6 Strategies in Achieving a Successful Book Launch
You may have been working on your book for months or even years. It encompasses the countless of writing, editing, and rewriting. Now is the time to click the “publish” and share your book with the world—but hold on! Are you ready?
Publishing
It is just one of the several processes required in book launching. To successfully market your book, you must do much more than merely publish it. Additionally, it is your obligation to advertise it. Whether you are working with traditional publishing or self-publishing your book, you should still be an active participant in the book launching.
Without a strategy, book promotion may be a daunting task. Therefore, let us devise a strategy. The following are the actions you should take to launch your book.
Traditional Publishing
Prior to the book release, if you work with a traditional publisher, they will assist you in promoting your book. Every little bit counts. However, if you are a new author who has yet to find an audience, do not anticipate the publisher to foot the bill for an extravagant book release. If the publisher has the resources and relationships, they might be able to arrange for you to go on a book tour or run a small ad campaign.
Rather than relinquishing control, engage with your agency to launch your book. Then based on the options listed below, decide on how you want to market your book.
Self-Publishing
If you operate as your own publisher, you can complete all of the processes outlined below. Each stage is doable by either a novice or an expert.
Strategy 1: Date of Book Launch
The first step toward a successful launch is selecting a date. Once you’ve decided on a publishing date for your book, you’ll have a concrete objective to strive toward.
Ideally, you should begin preparing your launch six to twelve months in advance of the publication of your book. If possible, choose a launch date that is at least a few months in the future. This allows you sufficient time to complete all of the tasks in this book without feeling pressed for time or swamped.
Speaking of, if you’re self-publishing, your soft launch occurs after the publication process is complete. Bear in mind, though, that if you’re publishing on Amazon or another self-publishing site, it takes approximately 24 hours or more to set up and publish the book to various sites, so your real launch will occur the following day.
Strategy 2: Creating Author Website
The following stage is to develop a website. As an author, you require a platform for self-promotion and book promotion. While you may accomplish this on social media as well, it is critical that you establish your area. You are the owner of your website. You only rent your social media profile. If the social media gods choose to delete your profile, you can do nothing. It’s usually preferable to have total control over your website.
Include the standard elements such as an about page, social networking connections, and contact information on your website. Additionally, it would be best if you designated pages for each of your books (more on that next). The second excellent idea is to incorporate a blog into your website. You may generate excitement for your approaching book launch by using your blog. Additionally, blogging assists you in growing your email list. Begin collecting email addresses early to tell your email subscribers of your impending launch. Include high-resolution photographs of yourself, a bio, extracts from your book(s), and the book cover in this package(s).
Each book should have its landing page—a page on your website dedicated to advertising your book. Utilize this page to offer snippets from your book and pique the interest of site visitors in reading it.
On this landing page, you’ll find information about your book’s cover, a trailer (if you have one), and early reader reviews. Additionally, your landing page should capture email addresses. The most effective method of obtaining email addresses is to provide something in exchange. Tease a book giveaway or provide an instant download of the first chapter of your book.
Strategy 3: Become an active user of social media.
Without the assistance of social media, it is impossible to sell a book these days. Employ social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and even YouTube to establish a personal and true connection with your audience.
Recognize the strengths of each platform. For instance, Facebook is the ideal platform for marketing. You’ll be able to contact your audience on Facebook, which has over two billion members. Utilize Facebook to generate interest in your book. Specific audiences can be targeted based on their demographics, interests, and habits.
Twitter is an excellent platform for initiating conversations with your audience. By utilizing popular hashtags, you may attract new readers and involve them directly in your conversation.
Instagram is all about relationship development. Instagram is an ideal outlet for showcasing your personality, motivation, writing process, and workplace. This might help establish a personal connection with prospective readers prior to the publication of your book.
YouTube is ideal for spreading the word about your upcoming book. YouTube is the second-largest search engine on the Internet (behind Google). Create a book video trailer and upload it on YouTube. Conduct an interview with yourself and upload the video to YouTube. Discuss your method, read portions from your novel, and explain how you developed the book’s concepts and characters.
You are not required to be present at every stage. Choose one or two and then concentrate your efforts on establishing an audience prior to the publication of your book.
Strategy 4: Take a tour of blogs and podcasts.
It would be best if you exposed yourself in order to sell books.
Contact bloggers, particularly book bloggers in your chosen category, a few months before your book’s debut. They may do a book review or perhaps an interview with you. Certain blogs will accept a guest article in exchange for a blurb about your impending book. Accept the offer if you believe your target audience will read the guest article. Bear in mind that there is no such thing as too much exposure when it comes to promoting your book.
Additionally, conduct research on podcasts relevant to your target demographic and then contact the presenter to request an interview. Arrange the interview in advance of your book’s debut. (It is OK if the interview occurs after the book is released.)
Arrange as many interviews/guest posts/book review chances as possible in the months running up to the publication of your book.
Strategy 5: Giveaway Participation.
Hosting a giveaway is a simple method to increase interest in your future book. There are various methods for accomplishing this:
Promote a contest on Facebook or Instagram.
To coincide with the book launch, promote a giveaway on your book’s landing page (and encourage email signups).
Conduct a Goodreads or LibraryThing book giveaway.
Giveaways are an excellent method to raise awareness. Even if they did not win the contest, some would purchase the book out of genuine interest.
Strategy 6: SEARCH FOR A LOCATION FOR YOUR LAUNCH PARTY
There are two ways to have a launch party: Go virtual or host it physically. While virtual launch parties may be arranged on any website, they are more participatory and accessible when conducted via social media. Facebook is the preferred platform for virtual book launches. Plan your virtual launch celebration for the same day as your physical launch.
Contact nearby establishments such as bookstores, libraries, cafés, and event venues if you’re planning an in-person launch party. Additionally, prepare an event calendar for your party (it’s never too early to begin planning). Consider games and freebies and which book excerpts you will present, and when you will sign book covers.
If possible, send a “reserve the date” notice at least 2-3 months in advance. This enables potential partygoers to pencil you in. Then, two months before the event, issue an official invitation. Include the event’s name, the date, the venue, and the time.