The Importance of Book Launches and Long-Term Promotion

Whether you work with a traditional publisher or embrace the self-publishing route, it’s not enough to just write and publish a book.

You can release the best book since the invention of the printing press, but if nobody knows about it, how many copies will you sell?

This article provides eight ideas to assist your book sales, many that you can plan long before your book is ready for release.

Speaking of Being Ready for Release …

Never spill your words into a first draft and publish without editing. A novel filled with spelling, grammar, and formatting errors will alienate readers. Once you have alienated them, they may remember your name and avoid all books written by you.

Perform multiple edits before you ask beta readers for advice.

Some writers join sites such as Scribophile for critiques. You don’t have to pay for the advice, but it’s quid pro quo, and you must give as much as you get. (You can learn a lot by critiquing the work of other writers.)

If you can’t afford an editor, critiques and multiple edits are even more valuable.

Need a writing buddy? a critique partner? a beta reader? Check this post by K.M. Weiland.

Titles Are Important

Don’t opt for a title that has already been used. It should be unique and memorable.

When readers discuss your book or you’re granted an interview on a podcast or book blog, you shouldn’t have to explain that your book isn’t [fill in the blank with a popular book title].

It Also Needs an Eye-Catching Cover

Nix the bare chests if it’s a romance novel. Bare chests are overdone. Passé. Forgettable. Work with your cover designer to create graphics that look as good — and are as readable in thumbnail format — as they are on your finished book.

Ask unbiased acquaintances or social media contacts for their opinions, especially if you design your own cover.

Now That It’s Ready to Go …

Browse through the following suggestions.

If you’ve already had one or more successful book launches, please share your tips and ideas in the comments section. And be sure to include a link to your book.

Tip #1: Share Your Enthusiasm on Social Media

In the weeks before your official launch, let everyone know. Many writers set up advance sales so that on release, their book shows high in sales figures.

Announce on social media the dates and details of any events such as those that follow.

Tip #2: Pitch Your Book to Bloggers

You can find book bloggers by hunting for these hashtags on social media and in search engines:

• #BookBlogger
• #BookBloggers

Searches like the following will bring up even more results:

• list of book bloggers
• book blogs

Browse each book blog before you contact the owner. You want to find a site that has a pleasant design, recent posts, and a decent number of comments.

Tip #3: Arrange a Guest Blog or Podcast Tour

Similar to the previous tip, search for these hashtags:

• #BookBlogTour
• #BookBlogTours

And more searches:

• list of book blog tours
• find book blog tours
• book podcast tours
• podcast tours for writers

Scrutinize blogs and podcasts for comments and frequency of posts. Other writers might have recommendations, pro and con.

Tip #4: Set Up a Book-Signing Event

Book-signing events can range from appearances at nearby libraries, to presentations in bookstores, to pleasant evenings at entertainment venues. Your imagination is the limit.

Try to anticipate how many books you’ll sell at each event, and make it easy for people to pay.

Before autographing your work of art, ask everyone how to spell their name. Is it “Stephen” or “Steven”? “Marcia” or “Marsha”? “Brian” or “Bryan”? “Debby” or “Debbie”?

Tip #5: Plan a Few Book Readings

Book readings can take place anywhere people gather. For example:

• in a public library
• at a community fund raiser
• in a school
• in a bookstore

Rehearse. Rehearse. Rehearse again.

If you record each rehearsal, you’ll see and hear problems before your public reading. Think of questions your audience might ask, and prepare answers well in advance of the event.

You know the words, but your audience won’t, so you’ll need to speak loudly, slowly, and clearly, pausing at every comma, including facial expressions where appropriate, and stopping occasionally to engage with your listeners by meeting their eyes.

Remember to thank the audience and host before you leave.

And don’t forget to bring a stack of books to autograph and sell.

Tip #6: Notify News Media

Find:

• nearby radio stations
• newspapers, printed and online
• local clubs that might have an interest in your book’s focus

Leave a copy of your book and volunteer for an interview.

Many authors send out press releases. Search the net for how to write a press release for a book, and you’ll find lots of information.

Tip #7: Leverage Little Free Libraries and Similar Sites

Little Free Library is based in the United States but has expanded to several countries.

From their website: “Little Free Library book-sharing boxes play an essential role by providing 24/7 access to books (and encouraging a love of reading!) in areas where books are scarce. At the Little Free Library nonprofit, we’re working to fill book deserts and grant libraries to underserved communities through our Impact Library Program and other initiatives.”

LFL provides a way for you to find a Little Free Library.

If you can’t locate what you need at the LFL website, try internet searches such as “little free library” “[name of community]” (including quotation marks). Although the results include sites that aren’t part of the LFL program, they’ll offer free books. Drop off one book or more, and maybe you’ll discover some interesting reads.

Can’t find a site? Ask on social media.

Tip #8: Brainstorm

Try something different: a virtual treasure hunt, for example. Leave hourly or daily hints on social media, providing clues to an imaginary location for your book. Winner(s) should receive an autographed copy.

Let’s say you choose the crook in the left arm of the statue of Michelangelo’s David. Clues could start out general and get more specific:

• inanimate
• exposed
• detailed
• artistic
• hero
• crook (a deliberate misdirect)
• marble
• gallery
• Florence
• Michelangelo

How many copies of your book will you award? One to each of the first five people who guess correctly?

Your social media post and the interest generated by the guesses will raise the visibility of your book.

Find more inspiration by searching the internet with phrases such as:

• weird ways to promote books
• unusual ways to promote books
• book promotion ideas

Eight Tips Barely Scratch the Surface

Do you have questions? Do you need help? Did you do something different for your book launch? What worked? What didn’t? Please leave a comment.

P.S. Don’t forget to leave a link to your book.