How to Prepare for a
Successful Book Launch
By Sally Bosco
Be visible and provide
value to your readers.
Questions to consider:
• What is your value?
• Who needs your value the most?
• Where do those who need your value
congregate in large numbers?
• How can you create a consistent
experience for your readers/audience?
Six months prior to publication:
Social media basics:
Web page, Blog, Facebook, Twitter,
Goodreads, Amazon author page
http://sallybosco.com
Author platform:
Author identity and cohesive message
Author promo basics:
Blurbs, logline, bio, headshot
Six months prior to publication 2:
Organization:
The evil spreadsheets, desktop folders
Learn from successful authors:
Reverse-engineer books that are similar to
yours.
Find your target audience:
What existing audience do you have?
Draft communication approach.
Begin interacting with your target audience.
Give readers something of value.
Make your book discoverable.
Six months prior to publication 3:
Prepare blog posts:
While you’re writing your book, write
blog posts drafts.
Keep a running list of possible blog
topics.
Blog tours list:
Compile a list of possible sites.
Research possible paid advertising:
Book Bub, Net Galley
Six months prior to publication 4:
Book reviews:
KEEP A SPREADSHEET! *
Compile lists:
• Reviewers and book bloggers who fit your
subject matter.
• Trade publications written for those with an
interest in your niche.
• Reviewers who have reviewed your books in
the past.
• Places that do pre-publication reviews.
Create a sample book review query. *
Six months prior to publication 5:
Press/media kit (all virtual/electronic): *
Decide upon a format.
Compile the relevant info for your press kit.
• 1st page - Press release about you and your book.
Focus on what makes your book unique.
• 2nd page - More info about your book (theme,
summary, why this book is relevant, core issues)
• 3rd page - Your bio, headshot and list of other books.
Include awards, distinctions, links to relevant blog
posts and favorable reviews.
• 4th page - Interview questions and answers
• Every page should have your name, email and URL
Six months prior to publication 6:
Create a sell sheet for your book. *
Compile a list of where to send your
press release: local newspapers, relevant
magazines, radio and television stations,
book stores and alumni newsletters.
What magazines could review or write
about your book?
To which magazines could you send
articles?
Six months prior to publication 7:
Visit Radio-locator.com for a simple
means of contacting radio stations.
Check out Kidon Media Link for a list of
newspapers and TV outlets.
Extend your reach and to National
venues: NPR, the Today Show, NPR
(NPR contact sheet, NPR guidelines)
etc. You never know.
Six months prior to publication 8:
Speaking engagements:
• Compile a list of places where you might speak:
schools (if relevant), writers’ associations, book
discussion groups, writers’ conferences, libraries,
local television shows.
• Come up with subject matter ideas for your talk.
• Put together at least one talk you can give to local
organizations, schools, bookstores or libraries.
Solicit cover blurbs
Social Media: Put together sample tweets and Facebook posts
for your book.
Keywords
Three months prior to publication:
Create a teacher kit and/or reader’s guide.
For children’s and MG and YA novels:
• Find out preliminary info about doing
school visits. Media specialists (librarians)
are a great resource.
For adult novels:
• Make lists of book clubs in your area and
draft a letter/email to them asking them if
they’d like to use your book for discussion.
Offer a live or Skype visit.
Three months prior to publication 2:
• Put out feelers for and local groups,
bookstores or libraries that might be
receptive to a visit and or book signing.
• Line up pre-publication book reviews.
• Write more blog posts.
• Line up a blog tour schedule.
• Create and order promo items:
Postcards, business cards, posters. Create
clever postcard copy.
Three months prior to publication 3:
Arrange for a book launch party.
Coming up with ideas:
• Plan a multi-component event.
• Host a reading group for your book.
• Combined signing? Have a themed event in which each author
does a presentation.
Pitching your event to bookstores or other venues:
• Prepare a pitch letter, event overview flyer and a press release.
• Send press releases to local media.
• Plan an activity such as book reading and short writing
workshop.
• Have a contest with a goodie basket give away.
• Collect names/web addresses for an online newsletter.
Virtual book launch parties
One month prior to publication:
Social Media:
• Update all of your social media to reflect your new
book.
• Make sure that your blog feeds into Goodreads.
• Update your webpage, blog, Goodreads, Amazon
author page, Linked In personal page.
• Teaser saying that your book will be available for
purchase on X date.
• Cover reveal.
• Update your blog.
• Make sure your keywords are all in place.
Your Book is Published!!!
Your Book is Published!!!
Your Book is Published!!!
Post-publication activities:
• Update your press kit and post it on your blog.
• Finalize your book “sell sheet.”
• Revise your biography, webpage, Facebook, Twitter, and
Goodreads with live links and current book info.
• If you were able to get interviews from authors with books that
are similar to yours, post them to your blog.
• Make sure that your book has the Amazon “Look Inside the
Book” feature.
• List your book on Goodreads new releases.
• For children’s, MG and YA novels: contact local schools for
school visits.
• For adult novels: ask local book clubs if they’d like to use your
book for discussion. Offer a live or Skype visit.
Post-publication activities 2:
• Send your press release to: local newspapers, relevant
magazines, radio and television stations, book stores.
• Send press releases to free Internet PR sites. Request online
interviews and live chats with sites related to your book.
• Continue to submit your book for reviews to both traditional
and online reviewers.
• Speak at local writers' conferences, writers' groups, meetings
and book signings.
• Purchase ads in publications relevant to your book. (Do
research and get the biggest bang for your buck.)
• Purchase banner ads on websites related to your book.
• Form an alliance with a charitable institution that is related to
your book.
Post-publication activities 3:
• Send out your own newsletter.
• Amazon: bestseller lists, rankings, also-boughts, email
campaigns, KDP Select, KOLLS (Kindle Owners Lending Library)
• Attend conferences.
• Your web page:
Have your your blog on your opening page.
Have a web page contest.
Post writing articles.
Have a downloadable press kit.
Exchange links with other sites.
Post your appearance schedule.
Advertise workshops you can present.
Re-post articles that would be of interest to your readers
Use keywords to attract readers.
Post-publication activities 4:
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Submit your book for awards
Write articles for writers’ magazines.
Write book reviews.
Join various writing and genre lists (Goodreads).
Consider various retail outlets for your book:
• Bookstores specializing in selling specific genres (for
example, MysteryNet.com),
• Independent bookstores
• Airport stores (such as Hudson News Co.)
• Warehouse clubs (Costco, BJs, Anderson Merchandisers)
• Hospital gift shops (through Loris)
• Pharmacies (through Choice Books)
• Museum gift shops
Post-publication activities 5:
International marketing: (Search ‘foreign book rights.’)
•If you have an agent, ask if their agency has a foreign rights dep’t.
•Reference International Literary Marketplace for selling
international rights.
•Advertise your ebooks internationally:
• Ebook Bargains UK (covers 15 countries)
• Ebooks.com (60% market share in Australia.)
• Overdrive supplies books to China.
• Pothi in India allows didrect ebook uploads.
• Upload directly to: Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Amazon.fr,
Amazon.it, Amazon.es, Amazon.co.jp, Amazon.com.br,
Amazon.cn and Amazon.ca.
• The Alliance of Independent Authors - translation rights
service.
• Having a free book-a way to be discovered in overseas stores.
Post-publication activities 6:
Think outside the box:
•There are tons of creative ways to market your
book.
•“Think Different” about how you’d like to
accomplish that.
•Consider how much you’re willing to do, and
make your plans around that.
•Do you have any marketing tips you’d like to
share?
Thank you!!!
Handouts and presentation are
available on SallyBosco.com. Click
on the “Classes” tab.
Sally Bosco
SallyBosco.com
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