Amazon Doesn’t Want You to Know This Free KDP Promotion Trick

The Pain No One Talks About 📉

Let me start with a confession.

When I first published my e-books on Amazon KDP, I thought the hard part was done. I spent weeks writing, formatting, fixing typos, designing the cover, and finally hitting that glorious “Publish” button.

But then… silence.

No readers.

No reviews.

No sales.

It felt like I had thrown my book into the middle of the ocean and expected someone to magically find it. That’s when reality hit: writing the book is only half the battle — promoting it is the other half.

The problem? I didn’t have money for ads. I couldn’t pour hundreds of dollars into Amazon ads or Facebook campaigns like the “gurus” suggested. I needed something else. Something free.

And that’s when I stumbled upon a promotion trick so simple, so underused, I almost didn’t believe it worked.

The Secret Weapon: Amazon’s Own Free Tools

Here’s the shocking part — the free trick was already inside Amazon itself.

Most authors don’t realize this, but Amazon actually gives you a built-in way to push your book in front of thousands of new readers… without paying a cent.

It’s called KDP Select Free Promotions.

Now, before you roll your eyes and think, “Oh, I’ve heard of that,” hear me out. Because the way I use it — and the way I combine it with a few clever moves — is what makes it so powerful.

How the Free KDP Promotion Really Works

When you enroll your e-book in KDP Select , Amazon gives you 5 free days every 90 days where you can make your book free. Most authors either ignore this or just randomly set their book free for a few days and hope for the best.

That doesn’t work.

But here’s the trick:

Instead of treating it like a throwaway freebie, treat it like a launch event.

Here’s my exact process:

1. Plan the free days in advance. Don’t just hit “make it free today.” Choose a weekend or a time when readers are most active.

2. List your book on free book promotion sites. There are dozens of websites (Freebooksy, Book Cave, Book Goodies, etc.) where you can submit your book when it’s free. Many of them don’t charge at all.

3. Post in Facebook and Reddit book groups. Readers in these groups LOVE grabbing free books, and if your cover + description are solid, they’ll download like crazy.

4. Leverage the “Amazon snowball.” Once readers start downloading your free book, Amazon’s algorithm notices the activity. It begins suggesting your book under “Customers Also Bought.” This is where the magic happens — because even after your free days end, the algorithm keeps pushing your book to new paying readers.

My First Time Trying It 👀

I’ll never forget the first time I did this.

I set my e-book free for 3 days. I posted it on every free promo site I could find, shared it in reader groups, and even sent a simple email to friends asking them to download it.

Day 1: 120 downloads.

Day 2: 300 downloads.

Day 3: 450 downloads.

Almost 900 people had my book in their Kindle libraries. For the first time ever, I felt like my words weren’t being ignored.

But here’s the kicker — when the free period ended, I actually started seeing real sales . Amazon had noticed the spike in downloads and started recommending my book to new readers. Suddenly, people were buying my book who had never even heard of me before.

That’s when I realized: I had found a way to hack the system without breaking the rules.

Why This Trick Works (and Why Few People Use It)

The truth is, most writers are scared of making their book free. They think, “If I give it away, I lose money.”

But here’s the reality: readers can’t buy your book if they don’t even know it exists. Free promotions aren’t about losing sales — they’re about gaining visibility.

Think of it like giving away free samples at a bakery. Once people taste it, some of them come back and pay for the whole cake.

And because most authors skip this step (or do it poorly), you have a huge advantage if you actually plan it right.

The Step-By-Step Secret Recipe 🍰

If you want to try this yourself, here’s a simple step-by-step system I now follow every 90 days:

1. Enroll in KDP Select. (Yes, this means your e-book has to be exclusive to Amazon, but trust me, it’s worth it for this trick.)

2. Pick your 5 free days strategically. I usually do 3 days first, then save 2 for later in case I want a second boost.

3. Submit your book to free promo sites at least a week in advance. (Freebooksy, Book Rebel, Book Bongo, etc.)

4. Create a simple post for social media. Keep it friendly: “Hey friends, my e-book is free on Amazon this weekend! Grab a copy and let me know what you think.”

5. Encourage reviews. The more reviews you get during your free period, the stronger your book looks when it returns to paid.

6. Sit back and let Amazon’s algorithm work for you. Once downloads kick in, the system starts promoting your book for free.

The “Secret Sauce” Most Authors Miss 🌟

Now, here’s the part almost no one talks about:

Don’t just promote your main book.

If you’ve written more than one book, make sure they’re linked together. That way, when someone grabs your free book, Amazon shows your other books under “More by this author.”

This creates a chain reaction: one free book turns into multiple paid sales.

And if you only have one book right now? Use your free promo to build your email list . Include a bonus page at the end of your book saying, “Want more? Join my newsletter for updates.” That way, every free download turns into a potential future buyer.

What Happened Next (The Numbers Don’t Lie)

After I used this trick a few times, my sales graph started looking less like a flat line and more like a heartbeat.

Every 90 days, I’d plan a free promo. Every time, new readers discovered me, new reviews came in, and my sales ticked upward.

And the best part? I never once spent a dollar on ads.

The Big Lesson 📚

Here’s what I’ve learned:

Amazon wants you to pay for ads. That’s their business model. But if you use the tools they quietly provide, you can still win the game without handing them your wallet.

Most authors don’t know this. Some don’t believe it works. But I’ve done it, repeatedly, and it works better than I ever expected.

So if you’re staring at your KDP dashboard wondering why no one is buying your book, maybe it’s time to stop waiting and start using the free trick sitting right in front of you.

Final Words (And a Friendly Nudge)

Publishing your e-book is brave. It means you’ve taken your ideas, your creativity, your soul — and put it out into the world. Don’t let it die in silence just because you didn’t know how to promote it.

Use your free KDP promotions like a launchpad. Treat them seriously. Give your book the push it deserves.

I did it, secretly, quietly, without spending a dime. And now I’m sharing it with you.

So go ahead — open your KDP dashboard, set up that free promo, and watch what happens. You might be surprised at how powerful “free” really is.