So, I'm about two months away from releasing my next book
, and I'm sorting through my distribution/marketing options. I'm obliged to offer signed paperbacks because people have already claimed a spot on the preorder list even though I haven't actually started a list yet. 
So while thinking about preorder lists and talking with a friend about ordering incentives, I had an idea...With Red Rain, I opened up preorders as soon as I knew how much the book would cost. This was mostly out of necessity - I wasn't ordering many extra hard copies, so if you wanted a signed one I had to know ahead of time. There was no incentive for preordering; the price was the same. This go-round, however, I will probably be keeping more books in stock for other purposes. So preordering isn't a necessity but rather a courtesy, almost as a way to raise some of the printing funds beforehand. So I was wondering... perhaps it would be a good idea to offer some kind of incentive for preordering, to encourage early sales?
So the question is two-fold... Is an incentive a good idea, and if so, what?
Offering a discount and/or free shipping is the obvious option, although I won't know how feasible that is until I can calculate the cost of the book. A free ebook would make sense but doesn't seem very special to me. I will be selling an audiobook album later, so that's a possibility. Of course, collaborating with someone else to offer a discount on their product (and them offering a discount on mine) would be awesome, if anyone was game.
Ideas?
Yea, I knoweth that most of my preorders are loyal fans, and it really means a lot to me that y'all are willing to preorder just because you love my writing. However, I am wondering if offering an incentive might not only be a "thank-you" to people who are going to preorder anyway, but also encourage other people to preorder. People who might be on the fence about my book, or people who normally wouldn't go for a signed copy. Maybe offering a discount or incentive of some kind would encourage more of the general populace to order ahead of time. Not only does that give me more funds upfront for printing costs, but depending on my price points, I often make a little bit more on signed copies. (Donno if that'll hold true for Peter's Angel, though.)
(surprise, surprise coming from me) Anyhow, that's idea one.
Who doesn't like a free T-shirt?