When it comes to writing and publishing children's books, the book release is often the most exciting part. It can also be the most overwhelming. Lots of authors release their first children's book, and assume people will find it!
Unfortunately, that's not how it works. People can't buy your book if they don't know it exists and they won't know it exists unless you shout it to the rooftops.
In this post, I'm sharing 4 tips for making your next book release count.
Benefits of a Book Release
A book release generates excitement and anticipation among your target audience. By creating a buzz before your book hits the shelves, you're generating interest and building momentum. It's a chance to capture the attention of readers, reviewers, and influencers.
The first week of publication is also the most crucial for online algorithms. It uses the data from that first week to determine what type of people buy your book and whether or not to push it out organically. The bigger your book release, the better!
Think of it as a grand unveiling, a moment when you get to introduce your book to the world and make a lasting impression. This anticipation can result in pre-orders, media coverage, and word-of-mouth recommendations that set the stage for your book's success.
Tip #1. Don't rush your book release
It can be tempting to release your book the moment you have the files in hand but DON'T DO IT. To get the visibility and sales you need, there needs to be a strategy behind everything you do so plan your release carefully.
Start by picking your release date several months out. Books typically release on Tuesdays but for more tips on that, check out the video below:
Tip #2. Research many marketing strategies
People ask me all the time how to promote their books, but the reality is that marketing has many pieces to the puzzle. There isn't one, magical strategy that will get you sales--each strategy works together to create a solid foundation for the book's success.
Start by mapping out a release plan. Determine what strategy you're going to implement, when, for how long, and what your expected goal is. Make sure you get it on paper! (...or a digital document)
Writing out all that information will help your future launches because you'll be able to pinpoint what worked, what doesn't, what to tweak, and what to do again instead of reinventing the wheel with each book.
Tip #3. Find your target audience
New authors have a tendency to join children's book groups and post their links there. The problem with that is...authors are NOT your target audience. Posting in those groups isn't worth your time and energy because it makes you look spammy and inexperienced, but it also is wasted time that could be spent marketing to the right people.
"But mom groups don't let me self promote!" Sure, many of them don't. Does that mean you should give up? There ARE groups out there that will let you, you just have to get creative to find them.
First, ask yourself who your target audience is and then discover where they hang out online. That's where you'll want to join in the conversation, network, and connect with people long before your book releases.
Tip #4. Make it personal
As much as it hurts to hear, strangers don't care about your book. They just don't. That's why you have to GIVE them a reason to care. Talk about why you wrote your book and what you hope readers get out of it. Those are the things people can relate to!
You wrote your story for a reason. Share it! It's way more powerful than, "buy-my-book-buy-my-book-buy-my-book!"
A book release is a pivotal moment for you and your book. It's a chance to build anticipation, maximize visibility, generate sales and reviews, and establish your author brand. So, embrace the excitement, invest in effective marketing strategies, and let the world experience the magic of your storytelling.
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