A book launch is a momentous occasion and serves not only as a means for releasing your book into the world, but also as a celebration for your amazing accomplishment. Congratulations on reaching this incredible milestone in your writing and publishing journey!
So, how do you let the world know your book is available?
Create a launch plan that starts well in advance of your actual release date…at least 6 – 8 weeks in advance. A well thought-out plan can help focus your efforts and build a solid foundation long-term. Here are 6 essential elements for creating a successful launch plan:
Book launch parties are a great way to take a moment to celebrate your achievement with friends, family, fans, and the media. You can plan and host a book signing, themed party, or even an online event. Readers LOVE meeting authors and a successful event will help drive word of mouth, move books, build your credibility, and boost your platform as an author, speaker, or expert in your field. Venues like bookstores, libraries, cafes, pubs and event halls can be great spaces to hold your event.
Not all authors have the means or budget to do an in-person event. One cost-effective way to launch your book is to organize an online book blog tour. This virtual effort involves collaborating with online bloggers or groups to help promote your book, and is a great way to create awareness in a short amount of time. Focusing on the forums or blogs that best fit your genre and have a loyal group of active followers will yield results.
Whether in-person or online, you’ll want to create a schedule for the event and tap into your network of family, friends, and fellow authors to help if needed. Use your creativity to make it memorable and think about activities such as readings, games, giveaways, food and beverage, book signings and more when planning.
According to EduBirdie, more than half of the world’s total population now uses social media. That's over 3.8 billion people interacting on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For authors wanting to spread awareness for their new book, that's a lot of potential readers!
You’ll want to be active on at least one social media platform leading up to your book’s release. Visual platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest work well for authors because you can share engaging photos and short videos, allowing your personality to shine. Facebook in particular is great for connecting with book clubs and topic-based groups. If you enjoy producing longer videos, you might want to consider creating a YouTube channel. For nonfiction authors, Twitter and LinkedIn can be more effective.
Pick one platform that you are comfortable with or where you know your target readers are present. Let them know about major milestones and events such as your upcoming release date or launch party. Find creative ways to entertain, inform, and engage. You can share a funny meme, or talk about your passions outside of writing. With some effort, you can build a loyal group of followers over time and increase your discoverability online.
If you don’t currently have an author website, you should consider creating one. A good website will serve as a central hub where you can send readers and the media to find out everything about you and your book/s. It doesn’t need to be elaborate, but should include your author bio, book/s and where to buy, social media links, and any upcoming events. You can also start a blog page on your website. A simple website or blog can be created for free using platforms like WordPress and Wix.
A press release is a journalistic, one-page document that is used to generate media interest in you and your book. It is comprised of a catchy headline, compelling book description, the book’s metadata, author contact information, name of the publisher, release date, and where the book will be available for purchase.
A well-written, newsworthy press release can lead to interviews, mentions in newspapers or magazines, blog articles, book reviews, and more. Think of it as your book’s business card and consider the target audience for your book when deciding where to send your press release. If the topic or theme of your book relates to businesses or nonprofit organizations, send them a copy of the press release. You’ll want to make sure any local newspapers, radio stations, or television stations also receive a copy.
Your press release is most effective when part of a comprehensive author media kit that includes professional headshots, book cover images, an author bio, and a sell sheet. This marketing tool can be created by you or a publicist, but if you do plan to tackle it yourself, make sure you understand the industry standards.
Reader reviews on sites such as Amazon and Goodreads are important once your book is released, as are professional reviews from sources like reputable book bloggers and independent review outlets. To acquire reviews before your book is officially released, you’ll need to execute an advance review copy (ARC) program for your book. This involves providing a free, pre-publication copy of your book to reviewers in exchange for an honest review. If you plan far enough in advance, you can have a whole group of followers or fans ready to post their reviews once your book goes live.
Endorsements and testimonials are blurbs from experts or other authors that lend credibility to a book, and are an important marketing asset. When acquired prior to publishing, you can include them on your book’s cover, in the front matter, and in any marketing copy. Getting a meaningful endorsement or testimonial can be as simple as just asking for one and offering a free copy of your book. These blurbs can be obtained from many sources including well-known authors in your genre, experts in a field related to your topics or themes, celebrities, and more.
It's important to have an informed distribution plan when you are getting ready to publish. In other words, where can readers purchase your book and in what formats? You want to make it as easy as possible for readers to purchase your book, so offering multiple purchase options and formats can help maximize your sales.
Many authors understand the importance of having their book for sale on Amazon, but what they underestimate are the untapped markets outside of Amazon. This includes independent bookstores, libraries, museums, and other retail or online outlets. Using online platforms like IngramSpark or an aggregator like Draft2Digital are definitely worth considering when wanting to expand your distribution beyond Amazon or your own website.
Now that you’ve created a buzz with the launch of your book, you’ll want to build a marketing plan to keep the momentum going. Make sure you have a good understanding of your target audience and the avenues that will be most effective in reaching them.
An integrated marketing plan that includes a combination of promotional efforts is usually the best approach. This includes your author website, social media pages, Amazon and Goodreads pages, an email newsletter, media appearances, reader reviews, and speaking engagements. A simple way to build a plan that will take some of the mystery out of the process is using the POEM Method of Book Marketing:
Publicity: Using traditional and online media to build awareness for your book.Online: Using digital channels including social media and your website or blog to communicate.Events: In-person interaction with potential readers and others in the industry such as signings and speaking.Multimedia: Engaging readers through photos, videos, podcasts, and more.
The acronym, POEM, is an easy way to remember what you need to do and provides an effective strategy long-term.
The launch of your book is an exciting and meaningful occasion! You can ensure the release is a success by planning ahead and implementing the elements described above. Whether publishing traditionally or independently, it’s important that you take an active role in announcing your book’s release to the world.
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These tips are much helpful. Having a blog/website as a medium to promote the book is important these days.