Planning is always helpful, but maybe you are ready to launch your book now or you have already Launched your book. Another reason planning is helpful is there may be a lot of activity around your topic at different times and you want to plan your launch to coincide so that you can ride the wave of news or activities.
For instance, one of my Texas client’s has fun, humorous books about Bar-B-Que and our state magazine (read by hundreds of thousands of people) has a BBQ Festival to support their annual 50 Best BBQ Joints in Texas article. So he publishes close to that weekend to get the added benefit that everyone is talking about their favorite BBQ restaurants or Pitmasters.
Regardless you can use a STREET TEAM at any time but it is Secret 3 in my mind for helping you become a successful author.
What are the steps?
You want to make a list of 10 (or more) individuals who will help you promote your book. It might be a family member, friend, former or current associate, or another author who has an email list, who posts regularly on social media or otherwise has some visibility or access to other people.
You want to tell them that you will reciprocate and do something in return for them.
You want to write a script to give them and tell them you have an email sequence you can send them. This script will have some verbiage they can use as is or they can modify as they feel led. This copy needs to include the title of your book, a description of what the book is about, and a link to your website (if selling yourself), Amazon link, Ingram link or other platform, and a timeframe if you are doing some kind of discount for a short time to develop urgency or drive traffic.
You want to give people at least a couple of weeks if not a month to six weeks to implement this activity for you. Many people are happy to help you but they need to fit it into their own work, family or personal schedule. If someone says, “No.” just say thank you and move on to the next person. Don’t get mad or get your feelings hurt. Some people just have issues or may have battles they are fighting that you know nothing about, even if they are family or friends.
You want to send a Thank You Note to all the people who supported you.
These are a few steps to creating a promotional team so you are not acting alone. If you only get a response from 5-6 that works also. There is no right or wrong number you just need a few if they have a following of a few hundred or a few thousand followers or people on their email list. [One of the benefits of paid membership is access to actual scripts or email sequences.]
Of course, you can always pay a platform or an individual or firm for a book advertising, public relations, or social media campaign that will support the launch of your book, but this STREET TEAM should be a free quid pro quo transaction.
If someone is a REAL Influencer and has a large list of followers they might request a fee to participate. If they do – you just have to decide if the cost is reasonable for the number of people reached, AND if their audience is your Ideal Audience (go back and read the other WRITING SECRET 1 articles,) if you are not sure.
Relaunching A Book That Has Been Out A While
You can always relaunch a book by doing a special promotion (holiday, anniversary when first published, your own birthday or anniversary, a special occasion celebrated across the country or world about the topic, or even a made up special occasion). For special days, weeks or months just put your topic in a google search and ask if there are special days when the topic is celebrated and plan your special day around that.
For example, I write about Black Cowboys and National Day of the Cowboy is celebrated across the United States on the last Saturday of July each year. So that is a great opportunity for me. Also because my books are historical in nature, February – Black History Month and March –Women’s History Month are also times when people are looking for speakers, books or special programs to celebrate contributions.
If you have more questions about SECRET 3: LAUNCHING your book, read the other articles or post you questions or comments below.
Here’s to a successful launch or relaunch!
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