You’ve probably heard the phrase tossed around in indie author circles or seen it credited in author interviews when they hit the USA Today or Wall Street Journal bestseller lists: promo stacking.
But what is promo stacking exactly—and why is everyone from top-tier indie authors to major publishing houses using it?
Let’s pull back the curtain on this smart, scalable, and powerful marketing strategy—and show you why CraveBooks is the best platform in the world for building your own custom promo stack.
What Is Promo Stacking?
Promo stacking is the practice of running multiple book promotions across different platforms, lists, or channels within a short window of time—usually a week or less.
The idea? Build massive momentum.
When your book is featured on several promotional platforms at once—each pushing it to thousands of hungry readers—you’re amplifying exposure, boosting algorithm visibility, and increasing sales velocity. All of which can:
- Help you hit bestseller lists
- Drive long-tail sales after the promo ends
- Build your reader base across formats (ebook, print, audio)
- Improve your Amazon rank and visibility
Think of it like this: instead of lighting one match at a time, you’re creating a bonfire.
How Does It Work?
A typical promo stack might look something like this:
Monday: CraveBooks & Just Kindle Books
Tuesday: eReader Girl & Bargain eBook Hunter
Wednesday: Bookdealio & eBookFairs
Thursday: ContentMo & Book Lemur
Friday: Any genre specific sites depending on your book genre like Pillow Talk Books, eBook Island, Nebula of Books etc.
BONUS: You can also run other non-newsletter type promotions along side these each day. For instance you can schedule a social post each day, have a press release sent out or run a Facebook PPC campaign. All the CraveBooks stacking options can be found on our book promotions page.
You can also stack formats (eBook + audiobook), countries (US + UK), and price points (Freebook days + 99¢ offers).
The goal is simple: keep the buzz alive over several days, each time pulling in a new segment of readers while pushing up your Amazon sales rank. That, in turn, triggers the recommendation engine to work in your favor.
Why It Works
Let’s get technical for a moment. Platforms like Amazon reward velocity + volume. Promo stacking creates both.
- Velocity: You get a rush of traffic and downloads over a compressed time window.
- Volume: You increase your chances of being featured on bestseller lists, genre charts, or the “Also Bought” section on Amazon.
It’s not just about the number of promos—it’s about the right timing and coordination. And that’s where CraveBooks comes in.
Why CraveBooks Is the #1 Platform for Promo Stacking
Plenty of sites offer email blasts or social mentions. CraveBooks offers an entire promo stacking ecosystem—without the guesswork.
Here’s what sets CraveBooks apart:
Built-In Stacking Support
CraveBooks was designed for stacking. You can schedule multiple promos at once—across genre lists, audiobooks, price points, and even bundles.
No more bouncing between forms and platforms. It’s all in one place.
Author Dashboard & Credit System
Every promo you book on CraveBooks is tracked in your dashboard. Need to shift a promo date or add an audiobook spotlight? Easy. Plus, credits make it affordable to layer multiple offers.
Cross-Promotion with Vendor Partners
CraveBooks partners with dozens of other promo sites, allowing authors to bundle their promotions across other newsletters and marketplaces through a single booking.
You’re not just stacking CraveBooks—you’re stacking CraveBooks plus reach from our partner network.
Reader Magnet Integration
Want to build your email list while running a sale? CraveBooks allows stacking of reader magnet promotions, so you grow your audience while making sales.
Daily Deal Reruns + Paid Boosts
After your stack wraps, CraveBooks can feature your book again—without running a fresh campaign. This keeps the momentum going without extra effort.
Best Practices for Promo Stacking Success
If you want to run a successful promo stack, here’s how to do it right:
1. Choose the Right Book
Promo stacks work best with books that already have:
- A strong cover
- Good reviews (or at least 10+)
- Clean formatting and blurbs
- Series potential (Book 1 promos drive sales of Book 2+)
2. Plan Your Dates Wisely
Avoid weekends unless part of a bigger stack. Tuesdays and Thursdays tend to perform best across most promo platforms.
3. Vary Your Audience Reach
Don’t promote on five similar sites in one day. Mix your audience types: general deal hunters, genre-specific readers, audiobook listeners, etc.
4. Include CraveBooks at the Core
Use CraveBooks to anchor your promo stack. Our pricing makes it easy to add promos before, during, or after your big push, with social boosts and genre coverage built-in.
5. Track, Rinse, Repeat
CraveBooks offers detailed reporting on opens, clicks, and sales estimates. Use this to optimize your next stack, test new pricing, or experiment with seasonal timing.
Real Talk: Does Promo Stacking Really Work?
Yes—but only when done strategically. Promo stacking isn’t about throwing money at every list in sight. It’s about smart planning, quality promos, and consistency.
Authors who stack strategically can expect:
- 3–5x more downloads during promo windows
- Improved Amazon and Apple visibility
- A faster email list growth rate
- Better ROI on paid ads post-launch
And when you do it all through CraveBooks, you’re saving time, money, and stress.
Ready to Build Your First Promo Stack?
Whether you’re a debut indie author or a seasoned publisher, promo stacking is one of the most effective marketing tools in your arsenal. And CraveBooks makes it easier—and more effective—than any platform out there.
- Schedule multiple promos in minutes
- Tap into a network of partner promos
- Track performance from a single dashboard
- Reach genre-specific AND broad audiences
- Grow your list and climb the charts
You bring the book. CraveBooks will bring the readers.
