“Free Claim” vs “Buy Now” — Choosing the Right Listing Type
Pick the best path for lead-gen, sales, and strategy on Curios
Listing Overview
| Listing Type | Button Fans See | Money Collected | Typical Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free (Claim) | Claim | $0 (but you keep the fan’s email) | Lead-gen, reader magnets, ARC giveaways, podcast freebies |
| Buy Now (Sale) | Buy Now | You keep 100% of the sale price | Direct revenue, pre-orders, deluxe bundles, full releases |
On Curios, each collection's listing mode is set in Sales & Pricing → Listing Details. Below is a quick guide to choosing the right path.
1. Why pick one over the other?
| Scenario | Best Listing Type | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Launching a reader magnet | Free (Claim) | Zero friction—fans claim instantly and you collect their email |
| Sending ARC copies before launch | Free (Claim) | Set an end date so free doesn’t overlap your paid window |
| Running a flash-free promo | Free (Claim) with dates | Time-limited boost for read-through or visibility |
| Releasing a new single, book, or special | Buy Now (Sale) | Fans pay, you keep 100% |
| Scheduling a temporary price drop | Stacked Buy Now listings with dates | Auto-run timed sale windows |
2. How to set or change the Listing Type
- Log in at studio.curios.com and open your collection.
- Scroll to Sales & Pricing and find the Listing Details section.
- Click Edit or + New Listing.
- Select from the dropdown:
- Free (Claim): Price box disappears; fans claim instantly.
- Buy Now: Set a price (min. $0.50).
- (Optional) Add Start Date / End Date to schedule your listing.
- Click Save Changes (or Create Listing).
- Hit Update Collection to publish your settings.
3. How fans experience each option
| Checkout Flow | Free (Claim) | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|
| Cart step | Skipped (instant claim) | Standard checkout + platform fee |
| Payment required | None | Card, PayPal, Apple/Google Pay |
| Email captured | Yes | Yes |
| Reports | $0 line item | Full price credited to balance |
| User library | Appears instantly | Appears after payment |
4. Tips & FAQs
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can I switch from Free to Paid later? | Yes. End the Free listing and start a Buy Now one. Prior claimers keep access. |
| Will Free claims hurt sales? | Not if scoped—use on Book 1 or time-limited promos. |
| Do Free claims count toward Creator Fund? | Yes. They count as engagement volume. |
| Where do I view results? | Reports → Sales by Item shows quantity and revenue (or $0 for claims). |
5. Best-practice: “Free-then-Paid” Launch
- Stage 1 – Buzz Build: Free Claim starts now, ends launch morning.
- Stage 2 – Launch Sale: Buy Now at $2.99 starts immediately after.
- Stage 3 – Regular Price: Buy Now at $9.99 starts after the sale ends.
Curios will auto-flip your button from Claim → Buy Now $2.99 → Buy Now $9.99—no manual edits needed.
6. Need help?
If your Listing Type or date controls aren’t working as expected, reach out to [email protected] or submit a ticket via the Studio sidebar. We usually reply within one business day.