Creating Discount Codes
How to create promotional discount codes for your books — percentage off, fixed amount, and limited-time offers.
Discount codes are a powerful sales tool for driving purchases during launches, special events, and promotional periods. This guide covers how to create, manage, and strategically use discount codes on BookAuth.
What You'll Learn
- How to create and configure discount codes
- Discount types available
- Code limits by subscription plan
- Strategic uses for promotions
Creating a Discount Code
- Navigate to Revenue > Discounts from the sidebar
- Click "+ New Discount Code"
- Configure the code:
| Setting | Options | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Code | Custom text (e.g., LAUNCH50) | Case-insensitive, alphanumeric |
| Discount Type | Percentage or Fixed Amount | Choose one |
| Discount Value | e.g., 50% off or $5 off | Set the amount |
| Applies To | All books, specific book, or specific series | Target your discount |
| Usage Limit | Unlimited or set a max (e.g., 100 uses) | Control distribution |
| Expiration Date | No expiry or set a deadline | Creates urgency |
| Minimum Purchase | Optional — minimum cart value | Useful for bundles |
- Click "Create" — the code is active immediately
Discount Types
Percentage Off
- Deducts a percentage from the book price
- Example: LAUNCH50 → 50% off → $9.99 book becomes $4.99
- Great for: launch promotions, holiday sales, subscriber rewards
Fixed Amount Off
- Deducts a flat dollar amount
- Example: SAVE5 → $5 off → $14.99 book becomes $9.99
- Great for: higher-priced books, bundle discounts
Code Limits by Plan
| Plan | Active Discount Codes |
|---|---|
| Free | 3 |
| Pro | 10 |
| Business | Unlimited |
Active codes count toward your limit. Expired codes don't count.
Strategic Uses
Launch Day Promotion
- Create a 24-48 hour discount for launch day
- Share the code in your newsletter and social media
- Creates urgency with the short expiration window
Newsletter Subscriber Rewards
- Create an exclusive code only shared in your newsletter
- Rewards loyal subscribers and incentivizes sign-ups
- Example: SUBSCRIBER20 for 20% off your next release
ARC Reader Thank You
- Send a discount code to ARC readers who completed their reviews
- Example: THANKYOU30 for 30% off your backlist
Holiday Promotions
- Create seasonal codes (HOLIDAY2026, BLACKFRIDAY)
- Apply to your entire catalog for a limited time
Cross-Selling
- Discount code for Book 2 included in Book 1's backmatter
- Encourages series continuation: BOOK2DEAL for 40% off
How Readers Use Discount Codes
- Reader adds a book to their cart
- On the checkout page, they enter the code in the "Promo Code" field
- The discount is applied and the new total is shown
- They complete checkout at the discounted price
Tracking Code Performance
Each discount code shows:
- Total uses — how many times the code has been redeemed
- Revenue impact — total discount amount given
- Remaining uses — if a usage limit was set
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can a reader use multiple codes on one purchase?
A: Currently, one discount code per checkout. Codes cannot be stacked.
Q: Can I deactivate a code before it expires?
A: Yes. Click "Deactivate" on any active code to immediately disable it.
Q: What happens if I delete a code that's been used?
A: Past purchases at the discounted price remain valid. Deletion only prevents future use.
Q: Can discount codes be applied to free books?
A: No. Discount codes only apply to paid books.
Related Articles
- Book Pricing — Free, Paid & Subscriber-Only
- Creating & Selling Book Bundles
- Sending Newsletter Campaigns
- Understanding Payouts & Revenue