Sue has a conversation with Anna Scheller of USABizparty about the importance of good editing, and some resources to get it done.
Category: Book Promotion
Book Launch Party (Virtual)
Note: This was originally written for in-person book launch parties. Things have changed and I’ve updated with information in italics for a virtual book launch party.
Time to celebrate the launch of your book! It’s fun and exciting to host a party and invite your friends. This is a big accomplishment. Here are some things to consider to make this a successful book launch party.
Venue
Where will the party be? If you can arrange to have it somewhere that is likely to attract more readers, that would be ideal. Consider your local library or local bookstores.
Updated for virtual event: plan a Zoom or Facebook Live party and invite your friends, email list, and share it on social media.
Who is Invited?
The more the merrier! Of course you’re going to invite your family and friends. Don’t forget your business associates. If you’re having the party at a library or bookstore, prepare fliers to be posted at these locations at least a week in advance so the general public can attend. Then post it on social media so a larger audience is aware and invited to come.
Updated for virtual event: now you can invite everyone online!
Refreshments
Refreshments don’t need to be elaborate. But a few treats and drinks will keep people around longer which may mean they are more likely to purchase your book – or additional copies for friends.
Updated for virtual event: invite your attendees to a virtual refreshment. Perhaps post a photo of your favorite drink and invite them to do the same. You could have some fun engagement this way.
Books and Book Signing
Remember to bring enough books. It’s better to have too many than to run out. How will you sign the book? Decide that in advance. And if you’re going to write the buyer’s name, be sure to ask how to spell it.
Updated for virtual event: having physical books and signing them is not an option here. However, you might have some postcards or bookmarks made up, sign them, and run a contest. Winners get a signed postcard or bookmark sent to them.
Tell a story
Keep it brief. You might share a short story about the process of writing your book or about who you dedicated the book to. Remember to thank those who came to the party. Talk to your guests individually. If possible, try to speak to each person who attended to thank them for coming. They will appreciate your personal interest.
Updated for virtual event: here’s one thing that doesn’t change much. You’ll now be doing it on camera instead of in person.
Thank You
Remember to send thank you notes to anyone who helped with the book launch party and to the venue if you held it at a library or bookstore. Focus on building relationships, rather than selling books, for the most successful book launch. Those relationships may lead to future book sales.
Updated for virtual event: thank everyone during the event who joins you for your virtual book party.
Get more support for your book launch and download our checklist.
Using a Press Release for Book Promotion
A press release is a great book promotion tool for nonfiction authors. It lets the media know why your book is timely and practical, and can help you get publicity for your book. It’s perfect for announcing your initial book release. However, you can also use additional press releases for your book any time you can tie in your book’s topic to a current event or topic.
As an example, my client Deborah Olson sent out a press release around Friendship Day because it tied in with the topic of her book The Healing Power of Girlfriends: How to Create Your Best Life Through Female Connection.
Press releases can be submitted online and to local media people. For the best results, take time to research how to write a press release and when it’s written, proofread carefully and have another set of eyes proofread again.
Free Book Marketing Ideas
You don’t have to spend money for all your book marketing efforts. There are free ways to market your book. Here are just a few.
- Interview an industry influencer who has read your book and write a blog post about what they found most useful in the book—or ask the influencer if they would be willing to write a guest post about your book.
- Create a group from your Facebook author page. Share tips from your book and ask questions, encouraging engagement. Be sure to share information related to your topic from other sources as well.
- Pitch to the media—podcasters, radio shows, etc. What is a current topic that you can tie in with your book’s topic? Create a pitch and reach out to the media.
- Send a digital (Kindle or PDF) copy of your book as a gift to five people who are interested in your topic and ask them to consider reviewing it. Don’t say you’ll send a free copy if they’ll leave a positive review of your book. Just send the book and ask them to consider leaving an honest review.
What other free book marketing ideas do you have? Please share them in the comments.
Book Marketing with Email
Marketing to your email list can be very effective for nonfiction authors–if done right. Here are some quick Dos and Don’ts.Do
- Use an email tool such as MailerLite to manage your email lists and avoid any issues with spam.
- Send a welcome email as soon as someone signs up for your list. Using an email tool you can automate this. I like to send an additional personal email as well.
- Provide great content in your email. Share tips your readers will find valuable and that pique their interest in your books and services.
- Share something personal and invite conversation. Your readers want to know about you and what you’re doing. End the email inviting your reader to reply with any comments or questions and assure them you will personally respond.
Don’t
- Don’t buy a list. You only want people on your list who actually want to hear from you—not some random stranger from a list you bought.
- Don’t borrow some else’s list. The people on their list didn’t sign up to hear from you. However, you might be able to collaborate with another author. If the author agrees, and you’ve written complimentary books, you may each be able to share the other’s book information with your respective lists and thereby reach a wider audience.
- Don’t add someone to your list without their explicit permission. No matter how interested you think they might be, if they didn’t say “Please add me to your email list” don’t do it.
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