletters.

In addition to creating a newsletter-specific landing page, BookFunnel allows you to grow your list of reader emails in other ways.

For instance, you can create a setting that requires everyone to enter their email address before they can download a copy of your e-book.

To streamline the effort, BookFunnel also offers a direct email integration tool that completes both of these steps at the same time.

If this tool is initiated, any time a new reader signs up to join your e-mail newsletter list, they’ll also receive a free download of your e-book.

Direct Sales Fulfillment

When a reader purchases a digital copy of your book online, they expect the process to be seamless.

Unfortunately, tech issues can often get in the way.

It only takes one slow-loading website or buggy email for them to abandon your site (and your future releases) altogether.

BookFunnel takes care of this issue for you, creating and sending private download links to your buyers immediately after they make a purchase.

Review Copy Distribution

Do you have a list of book reviewers who you want to see your work before it enters the mass market?

If so, then BookFunnel’s Certified Mail feature will come in handy.

All you have to do is create an outgoing message that you want the readers to see. For instance, you can use this space to introduce yourself and share a synopsis of your book.

Then, BookFunnel will send each reviewer a private link that they can click to download your book in seconds.

They’ll also send automatic reminders if they haven’t opened the email after a certain time period, as well as detailed instructions so they know exactly how to access your title.

Whether you’re contacting a small, select group of reviewers or a larger team, the platform makes it easy to take care of this step all at once.

When you use this service, you’ll receive:

• Watermarked e-book files
• Accessible tech support
• Reports on the number of downloads completed
• Follow-up emails sent to reviewers on your behalf

Private Download Links

You don’t have to explain the multi-step process to download your e-book to every new author friend or professional connection you meet.

BookFunnel will generate private email links that you can share as needed.

Once you enter their first name and email address into the platform, they’ll create a custom link made just for them.

Printable Download Codes

Authors can think of download codes in the same vein as business cards.

It’s more direct and effective to share a link to your work than a piece of cardstock with your name and website on it.

This is an especially helpful feature if you’re marketing your books in both print and e-book formats.

You don’t have to take stacks of books to readings, conferences, and trade shows.

Instead, you can share your download cards to any paper-based marketing materials you use to promote your book, including:

• Bookmarks
• Postcards
• Flyers
• Business cards

Each code equals one download. You can also use the codes to encourage readers to sign up for your email list or receive other extras, such as checklists, worksheets, and individual chapters.

What Are the Different BookFunnel Pricing Plans?

The list of features above is comprehensive, covering everything that BookFunnel offers.

However, not every account holder will be able to access all of them. That’s because BookFunnel offers different plans that vary in terms of pricing and functionality.

These plans include the:

• First-Time Author Plan
• Mid-List Author Plan
• Bestseller Plan

Here are the details to know.

First-Time Author Plan

This plan is ideal for new authors who are just starting out.

It costs $20 per year or $1.67 per month if billed annually.

Features include:

• One pen name
• 500 e-book downloads per month
• Unlimited amount of book storage
• Custom landing pages
• Direct sales delivery
• Group promotions

Mid-List Author Plan

This plan is for authors who are in the middle of their writing journeys.

They aren’t new writers, but they need an extra edge to reach bestseller status.

It costs $100 per year or $8.33 per month if billed annually.

Features include:

• Two Pen Names
• 5,000 downloads per month
• Unlimited amount of book storage
• Custom landing pages
• Direct sales delivery
• Group promotions
• Features to collect reader email addresses
• Short audio MP3 deliveries
• Watermarked e-book files

Writers in this plan can choose to pay an additional $50 per year for access to BookFunnel’s direct integration tool, which features:

• Secure ARC delivery
• Book gifting services
• Printable e-book download codes

Bestseller Plan

This plan is for authors who need access to the platform’s full range of features.

They have a larger readership to support and require robust boo marketing tools. It costs $250 per year or $20.83 per month if billed annually.

It includes the same features as the Mid-List Author Plan with the following updates and additions:

• Three pen names
• Unlimited e-book downloads
• Automatic direct mail integration (up to three email lists)
• Priority technical support

The Future of Full Audiobook Plans

When BookFunnel’s audiobook delivery service is officially released, it will be available in a separate paid plan.

Authors will be able to add it to any existing Mid-List or higher account.

Currently, BookFunnel is allowing authors to participate in the beta testing phase for this feature.

Interested authors can contact the platform to be added into the program. Once you’re in, you can use and report back on all of the available features, free of charge.

When it’s live and available to all subscribers, BookFunnel anticipates that there will be three different pricing plans. These include the:

• Starter Audiobook Plan
• Mid-Tier Audiobook Plan
• Top-Tier Audiobook Plan

Starter Audiobook Plan

The Starter Audiobook Plan will cost $10 per month.

It’s designed for authors who only need to send out a few audiobooks as reader magnets or who haven’t ramped up their audiobook sales just yet.

Mid-Tier Audiobook Plan

The Mid-Tier Audiobook Plan will cost $25 per month.

It’s designed for authors who need a little more flexibility and functionality for audiobook delivery.

There will be sales integration, support for promotions, and possible reader magnets depending on the length of the book and the author’s web traffic.

Top-Tier Audiobook Plan

The Top-Tier Audiobook Plan will cost $50 per month. It’s designed for authors who need support with every aspect of their audiobook sales and delivery.

How Can I Save on a BookFunnel Plan?

The Mid-List Author Plan and Bestseller Plan allow authors to save money by opting for annual billing over monthly billing. Savings include:

• Mid-List Plan: Save $20 per year with annual billing ($10 per month if billed monthly)
• Bestseller Plan: Save $50 per year with annual billing ($25 per month if billed monthly)

Note that the First-Time Author plan does not have an option to bill monthly and is only billed on an annual basis.

What About Publishers and Promo Sites?

Authors aren’t the only ones who can benefit from BookFunnel’s features and services.

Book publishers and promoters can also use the platform to advertise and distribute books by authors.

BookFunnel has separate plans for these entities. These include the:

• Micro-Publisher Plan: $30 per month
• Low-Volume Publisher Plan: $100 per month
• High-Volume Publisher Plan: $300 per month

Here’s what you get with each one.

Micro-Publisher Plan

This is the base-level publishing plan that BookFunnel offers. Its features include:

• 10 Author Names
• 5,000 downloads per month
• Unlimited amount of book storage
• Custom landing pages
• Direct sales delivery
• Group promotions
• Features to collect reader email addresses
• Audio MP3 distribution
• Watermarked diles
• Unlimited mailing list integrations
• Secure ARC deliveries
• Book gifting options
• Printable download codes

Low-Volume Publisher Plan

The Low-Volume Publisher Plan is the middle tier of the three options.

It includes all of the features offered in the Micro-Publisher Plan with the following updates and additions:

• 20 author names
• 25,000 downloads per month
• Priority technical support

High-Volume Publisher Plan

The Low-Volume Publisher Plan is the top tier of the three options.

It includes all of the features offered in the Low-Volume Publisher Plan with the following updates and additions:

• Unlimited author names
• 50,000 downloads per month

How Do Readers Download From BookFunnel?

There are three main ways a reader can download your e-book when you use BookFunnel:

• Via a custom download code shared via marketing (e.g. a business card)
• Via a private email link that BookFunnel creates
• Via a landing page on your website

Once they follow the landing page, click on the link, or scan the code, they will all receive the same prompt.

BookFunnel will first need to know the type of device they plan to read the e-book on. The choices include:

• iPad, iPhone, or iPod
• Android phone or tablet
• Kindle tablet or e-reader
• NOOK tablet or e-reader
• Kobo tablet or e-reader
• A computer

Depending on the reader’s selection, BookFunnel will share the next steps required to see the e-book material. Here are the options.

iPad, iPhone, or iPod

If they are using one of these devices, they’ll need to download the BookFunnel app.

They can use the app to manage their BookFunnel books and share them with their preferred reading apps.

Android Phone or Tablet

If they’re using an Android device, BookFunnel will first generate a custom website link for the e-book.

Then, all they have to do is open a new web browser and type in the link to view the book.

Kindle Tablet or E-Reader

If they’re using a Kindle device, BookFunnel will first ask them to specify which type of device they have. Options include:

• Kindle Fire Color Tablet
• Touchscreen Kindle E-Reader
• Kindle Keyboard
• Five-Button Kindle

Depending on their answer, there are a few different ways to download and access the e-book. These include:

• Emailing the book to their Kindle
• Downloading the BookFunnel app
• Connecting their tablet to their computer via USB and accessing the book in their Downloads folder

NOOK Tablet or E-Reader

If they’re using a NOOK device, Bookfunnel will also ask them to first specify the device type. The options include:

• Newer NOOK Tablet
• Older NOOK Tablet
• Nook E-Reader

Depending on their answer, there are a few different ways to download and access the e-book. These include:

• Finding and installing the BookFunnel app via the NOOK Play Store
• Opening a web browser and typing the custom link shared
• Connecting their tablet to your computer via USB and finding the book in their Downloads folder

Kobo Tablet or E-Reader

If they’re using a Kobo device, BookFunnel will ask them to select between two different types: Kobo Tablet or Kobo E-reader.

On both devices, they’ll open a web browser and access the e-book via the custom link shared.

However, they can access that link in different ways. They can launch a browser directly on the Kobo Tablet, but they have to access the “Extras” function under “Settings” to find it on the E-reader.

A Computer

Are your readers downloading your e-book on a computer?

If so, they can access it as a PDF file using Adobe Acrobat. Or, they can read it right in the cloud.

Is BookFunnel Worth It?

For from up-and-coming writers to established authors, BookFunnel has proven to be a valuable tool for everyone who wants to try a unique and accessible approach to online book marketing.

Since its inception, the company has never raised its prices.

It’s dedicated to being an affordable and approachable resource for everyone, no matter where they are in their author journey.

The list of features you’ll find at BookFunnel is impressive, even if you only pay for the basic, First-Time Author Plan.

As you grow your readership, build a loyal following, and develop your sales, transitioning into a higher-tier plan can be a smart move.

Overall, this is a solid way to begin or continue your writing journey.

This is an industry built on networking and making the right connections, and you can’t get there on your own.

BookFunnel helps bring readers to you, putting you one step closer to where you ultimately want to be.

Further Reading

Publishing Trends 

How To Market Your Book

How To Publish Your Book 

How To Hire A Ghostwriter