By Sogi Chukwuanu
For many new authors, a book launch can seem intimidating, especially if you’re not familiar with how it works or where to start. Having helped over 70 new authors launch their non-fiction books, we’re used to people getting stuck on the idea that a book launch starts and ends on the go-live date.
But we know better. While it may be centred around the big day, a successful book launch comprises many moving parts and a dedicated team to complement the author’s efforts.
In this blog, we’ll take a look at the role of a book launch team and why it’s important for authors to have this strategic support.
What is a book launch team?
A launch team is a group of people who lend their expertise to build excitement about your book and ensure that it generates just the right amount of buzz (and sales). It could be your friends, fans, or in many cases, professionals with years of experience and extensive skill sets between them.
Imagine if your book had:
- Numerous 5-star reviews on Amazon within the first week of launch
- Readers who are excited about the book just as much as you are
- And of course, #1 bestseller status on Amazon.
All of these are possible with an advanced book launch team. However, the major question here is: who should you enlist to join a book launch team?
The roles/skills you need on your launch team
When building a book launch team, it can be tempting to focus on numbers rather than quality. Naturally, you want as many people on your team as possible, and so you reach out to friends, family, and Uncle Mark, who you haven’t spoken to since you were five.
However, an advanced launch team is less about the number of people and more about the skill set. A team of five people could yield better results than a team of 20 because the former are able to build a clearly thought-out strategy, thanks to their collective skills and experience.
So, what skills/roles should you prioritise?
1. A project manager to oversee all operations
A successful book launch consists of a whole team of people juggling different tasks and deadlines. To ensure that all efforts are coordinated and well-aligned, you need a powerhouse – a project manager to oversee and manage the entire operation.
Some authors may choose to wear this hat themselves, but it’s important to note that this can be a time-consuming role. You want to ensure that it’s left in the most capable hands.
At WBR, our “capable hands” belong to Ivan Meakins, the Head of Content. Part of his job involves ensuring that each book launch campaign surpasses the client’s expectations and achieves the desired business results. This means setting up a realistic campaign schedule and aligning team efforts with expectations to ensure the book’s success when launch day finally rolls around.
2. Copywriters
A large part of book marketing revolves around the copy itself. The right content posted at the right time and in the right place, can get readers interested in your book even before they’ve seen it.
You’ll need to decide on your platform (primarily the social media channels your readers are likely to be on), and then create and post highly engaging content.
When it comes to creating the copy itself, I like to helicopter out to look at the big picture: why on earth would people want to read the book? What’s a promise that will pique their interest – one that the book actually delivers?
George, WBR’s content copywriter, takes a similar approach:
George: “A successful book launch to me is one that builds excitement throughout – before the publication day and afterwards. I like to get specific: what snippets or ideas from the book can we pull out and intrigue the audience with? What will create anticipation building up to publication day? What will continue the hype afterwards?”
3. An Amazon expert
If you’re self-publishing your book on Amazon, you’ll need a full understanding of how Amazon’s algorithm works. What categories should you aim for? How can you garner reviews on there without spamming?
An Amazon expert will be able to help you craft a great book listing and choose the best categories and keywords for your book. In many cases, this knowledge can be obtained by simply doing the research yourself (check out our blog on how to choose Amazon categories for your book).
Remember: like every other digital platform, the Amazon algorithm may change from time to time. Be sure to keep on top of new trends and ensure that the algorithm is working FOR you, not AGAINST you.
4. A designer
The design process doesn’t end at the book cover or internal typesetting. You’ll also need high-quality graphics to accompany each additional piece of content.
If you don’t have the necessary design skills or anyone on your team who can create graphics for the various parts of your campaign, you can reach out to your cover designer or look within your wider network for recommendations.
Managing your book launch team
Clear communication remains the backbone of every successful launch team. Be clear about the expectations you have and the milestones you want to achieve in the weeks preceding and following your book launch.
It can be easy to assume that your team already knows what you want. However, unless you’re upfront about your goals and expectations, you could be leaving room for misinterpretations, gaps, and potential snarls in your launch campaign.
Moreover, laying out what you want may help you set better (or more realistic) goals, as your team can offer an external perspective.
As part of WBR’s Business Book BriefTM process, we dig into the results/goals our authors want to achieve and make sure that the launch campaign is aligned with that purpose. Ultimately, it all boils down to:
- What you want
- Why you want to achieve that goal
- And the strategic support your launch team can offer to get that goal closer to completion.
Want to learn more about how our experienced team can get your book launch off the ground? Book a Clarity Call today.