4 Tips for a Successful Book Launch
When you’re finally done writing your manuscript, it feels like reaching the finish line—until you realize there are so many steps to getting your book in readers’ hands. When you’re a self-published author, you have a lot to learn about the publishing industry, and it can be overwhelming, especially when you discover that you’re responsible for everything. If you’re an indie author on the cusp of finishing a book, you may feel unsure about what to do after you write the final words. How do you get people to buy your work once it’s out in the world?
If you’re new to the publishing world (or even if you have a couple of books under your belt), it can be hard to pinpoint what might make or break a title. Various factors come into play, so pulling off a successful book launch can be challenging even for experienced authors. That’s why we’ve put together a few tips that can increase the likelihood of that happening.
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How to ensure a successful book launch
1. Draw up a plan
The first step to a successful book launch is to invest time in formulating a plan. This will keep you organized and on track as opposed to drowning in a chaotic, stressful mess. You don’t need an overly complicated strategy, but you should have a list of things you want to do (such as teasers, blog posts, giveaways, and interviews) and a schedule for doing them.
If you want to do all of this and more, you can, but you certainly don’t have to (and we’ll suggest a couple of things we believe you should prioritize). The important part is that you have a plan of attack. Otherwise, your book will be out in the world, and you’ll be scrambling to promote it. Having a plan means a launch that is as stress-free as possible, and it gives you more time to think carefully about your marketing strategy.
How rigorous your schedule is depends on what works best for you. You also get to decide exactly what you do and how you do it. In a sense, simply having a plan is more important than the precise contents of that plan.
2. Make time for a virtual book tour
There’s a reason most publishers want their authors to do a book tour: It boosts book sales. Most self-published authors will do virtual book tours, and these can be just as valuable in terms of expanding beyond your current audience and reaching new readers.
Obviously, you won’t be on the road—a virtual book tour is about putting yourself and your book out there on the internet. Sometimes, self-published authors do a virtual book tour through interviews on book blogs, YouTube channels, or podcasts. Keep a list of online platforms focused on your genre and reach out to them. Many are happy to talk to indie authors, so leave some blocks of time open as you prepare your pre- and post-launch schedule.
3. Line up early reviews
A great way to build a sense of anticipation ahead of your book launch is by getting early reviews. Plan to give away a few advanced reader copies (either print books or eBooks) so your title can amass some ratings and reviews by the launch date. Reach out to book reviewers through book accounts you follow—you can find them on just about every social media platform (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, etc.) and, of course, on independent book blogs.
You can also get in touch with reviewers through your newsletter or your social media accounts. Gathering reviews isn’t just about reaching out to book influencers—you also want to collect some early reviews for your sales pages. We can’t stress enough how important reviews are for your book! For example, Amazon is more likely to show your book in recommendation feeds if it has reviews, thus greatly expanding your reach. Make sure to send advanced reader copies at least a couple of weeks before the launch so reviewers have time to read the book and post their reviews.
4. Share a link for reviews
Yes, we’re mentioning reviews again! That’s because you’ll want to keep generating them after your book is out in the world. You’ll have that first round of pre-launch reviews from early readers, but you should aim to keep up the momentum once your book is available to all.
One common mistake self-published authors make when promoting their books is not reminding readers to write a review. The best way to get them to do it is by making it easy, so share a link to where they can review your book and put it everywhere you can—include it in your social media bios and in newsletters with a friendly reminder to your readers to rate and review your work.
Fans are often happy to leave a review, especially if you’re an indie author. However, you can also incentivize them to write reviews by organizing giveaways or offering other rewards to randomly selected reviewers.
A final piece of advice
As a self-published author, you will need to get comfortable promoting yourself. This is often one of the hardest parts for most authors. Writing is a quiet, solitary activity, and many writers feel uncomfortable in the public marketing space. On the bright side, it’s something you get used to, not to mention that you don’t have to go it alone. With our marketing packages, you can get help promoting your book from professionals who have assisted countless authors in their publishing journey.
