It’s never easy to ask for help. And that rings especially true when you need to ask your real-life and virtual communities to support the launch of your forthcoming book.
Authors often tell us how uncomfortable they feel posting about their book on social media–it can feel too braggadocious, they say. But in reality, the people that care about you want to do everything they can to support your achievement and success.
Here are five super-easy and not-scary strategies to get your real-life and digital communities to support your book’s launch into the world.
1. BUY IT
On publication date, send an email to your nearest and dearest telling them where they can buy a copy. Include a link to your author or book website, where you should have a complete list of retailers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart, IndieBound, Bookshop.org, your local indie bookstore, etc.
2. REVIEW IT
Customer reviews are incredibly impactful–helping other shoppers recognize that your book is worthy of their time and that you are credible as an author. Once your pals have ordered your book, ask them kindly to consider writing and submitting a review on the website of their preferred retailer. (Note: Amazon does track reviews based on purchase history.)
Within the first month of publication is the most ideal time to leave a review, but you do not want all your friends posting reviews on the same day as it will flag the reviews as planted and not authentic. And those new reviews could be deleted or removed. Additional places to leave reviews include Barnes & Noble, Target, Goodreads, and Walmart.
3. SOCIAL SHARES
Word of mouth is one of the most powerful marketing tools. Suggest your digital contacts help you spread the word by posting about your book on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. And to make it even easier for your pals, send them images and suggested captions that they can copy, paste and post.
4. REQUEST IT
Everyone has a favorite independent bookstore or library they visit. Tell your friends and family to ask those bookstores and libraries if they would carry your book. These requests show the demand for your book, which means getting it ordered and in stock where more readers can discover your work.
5. SEND AN EMAIL DETAILING THESE REQUESTS
During your book’s publication week, share the information and requests above with your friends and family so they know what they need to do to support you. Add in links to your book at all the retailers to make things as easy as possible for them.
Authors, what other strategies did you find most successful for your friends and family to support your book launch? Share your advice in the comments below!