FREE Promotion sites
Service | Price | Erotica Allowed? | Requirements and Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Inkitt | Free | Yes | Not only will they submit your book to their thousands of readers, they will also offer you a publishing deal worth thousands of dollars if their readers like it. Fiction Only. |
Awesome Gang | Free - $10 | Yes | Access to one of the best free book email lists. The paid option offers a guaranteed spot on the home page and also various social media promotional boosts as well. |
Indie Author News | Free - Paid | Not Stated | Fiction and Nonfiction both welcome, possibility to become the 'author of the day' and gain greater levels of exposure |
Pretty Hot Books | Free - $25 | Yes | $25 guarantees a featured spot on homepage for 7 days and send out to their social media platforms as well. |
Digital Book Today | Free - $30 | No | 4+ average review score required, plus over 40 reviews for nonfiction and 18 for fiction |
E Reader Love | Free | Not Stated | Many genres and type of book found on this site. Also offers a specific ability to promote box sets. |
Discount Book Man | Free - $15 | Yes | For front page listing for 5 days, pay $15. Sends out to both email and social media. |
Book Bongo | Free - $150 | Not Stated | Paid options include the ability to be promoted to various Facebook groups and to be featured as a banner ad on the site. |
This Is Writing | Free | No | Gets you an author page and even a guest post allowing you to promote your work. |
Kindle Book Review | Free - $45 | Not Stated | Free option requires 14 day advance submission and is not guaranteed, Paid option requires 24 hours notice and is guaranteed |
EBooks Habit | Free - $15 | No | A minimum of 5 reviews |
eBookStage | Free (Affiliates Program) - $16 | Yes | Must have a quality book cover and a 'good' review score (not specified exactly) |
Lovely Book Promotions | Free - $10 | Not Stated | Must submit your book at least 5 days in advance. The paid option includes your book being promoted to over 60 Facebook groups. |
New Free Kindle Books | Free - $25 | Yes | Allows for permafree books to be listed. Paid option offers a larger amount of display space on the promo page. |
Topless Cowboy | Free - $20 | Yes | Specializes in cowboy and western romance, but open to erotica and romance of all kinds. |
It's Write Now | Free - $20 | Not Stated | Only paid option offers guaranteed listing. |
Content Mo | Free - $3 | Yes | Free listings limited to 2 per month |
One Hundred Free Books | Free - $100 | Not Stated | No guaranteed selection |
Frugal Freebies | Free | Yes | Not just focused on Ebooks, this site has a lot of different giveaways and freebies. |
Armadillo Ebooks | Free - $25 | Yes | Option to upgrade to a listing for 15 sites for $25. Other requirements are not stated. |
Book Angel | Free | No | PG 13 content only, so definitely no erotica, but also no severe violence or other violations of their ethics. |
Free Books | Free | No | This service has a special section for permafree books. If your book is permafree, it can have its own permanent listing page. |
Korner Konnection | Free | Not Stated | Primarily promoted through a popular Facebook page. |
Deal Seeking Mom | Free | Not Stated | Offering deals on many different products, not just books. Despite the name, this is the type of site which any bargain hunter might come across. |
eReaderIQ | Free | Not Stated | Contact to discuss suitability of your book |
I Crave Freebies | Free | Not Stated | Contact to discuss paid options. No clear information is provided upfront. |
Mobile Read Forum | Free | Not Stated | Forum only, no form of promotion outside of this. |
Totally Free Stuff | Free | Not Stated | Just as its name suggests, Totally Free Stuff offers lots of things for no cost, not just ebooks. |
Bookpraiser | Free | Not Stated | Free account creation required. Offers the ability to create an author page on the site in order to feature more of your work on a longer term basis. |
Reading Deals | Free - $29 | No | No sexual content, no hate speech. Good quality covers only. 10,000 words minimum. 5 reviews with a 4 star rating. |
Free Today | Free | Not Stated | Facebook group only, no website running at the moment for this service. |
Ask David | Free - $15 | Yes | You can submit the same book once every two weeks. |
Authors Den | Free - $75 | No | A basic account is free, but there's a fee to get 'gold' membership and receive a higher level of exposure |
Book Circle | Free - $20 | No | Free listings aren't guaranteed. Paid listings are guaranteed, with more expensive options bringing a higher level of promotion. |
AllAuthor | Free - $59 | Yes | The free option offers a basic author page, listing on the Author Directory, and the option to add up to 4 books. No special requirements. |
Gain Reads | Free - $15 | Yes | Submit up to three book links. Books have to free or discounted to 99 cents. |
Indies Today | Free - $40 | No | Books have to free or discounted to 99 cents. Submit your promotion at least 24 hours before your deal begins Submit each book title no more than once per calendar month. No specific review/rating requirement, but all books go through an internal review that considers your book’s cover, summary, details, and reviews. |
Best Book Monkey | Free - $10.50 | Yes | Paid option guarantees placement in daily newsletter to readers. All accepted books are listed on the website and shared on social media. Books must be priced below $4.99 and contain a minimum of 15,000 words (unless it's a children's book, graphic novel, or other visually-focused work). |
RdrStr | Free - £25 | No | All genres fiction and non-fiction. No gratuitous violence or racism. £25 guaranteed front page for six months. |
clickINQ | Free | Yes | Book Must Be Free or .99 and on Amazon |
Free Book Tips | Free | Yes | Submit your book at any time, even if your promotion has already begun. Your listing request will be responded to within 24 hours. Most genres accepted. Every accepted book is allocated a permanent feature page on the site. Currently offering a free service only. |
bookhunt.org | Free | Not Stated | Share your book and collect upvotes. The more the bookhunt community likes your book, the more visibility you get. |
Ecommerce Success Blogs
What is the difference between Shopify CSV and Matrixify Products import and export?
Shopify CSV vs Matrixify Excel: A Comprehensive Guide to Product Management
Managing product data in an e-commerce platform can be a complex task, especially when dealing with large inventories. This article compares two prominent methods for handling product data in Shopify: the native CSV system and the Matrixify Excel approach. We'll explore how these tools differ and why choosing the right one can significantly impact your workflow efficiency.
Shopify vs Matrixify Comparison
FEATURE | SHOPIFY | MATRIXIFY |
---|---|---|
File Type | CSV files | Excel files |
Import/Export Visibility | No visibility or control; must wait for email. | Full visibility, progress updates, and cancel options. |
Export Options | Exports full store with all fields, leading to duplicate rows. | Granular export filtering, saves time and file size, no duplicate rows. |
Multiple Images | Requires copying rows and adding each image to a separate row. | Allows multiple images in one row, separated by semicolons. |
Metafields | Cannot export/import Metafields. | Exports and imports Metafields as columns in the table. |
Product Updates | Replaces entire product; no field-specific updates. | Allows individual field updates without replacing products. |
Template Suffix | Cannot update in bulk. | Supports bulk Template Suffix updates as a column. |
Product IDs | Deletes and recreates products with new IDs, losing references. | Keeps IDs and references intact, preserving Custom Collections. |
File Size Limit | 15 MB (~10,000 products). | Supports large files (e.g., 600,000+ products). |
Detailed Comparison between Shopify & Matrixify Product Management & Uploads
File Format and Basic Handling
Shopify CSV
- File Format: Limited to CSV files only
- Process Visibility: Upload and wait system
- User Control: Minimal interaction during process
- Progress Tracking: None email notification upon completion
- File Size Limitation: Strict 15MB limit (approximately 10,000 products)
Matrixify Excel
- File Format: Works with Excel files (.xlsx)
- Process Visibility: Real-time progress tracking
- User Control: Full control with cancel option
- Progress Tracking: Live progress bar with time estimates
- File Size Limitation: Handles large files (600,000+ products)
Data Management Capabilities
1. Product Export Features
Shopify CSV
- Exports entire store inventory
- No filtering options
- All fields included regardless of need
- Creates duplicate rows for variants and images
- Limited customization options
Matrixify Excel
- Granular export control
- Custom field selection
- Filtered exports based on specific criteria
- Efficient row management
- Optimized file size through selective exporting
2. Image Handling
Shopify CSV
- One image per row requirement
- Multiple images need row duplication
- Complicated management for product variants
- Image Alt Text updates require full product reimport
Matrixify Excel
- Multiple images in single row
- Semicolon-separated image sources
- Streamlined variant management
- Independent Image Alt Text updates
Advanced Features
3. Metafields Management
Shopify CSV
- No metafield support
- Cannot export existing metafields
- No import capabilities for metafields
- Requires separate solution for metafield management
Matrixify Excel
- Full metafield support
- Export metafields as table columns
- Direct editing and updating
- Integrated metafield management
4. Product Updates and Maintenance
Shopify CSV
- Creates new product IDs on import
- Breaks existing collection references
- Full product replacement required
- No partial updates supported
Matrixify Excel
- Maintains original product IDs
- Preserves all existing references
- Supports partial field updates
- Selective field modification
5. Inventory Management
Shopify CSV
- Basic inventory tracking
- Single location focus
- No adjustment features
- Limited variant handling
Matrixify Excel
- Multi-location inventory support
- Inventory adjustment tracking
- Delta-based inventory management
- Advanced variant generation
6. Template Management
Shopify CSV
- No template suffix support
- Cannot modify templates in bulk
- Limited template customization
Matrixify Excel
- Full template suffix support
- Bulk template modifications
- Simple column-based management
Special Features
Matrixify Exclusive Capabilities
1. HTML Code Optimization
- Automatic fixing of escaped HTML code
- Converts symbols to proper HTML
2. Variant Management
- Bulk variant generation
- Option combination support
- Semicolon-separated combinations
3. Publishing Control
- Flexible channel publishing
- Online and POS integration
- Custom publishing scope settings
Best Practices and Recommendations
When to Use Shopify CSV
- Small product catalogs
- Basic product updates
- Simple inventory management
- Standard product configurations
When to Use Matrixify Excel
- Large product catalogs
- Complex product configurations
- Multi-location inventory
- Detailed metafield management
- Bulk template updates
- Advanced variant management
While Shopify's native CSV system provides basic functionality for smaller stores, Matrixify Excel offers a more robust, flexible, and efficient solution for managing product data. The choice between the two largely depends on your store's size, complexity, and specific needs. For larger operations or those requiring detailed control over their product data, Matrixify Excel presents clear advantages in terms of functionality, efficiency, and scalability.
Remember that investing time in learning the more powerful tool can save significant time and reduce errors in the long run, especially as your store grows and your product management needs become more complex.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
General Questions
What's the main difference between Shopify CSV and Matrixify Excel?
The main difference is that Shopify CSV is a basic file format with limited functionality, while Matrixify Excel offers advanced features like real-time tracking, multiple sheets, and partial updates. Matrixify also allows you to work with pure Excel files instead of CSV format.
Which option is better for my store?
It depends on your store size and needs:
Use Shopify CSV if:
- You have under 10,000 products
- You need basic import/export features
- You're doing simple updates
Use Matrixify if:
- You have over 10,000 products
- You need advanced features
- You want better control over updates
- You work with multiple locations
- You need to manage metafields
File Size & Limitations
What are the file size limitations?
Shopify CSV: 15MB maximum
Matrixify: Can handle gigabytes of data (600,000+ products)
How many products can each handle?
Shopify CSV: small catalog
Matrixify: 600,000+ products in one import
Features & Functionality
Can I update specific fields without replacing entire products?
Shopify CSV: No, you must replace the entire product
Matrixify: Yes, you can update individual fields
How do multiple images work in each system?
Shopify CSV: Requires separate rows for each image
Matrixify: All images can be in one row, separated by semicolons
Can I manage metafields?
Shopify CSV: No metafield support
Matrixify: Full metafield support with column-based management
Import/Export Process
How do I track the progress of my import?
Shopify CSV: No tracking wait for email notification
Matrixify: Real-time progress bar with estimated completion time
Can I cancel an import once it's started?
Shopify CSV: No
Matrixify: Yes, at any time during the import
Data Management
What happens to product IDs during import?
Shopify CSV: Creates new IDs, breaking collection references
Matrixify: Maintains existing IDs and references
How are variants handled?
Shopify CSV: Each variant requires a separate row
Matrixify: Can generate variants from combinations using semicolon separation
Technical Questions
How does each handle HTML in descriptions?
Shopify CSV: Leaves escaped HTML code as is
Matrixify: Automatically fixes escaped HTML code to normal HTML
Can I manage inventory across multiple locations?
Shopify CSV: Limited location support
Matrixify: Full multi-location inventory management
Best Practices
What's the recommended way to update product prices?
Shopify CSV: Must upload full product data
Matrixify: Can update prices alone using a simple price column
How should I handle large product catalogs?
Shopify CSV: Split into multiple files under 15MB
Matrixify: Can handle in single file with filtering options
Troubleshooting
What if my import fails?
Shopify CSV: Check email for basic error message
Matrixify: Detailed error reporting with specific row/column information
How do I fix broken product references?
Shopify CSV: Manually rebuild collections and references
Matrixify: No action needed references are maintained
Integration & Compatibility
Do these work with all Shopify plans?
Both work with all Shopify plans, but Matrixify requires a separate subscription.
Can I use these with other e-commerce platforms?
Shopify CSV: Shopify-specific format
Matrixify: Designed for Shopify but Excel format is more universal
Support & Resources
Where can I find documentation?
Shopify CSV: Shopify Help Center
Matrixify: Comprehensive documentation with tutorials and examples
Is there technical support available?
Shopify CSV: General Shopify support
Matrixify: Dedicated support team with Excel/import expertise
Cost & Efficiency
Which option is more time-efficient?
Matrixify is generally more time-efficient due to:
Faster processing of large files
- Ability to make partial updates
- Better error handling
- Real-time progress tracking
How do they compare in terms of cost?
Shopify CSV: Free with Shopify subscription
Matrixify: Requires separate subscription but offers more features and efficiency