If you do a few searches on the internet you will find list on top of list on what do to do for a book launch. Learning that this information isn’t just for indie authors like myself but for traditionally published authors as well was eye-opening. We have this vision of what a traditional publisher does for their authors when a book comes out but that is all an illusion.
So what am I doing, where is my list right after all that is why you clicked after all?
Let’s start with the tasks I have completed as of today.
Post the synopsis on Social media and web site
Get web site domain
Email beta readers
Create Goodreads and Amazon author page
Inventory of stylized photos of the book
Quote cards/fancy graphics
Giveaways of ARC
Set up ARC campaign on Booksprout
Count down to launch
Book trailer video
Glimpses of your author life for social media
Look for fellow romance authors
Merch site and social media campaign
Post on a fansite for the actor that inspired the main character
What do I have left to do?
Update author profiles
Giveaways for special items
Share early reviews
Book launch day
Newsletter for launch day
Update social media headers
Update website
Celebratory social media post
Try to join multi-author promotions
Look for romance book bloggers and social media people
Send ARC’s to blogs and podcasts
Q&A sessions
Regular giveaways
Seasonal book buzz posts
Celebrate success with readers
Read a chapter on my author chat channel
Send beta readers their copies and gifts
Host beta reader events
Sign items
Videos for my YouTube channel
Announce book tour
Fly to the first location of the book tour and back
Now that you have seen this list you might be thinking to yourself that you don’t want or need to do all of that. My list is small in comparison to some. But here are some facts about being an author whether indie or traditional.
I know you don’t want to hear this so I will try to be as gentle as I can be. Are you ready?
Not only do you have to be a writer and write as well as you can at whatever level you are, and you also have to be your own first editor. But, you also have to be your own marketer yes you have to do marketing. You have to sell your book that’s the point.
There are millions of books in your genre and in your subgenre, you have to stand out.
Here are some ideas from a search on marketing your book for authors.
From Reedsy Blog
Some advice from this blog that I found interesting.
If your book is very new and relatively unknown you might be hard to secure a spot on BookBub. I know I signed up for BookBub in January and my profile is still pending. BookBub promotes limited-time eBook offers to its email subscribers. You can look into their competitors like; eBook Soda
eReaderIQ
If you sign up with all 5 of these the cost could be over $200 USD but it does generate downloads of your book. I linked the sites I am going to check out.
Call and email local libraries and independent bookstores and offer them free print or eBook copies of your book. If you distribute with IngramSpark then you can use that to inform local libraries that your book is available through them.
“Your Book Online, In Stores, and Around the World
When you self-publish with IngramSpark, you are plugged in to one of the publishing industry’s largest global book distribution networks, including access to over 40,000…
Independent bookstores
Online stores
Chain stores
Ebook retailers
Libraries
Universities” IngramSpark https://www.ingramspark.com/how-it-works/distribute
Another idea from this blog is to contact local media outlets.
Write an advice column or write advice to authors on your blog.
Create/join a forum
Create social media platforms on the big sites like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and more.
Create a YouTube account.
Attend book publishing events and conferences.
Check for meet-up groups that you can attend or other local and regional networking groups.
Check local activity clubs.
Set up your Goodreads author page.
Seek out book clubs.
Try doing readings or sending copies to places like;
Retirement homes
Elementary and other school grades depending on the genre
Coffee shops
Community colleges
Universities
Local bookstores
Rehab centers
Hospitals
Libraries
Churches
If your book is set in a location other than you currently live contact those sites in that location. My books are set in Seattle but I live in North Texas.
Another blog by Reedsy 50 Book marketing ideas
You should understand your target reader. Build a proto-persona of your target reader and role-play a bit to understand them.
Identify and build your street team. A street team is a group of dedicated readers. They also have a blog link on that page on Building your Street Team in 4 Simple Steps
I hope that you found this helpful. Please let me know if you have any ideas.
The website is being updated almost daily as we get new ideas. We have ideas for some contests and special book-related fun. If you want to be kept up on what is happening and get some special freebies so make sure to sign up for my newsletter.
If you can’t buy my book and I completely understand no buy periods then here are some ideas on how to help whether you buy the book or not.
Sign up for the newsletter
Follow me on Goodreads
Follow me on Amazon
Read the blog posts
Join my Author chat
Follow me on social media
Thank you all so much.
Reading right now:
My Reading Challenge 34/80 so far.
Today I am reading a chapter of my book on my Author chat at 5pm CST if you would like to join us! https://discord.gg/gcynhQfV
Into the Fire is available for preorder on Amazon, Kobo, Nook, and Apple
How can you enter the giveaway of an ARC copy? Simply join my newsletter or become a member of the blog before the countdown ends. You also get some lovely freebies.
Check out the merch for the book and series here.
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