This explains what embargo dates are, why they matter for your digital products, and how to use them effectively when managing content availability through Snapplify. Whether you're scheduling a future release or ensuring content isn't visible before a specific date, this guide helps you understand and apply embargo dates correctly.

What Are Embargo Dates?

An embargo date is the future date when a product becomes available to customers. Until that date, the product remains hidden or inaccessible.

Why Use Embargo Dates?

Embargo dates are useful when:

  • You want to list a product in advance but only allow access on a specific date.

  • You’re launching a new product or edition and want to time its release.

  • Your contract or publishing agreement specifies a future availability date.

How Embargo Dates Work in Snapplify

When you upload product metadata, you can set an embargo date using the embargo_date field. This tells the Snapplify system when to make the product available for discovery and purchase.

Products with an embargo date:

  • Won’t appear in search or catalogues before the set date.

  • Become discoverable and purchasable as soon as the embargo date arrives.

  • Can still be managed or reviewed internally before the embargo lifts.

Setting Embargo Dates

To set an embargo date:

  1. In your metadata, use the embargo_date field.
  2. Ensure the date is in the format: YYYYMMDD(2025501).

  3. Upload your metadata.

Example: To embargo a book until 1 August 2025, add this to your metadata:

"embargo_date": "20250801"

Tips for Publishers

  • Plan embargo dates carefully to align with marketing or contractual obligations.

  • Communicate embargo dates with your customers and marketing teams.

  • Ensure metadata is updated before the embargo date to avoid availability delays.

Best practice for dealing with embargo dates

To mitigate complications and prevent customers from unknowingly paying for ebooks that they cannot access yet, we recommend using one of these approaches:

  • Start selling the ebook after the embargo date; or
  • Make the ebook available for sale but clearly indicate the implications to the customer. Let them know that even though they’ve bought the book, they will only be able to access the files once the embargo date has passed.
If you fail to use one of these options, you’ll be selling a book to customers that is not yet available for use.


Need help? Use the live chat in the bottom right corner of your screen, email us at help@snapplify.com or reach out via Whatsapp +27 60 011 8065.