A Guide to BookFunnel

BookFunnel is a software company which offers services to deliver book files to readers. It enables delivery of digital files in every format to every device and can be used for reader magnets, advanced review copies (ARCs), direct sales and in-person sales among other things. While it does include marketing tools too, it is not a marketing platform specifically.  
 
BookFunnel essentially handles the book delivery process, which means that besides delivering the book, it also deals directly with any problems readers might have during the download. So the greatest advantage for writers and publishers alike is that they don’t have to deal with any technical issues or questions from readers. BookFunnel is also available as a mobile app.  

What can BookFunnel deliver? 

• Reader Magnets 
  

BookFunnel is predominantly used to deliver reader magnets. It offers tools to create beautiful landing pages that redirect readers to the free download page from the author’s website. A landing page can become a giveaway page if the author wishes to collect their readers’ email addresses before letting them download the book. Depending on the chosen plan, there is a limited or unlimited number of downloads that an author can offer their readers.  
All the download links are private, so no one can find a book unless the author or publisher chooses to share the BookFunnel link. If the link gets shared with an audience which wasn’t the one the author or publisher intended, BookFunnel will replace it. BookFunnel also offers real-time stats so that authors and publishers know who is downloading their book.   

• Advanced Review Copies (ARCs) 

BookFunnel can also deliver ARCs to a selected mailing list of readers through Certified Mail. A unique, non-shareable link will be sent to each member of the list and the author will be notified when reviewers download their copy. Unique links can also be used to gift books to individuals.  
 

• Group Promos 

BookFunnel allows writers to organise group promos with other authors in the same genre. When authors share the promo with their existing mailing list, new readers will be able to find new authors and subscribe to their list by opening the email and clicking on the promo link. 
 

• Direct Sales 

Authors can sell their books through their own online store and use BookFunnel to deliver them to their readers in any format. Readers will be sent a unique private download link as soon as they purchase the book. 
 

• In-Person Sales 

Authors can choose to use BookFunnel’s printable download codes for their readers to purchase the book at events, meetups and book signings. BookFunnel’s printable download codes can be added to postcards, bookmarks, business cards and other paper products. One code equals one download of watermarked EPUB and MOBI files. Extras such as worksheets, checklists and single chapters can be delivered as a PDF.     
 

• Alternatives to BookFunnel 

Although BookFunnel is pretty much the only platform on the market that can help distribute books as a publisher, there are alternatives for individual authors, especially those who plan to use a service like BookFunnel almost exclusively to deliver reader magnets.  
 
One of these is StoryOrigin, which includes similar features to BookFunnel in terms of reader magnet delivery, but it also offers marketing tools to increase sales and the author rank on Amazon. 
 
Lastly, ProlificWorks (formerly Instafreebie) offers a similar service to BookFunnel to deliver exclusively free reader magnets or books and build a contact list.