After several hours of writing your book, proofreading and editing the manuscripts and sending it to your publisher for publication, your book is finally out for the whole world to read and appreciate your creation. Hosting your book launch is arguably the best part of publishing a book because you finally get to share the work you’ve been toiling over for years and bask in the glory of your friends and family. Publishing is only one of the many steps involved in launching a book. To sell your book, you’ve got to do a lot more than simply publish it. It’s also your responsibility to promote it. It doesn’t matter if you’re working with a publisher, you should still have an active role in your book launch.
Book promotion can be overwhelming when you don’t have a plan so here are the steps that you should take when planning your book launch:
- Choose A Date For Your Book Launch: If you want your book launch to be as effective as possible, you will need to take the time and date of your book launch into account. The time and date of your book launch is a very important factor because there are specific days where a book launch is at its most effective. Once you decide when you’ll release your book, you will have a specific goal to work toward and it’s important that you should start planning your launch six to 12 months before you publish your book as this gives you ample time to adequately prepare and set the logistics for your successful book launch.
- Utilize Social Media: As an author, you should have an active social media page to allow for easy passage of information and interaction with your readers. Social media can be used to create anticipation for your book many months before your book launch. You can also use social media to show off snippets of your work and notify potential readers on when and where your book launch will be. You can also use your author blog to notify your current fan base on the details of your book launch. You could also take photos on the night to share on social media, and encourage your guests to do the same. You might even like to set up a dedicated hashtag for the launch (try #[nameofbook]launch or something similar). Overall, social media is a very potent tool when it comes to book marketing.
- Choose The Right Venue: Consider the ideal location, number of guests, and the atmosphere you want to create. Some authors like the intimacy and accessibility that their own home provides. Others prefer more space and host their launches at bookstores, schools, or rented spaces. Look online for places that have already hosted book launches if you need inspiration.
Other ways to plan a successful book launch are sending an invitation card to your guests, planning a giveaway and also sending a thank you note to your guests.
Did you find these tips helpful, let us know in the comments section.