How To Plan A Successful Book Launch
Noah’s story by Obaro Olamide sold about five hundred copies on the day of its launch. Within six months of its release, it had sold over two thousand copies. That might not seem like a lot, but authors are fully aware of the painful struggle that comes with book sales.
What did Noah do to have achieved such a milestone?
A successful book launch.
If you’re planning to release your book soon, you must have considered whether or not to hold a book launch. Of course, your major concern must be the success of the book launch. You are, after all, a writer, not an event planner!
We come bearing good news – you can have a successful book launch! A book launch event is a great marketing strategy that can generate sales for your book. With the blood, sweat, and tears that go into writing a book, you deserve to celebrate.
Below, you will find five practical steps to guide you in planning a successful book launch;
- Create a budget and stick to it.
- Select an appropriate venue for the event.
- Ensure that your book is ready to hit the market.
- Provide prizes
- Make use of the Media.
Read on for more details.
Create a budget and stick to it
The first step in planning a successful book launch is to establish a budget. When planning your budget, you should remember that a successful book launch does not have to be expensive or extravagant. It’s up to you to decide how much money you want to spend. A simple, well-planned launch can be effective without breaking the bank.
Your budget should include the following expenses:
- Rental fees
- Advertisement
- Media coverage
- Refreshments
- Decorations
- Prizes and other promotional materials
You shouldn’t get carried away with your planning to the extent you go beyond your financial capability. Keep your numbers in mind throughout the planning process. Besides, your guests aren’t expecting a big Great Gatsby-themed party.
Select an appropriate venue for your book.
The location you choose for your book launch is crucial, just like any other event. It should be held in a central and easily accessible location so that as many invitees as possible can attend. It is entirely up to you to choose the type of venue, but it is also relative to the people you invite. Who are your target readers? Does your book have a formal tone? Answer these questions to choose the right location.
One unique way to choose a book launch location is to match it to a feature of your books, such as a setting, plot, or character. If your book is set in Spain, for example, you could hold your launch at a Spanish tapas bar or a Mexican restaurant.
Similarly, if your main character is an artist, you might opt for an art studio space or an art gallery for the launch.
Ensure that your book is ready to hit the market
The major reason for writing a book is to sell, and a book launch is a great avenue for promoting your book. You must ensure that your book is ready and you are also in the right state of mind to sell. If you hold your launch in a bookstore, the staff will almost certainly handle the sales.
Take into account, however, that if you go with this option, you’ll be effectively splitting a percentage of the profit with the bookstore.
If your books are stocked in a bookstore, they will be purchased from you at a much lower price to make a profit. You should also know that most bookstores have a sell-or-return policy, which means that the copies of your book that aren’t sold will be returned to you at your expense.
Provide prizes
Having some prizes to give away at your book launch is a fun way to get everyone involved. A copy of your book would be a great prize, but you don’t want to give away too many! People are more inclined to buy your book at the venue. The prizes do not have to be book-related, nor do they have to be expensive. Simple giveaways, such as a ‘lucky door surprise’ or a lighthearted competition, are ideal for a book launch. They also enhance interest and excitement in the event.
Make use of the Media
Books sell by word of mouth or media releases! You can write to local media stations weeks before the event and ensure you follow up. Some stations might also offer coverage besides publicity.
These days, nothing spreads news as fast as a social media like or share! So before the event day, you can promote your book launch online to get attention.
At the event, take images to share on social media and urge your guests to do the same. You could even create a special hashtag for the event (try #(nameofbook)launch or something similar) and encourage attendees to use it by awarding a prize for the best photos shared.
There is more work to be done.
After the event, you could follow up with a blog post that includes reviews and photos from the event for those who were unable to attend. You should also send thank-you notes to the organisers (if any), helpers and attendees. You should get their email addresses to create a mailing list for subsequent promotions and newsletters.
We hope you find the steps highlighted above helpful.
If you need help promoting your books or planning a successful book launch, you can reach out to us. We offer the best publishing services.
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