Empty Seats and How to Fill Them

It Takes More than Free Donuts Type of bookstore My relationship Sales numbers: $80.14 at NBS $3.85 and 20 returned copies at TPB Why? I sold all my other books at NBS (7 donuts, 1 V, 1 AOB, 2 Ataxia) and only my newest at TPB. Distance Book 2 launch party Sold 4 copies of Donuts book 2 Sold 2 copies of Donuts book 1

New Book Release Checklist: Planning A Fun and Inviting Launch How many of you are publishing a novel in the next 12 months?

Work Backwards Within 12 months time frame? Immediately! Website Social Media Get Connected/Network/Build email list/mailing list Blog regularly

Book Marketing Plan Launch calendar and deadlines Research To consider: Series vs. standalone Book genre Physical events and online events Other marketing?

12 Months Out - Website Author name? Branding and Consistency Must have pages Author bio Email list signup (newsletter) Books page Blog Links to social media Free content!

12 Months Out - Blog Branding Consistency Linked to website and social media Guest Blogs Interviews

12 Months Out - Newsletter Build that list! Friends Family Events Everywhere Make it appealing

12 Months Out – Social Media Linked to your website and your blog Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Pinterest, Youtube, Google+, Instagram Don’t forget the reader’s and writer’s social media! Goodreads, NaNoWriMo, Kobo, Wattapd, WritersCafe, The Writing Room Also a good way to build your email lists and find reviewers and ARC readers for later

9-12 Months Out - Research Similar Books Keywords and Categories Reviewers Praise Keywords Selling Your Own Book

6-9 Months Out - Headshots Back of the book Promotional Professional or Not

3-6 Months Out – Tour or Launch Event I queried TPB and NBS 4 months prior, accepted within a week, details for the calendar finished 2 months prior Events application 2-3 sentence pitch of the book for their website Hi res cover image Author photo

3-6 Months Out – Tour or Launch Event Cont. Marketing/Promo for that event or those events will come later What do others do at their events – go see! Neverending Bookshop: Saturday October 21: TNEBS welcomes local author Laurie Thompson and her book “Two Truths and a Lie: It’s Alive!” at 2 p.m Third Place Books – 10/18/17 – Christopher Kimball – Milk Street Preparing launch day event/speech/reading will come later!

3-6 Months Out - Reviewers Have you finished that book yet? How’s that email list coming? Found someone who writes similar books or similar genres? Found readers who love books like yours (researching similar books). Time to contact them! Give them concise book information and deadlines and keep a spreadsheet as the yes’s roll in!

3-6 Months Out - ARCs Advanced Reader Copies Indie books don’t always give ARCs so early. I usually get contacted 1 week to 2 months prior to publication.

3-6 Months Out – Guest Posts/Interviews Remember those email lists? Did you join some good websites/interact in social media? Now’s the time to schedule some guest posts and interviews for your release! Make it easy for the blogger

3-6 Months Out – Book Trailer If you can’t do it well, don’t do it at all Platform – Youtube, Vimeo, … Stay simple Be bold Visuals are important

3-6 Months Out - Promotion Press Releases Newspapers News Outlets

1-3 Months Out – Book Page Content Book cover Headline Call to action Book trailer Author bio or link to author page Teasers Testimonials/Endorsements/Reviews/Quotes Social Buttons More - subscribers

1-3 Months Out – Media Kit Author Bio and Contact Info Author Photo Press Release Sample Author Q&A Book Info Social Media Links Upcoming Events

1-3 Months Out – Launch Day Posts/Press/Invites Promote your launch party! Press release Poster Tell your friends Tell your friends’ friends

1-3 Months Out – ARCs and Reviewers Found more? Send more! Book wasn’t done before – send it now! Don’t forget to update your lists

1-3 Months Out – Physical Marketing Materials Swag Business cards Bookmarks Or get creative – put your name/website/book on it!

1-3 Months Out – Release the Book Trailer! Noise Publicity Interest

1-3 Months Out – Book Two You finished book 1, right?

1-3 Months Out – Pre-order You finished the book, right? 90 days before release date! All marketplaces (except Amazon.in) Beware the deadline (72 hours) Placeholder cover Sell your book! Special pricing for pre-order

1 Week Out – Schedule Pre-Written Posts Save yourself the hassle later Schedule for 3am or 8am so you don’t hover over the send button Savor your release day instead of sweating all your posts

1 Week Out - Reminders Confirm Blog Tours Confirm Physical Events – last minute questions! Confirm reviewers and remind about dates

1 Week Out – Be Everywhere! Engage! Respond to Comments Be Enthusiastic Show you care!

1 Week Out – Reviewers! Reviews, reviews, reviews Some promotion sites need min. reviews for your book

1 Week Out – Prep Materials Ready all those websites with your book and author information!

Publication Day – Shout It! Announce on all social media Send out press release Newsletter Blog post

Publication Day – No Mistakes Confirm book material is correct Check all your urls! Add buy links to your webpage Add link to book page to your signature line Update book pages Amazon Website Update author pages Author Central on Amazon Goodreads

Publication Day or Later – Launch Party Is your presentation ready? Have you practiced your reading? Do you have books to sell at the event? Have you practiced some Q&A? Do you have a backup plan if your tech doesn’t work? Are you bringing donuts?

Post – Publication – There’s More Reviewers? Thank you notes Reminders Book 2! Promotion – pricing and giveaways and more

Resources to Check Out Indies Unlimited – Helpful articles sent by email Bookbaby – Helpful articles sent by email Yourwriterplatform.com – Book launch articles Authormedia.com – Helpful articles And so many more resources out there!

The Funny Last Slide