You know you need to launch your book, you just aren’t sure how to do it.
And you’re terrified because…
- You’ll have to create an entire campaign from scratch
- You may not make any sales
- You’re not a book marketing expert
Let me tell you: I’ve experienced these fears first-hand.
When I first launched my books, I didn’t even have a platform to promote them on.
But I still managed to become a bestselling author.
This is why I’ve compiled a list of my top ten creative solutions for successful book launch campaigns.
We’ll walk through each of them, in detail, based on my decades of experience helping authors write and launch books that grow their businesses.
Let’s get started.
WARNING! Make Sure Your Book Launch Plan Is Rock-Solid Before Moving Further
Book launches have a tendency to fail before they even get off the ground.
Why?
Because authors don’t market their books like a product.
In order to design a book launch that actually generates sales, you must have a deep understanding of what your target audience needs, why they need it, and why your book is the solution.
Your launch will only be as successful as your ability to put yourself in your customer’s shoes.
So what separates a failed book launch from a successful one?
A failed book launch sells a book to an audience.
A successful book launch sells an answer to a customer’s problem.
10 Creative Book Launch Ideas That Will Generate Buzz
1. Create a Book Funnel
One of the easiest ways to generate sales for your launch is to create a solid book funnel.
At Best Seller Publishing, for example, we introduce new customers to our business every day by providing a free copy of my book—Publish. Promote. Profit—for $7.95 in shipping only (comparable to $24.95 on Amazon).
This is called a free plus shipping sales funnel, and it’s allowed us to sell tens of thousands of book copies and generate millions of dollars in revenue.
Why does this work for us? Well, for starters:
- It eases the customer into the funnel with a small purchase
- They receive high-value offers for free
- Countless opportunities to upsell
A book funnel is more than just a means to an end—it’s the chance to build a relationship with your audience that, over time, builds loyalty and brand awareness.
This makes it a great option for up-and-coming authors breaking into the industry.
And the best part?
Your book funnel doesn’t end with the sale of your book. As I mentioned earlier, there are countless opportunities to upsell that provide your customers with more value and your business with high-ticket sales.
This may include:
- A done-for-you service
- A training course
- A consultation phone call
- Anything else you can offer your audience
At Best Seller Publishing, we provide a done-for-you ghostwriting service that takes your book from start to finish—just one of the high-ticket products integrated into our funnel.
2. Use Other People’s Platforms
You’ve probably heard by now that leveraging your platform as an author is one of the most important steps in a book launch.
And while it won’t hurt you to do so, one of the biggest mistakes I see authors make is following this advice only.
Here’s why:
- It limits you to one audience
- Acquiring a big following online takes time
- It can be costly to build an audience solo
I didn’t have a platform when I published my first books; I had to seek out individuals with platforms relevant to my industry who were willing to promote me.
Consider reaching out to relevant connections who:
- Run a blog—they might post a review of your book or allow you to guest post.
- Host a podcast—you can contact them for an interview.
- Own a relevant social media account
Arrange as many promotional opportunities as you can. There’s no such thing as overexposure when it comes to a book launch.
3. Launch Ads
Book advertisements can generate massive ROIs for your book launch.
But before you invest your entire budget, it’s important to note that successful ads can be tricky to get just right. You’ll want to strike a balance between three key elements:
- Budget—the amount/resources you have to invest in your ads.
- Offer—a proven offer (like your book) that requires little testing to get off the ground.
- Numbers—your benchmark for success that tells you when you’ve met your goal (and made your money back).
An ad done right is an ad that reaches your target audience strategically. What kind of message will your audience respond to? Where can they be reached?
Ad campaigns are a great option for authors who know their audience. The less testing you have to do, the better—and the more money you’ll save in the process.
Note: Ads may not be the right option if you’re looking to get an ROI by just selling your nonfiction book. Book advertising makes the most sense when you have high-ticket offers to sell, too.
4. Craft an Engaging Social Media Campaign
One of the easiest ways to drive organic traffic to your book? Promote it on social media.
But don’t get me wrong: easy does not mean low effort.
If one of your tactics is a social media campaign, it should be just as thought-out and strategic as the rest of your book launch.
You need to consider:
- Platform—where is your audience located? Decide which platforms make the most sense for your brand. (Hint: The answer should not be all of them).
- Content—devise a content strategy that resonates with your audience. What do they want to hear from you? How do they want to hear it? This may help determine which platforms you choose to utilize.
- Posting Schedule—create a posting schedule for the duration of your book campaign. This should include important dates, posting times, posting days, etc..
- Social Media Strategy—hashtags, captions, trends, and algorithms are an important part of any social media campaign. Do your research before you create any content.
Social media is not the answer for every author. It’s also not a good idea to rely on social media only.
It can be a powerful advertising tool for a book launch, but only when applied correctly, and to the appropriate demographics.
5. Create + Build Your Email List
An email list is typically the backbone of any solid book launch.
It can be even more reliable than a social media following—your message goes straight to the recipient’s inbox without the filter of an algorithm or platform feed.
This is how you’ll tell your readers about:
- Your upcoming launch in advance
- Discounts and deals to watch out for
- Save-the-dates
- Newsletters
But how do you actually build the list?
First, you need to come up with an incentive for your prospective subscribers. What will they gain by giving you their email address? Could you offer them an ebook, weekly updates, etc.?
Once you’ve decided on your incentive, it’s just a matter of creating an opt-in form and putting it on your website. Then make sure you notify your list through an email marketing service about your upcoming launch.
But be warned: this is only a brief overview of the email list-building practice. The real thing is an art in and of itself—much more time-consuming than the ideas listed here.
6. Promote Your Book on Amazon
Amazon can become a valuable partner to help sell your book.
How?
Through Amazon Reviews.
There are a few different ways to accomplish this, including requesting reviews from your recent purchasers via the “Request a Review” button on Amazon.
You could also use an autoresponder to request reviews from your email list, or recruit friends and family to leave their (accurate) reviews.
Amazon sponsored ads are another option with a high conversion rate. Just don’t expect to make money from them—it’s more about getting your book in front of customers and building loyalty with a future payoff.
At Best Seller Publishing, for instance, I sell $1000-$1500 in books through Amazon ads every month without spending a dime.
7. Collaborate with Other Writers
You’ll have to leave any introverted tendencies at the door if you want to run a successful book launch.
The writing community—especially the self-publishing community—is nothing to be afraid of. Most authors are all-too-familiar with the struggles of launching that first book.
My advice? Reach out to the writers in your community. Reach out to the writers outside of your community.
Some of them may have substantial email lists or an audience who would love to hear about your book—you never know.
You can start by identifying similar audiences in:
- Radio and television stations
- Newsletters and newspapers
- Magazines
- Podcasts
- Social media platforms
Once you’ve found your relevant audiences, search for the creator’s contact information and shoot them an email/give them a call. Let them know how their audience could benefit from your book.
They may ask you to return the favor down the line, too. This is a great opportunity to build connections!
8. Create a Valuable Blog
Blogging is one of the best ways to build an audience of devoted readers.
It’s also one of the best ways to promote a book launch—especially if your blogging material is similar to the content in your book.
But unlike the other ideas on this list, a blog (unless you already run one), is best utilized as a long-term play rather than an immediate one.
Take the time to figure out what your audience wants to hear from you. Then, make that information as valuable as possible and iron out your creative strategy.
A blog done correctly can give readers valuable insight into your brand and the incentive to keep coming back to your website for more.
This also opens you up to collaboration opportunities with fellow bloggers.
Earlier we talked about the value of getting an interview for an article, but running a blog of your own means other writers can link to your posts, generating more traffic to your website.
And if you take the time to get good at SEO, this means consistent, relevant traffic to your website—book launch or not.
From there it’s just a matter of creating a solid book landing page.
9. Hold a Public Event
Working with a local audience? You may want to consider hosting a public event to generate some buzz for your campaign.
I will warn you, though: this option tends to be more of a financial burden than others. You’re also doing most of the heaving lifting as the event coordinator.
It falls on you to find the venue, pay for it, hire any desired media, provide the food, set-up and clean-up (depending on the venue), etc..
And, as a self-published author, you’ll eat the losses.
But I don’t want to deter you completely.
Author events are a great opportunity to host:
- Book signings
- Giveaways
- A live Q&A session
- And more
Just make sure you market yourself well, here. Use the other ideas on this list to inform your audience about important dates and meet-up locations.
10. Create a High-Converting Landing Page for Your Book
A well-crafted landing page is more of a necessity than an option for book launches.
Put simply: customers are looking for a straight pitch that tells them exactly why they need to buy your book. If they have to guess what your book can do for them, they’ll probably opt out.
This is why it’s important to invest in a polished landing page with a clear message.
But how can you make sure it converts?
Here’s a brief checklist:
- Include a killer book description
- Good balance of text and white space
- Positive book reviews
- Include “inside looks,” “behind-the-scenes,” and other bonus material
And, most importantly, be sure to include your offer (especially if that offer is wrapped up in a book funnel).
Create a Bestselling Book Launch Today
Hopefully, the ideas on this list have given you an idea of the direction you might like to take your book launch to.
But to play devil’s advocate for a moment: a list of disjointed ideas, no matter how valuable on their own, mean nothing without a solid plan to follow through with.
In order to create a truly successful book launch, you’ll need a plan. A trusted guide.
My bestselling book, Publish. Promote. Profit., will give you the proven plan you need to take your book from published to bestseller.
And it’s FREE. The only price you’ll pay is for shipping.
