1. Empty Seats and How to Fill Them

2. 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

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

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

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

7. 12 Months Out - Website Author name? Branding and Consistency
Must have pages
Author bio
list signup (newsletter)
Books page
Blog
Links to social media
Free content!

8. 12 Months Out - Blog Branding Consistency
Linked to website and social media
Guest Blogs
Interviews

9. 12 Months Out - Newsletter
Build that list!
Friends
Family
Events
Everywhere
Make it appealing

10. 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 lists and find reviewers and ARC readers for later

11. 9-12 Months Out - Research Similar Books Keywords and Categories
Reviewers
Praise Keywords
Selling Your Own Book

12. 6-9 Months Out - Headshots
Back of the book
Promotional
Professional or Not

13. 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

14. 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!

15. 3-6 Months Out - Reviewers
Have you finished that book yet?
How’s that 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!

16. 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.

17. 3-6 Months Out – Guest Posts/Interviews
Remember those 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

18. 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

19. 3-6 Months Out - Promotion
Press Releases
Newspapers
News Outlets

20. 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

21. 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

22. 1-3 Months Out – Launch Day Posts/Press/Invites
Promote your launch party!
Press release
Poster
Tell your friends
Tell your friends’ friends

23. 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

24. 1-3 Months Out – Physical Marketing Materials
Swag
Business cards
Bookmarks
Or get creative – put your name/website/book on it!

25. 1-3 Months Out – Release the Book Trailer!
Noise
Publicity
Interest

26. 1-3 Months Out – Book Two
You finished book 1, right?

27. 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

28. 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

29. 1 Week Out - Reminders Confirm Blog Tours
Confirm Physical Events – last minute questions!
Confirm reviewers and remind about dates

30. 1 Week Out – Be Everywhere!
Engage!
Respond to Comments
Be Enthusiastic
Show you care!

31. 1 Week Out – Reviewers! Reviews, reviews, reviews
Some promotion sites need min. reviews for your book

32. 1 Week Out – Prep Materials
Ready all those websites with your book and author information!

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

34. 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

35. 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?

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

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

38. The Funny Last Slide