The Basic Book Launch Marketing Checklist
As a modern writer, marketing your book is both a must and something that’ll strike fear into your author-heart.
Even the most outgoing person can find marketing their book daunting, so you can only imagine how us introverted folks feel. It’s all a part of book launches now, and like most elements of the writing life, it can be overwhelming.
If you’re unsure where to start, don’t worry. There are some simple basics you can do, regardless of budget and experience, and that’s where this checklist will help!
The Basic Book Launch Marketing ChecklistFor this checklist, we’ll cover the following, with more info about what each item involves listed below.
Universal LinksCover RevealBlurb Reveal Images/VideoOut Now GraphicsPicture/Profile/Banner UpdatesBio UpdatesBook PhotosGraphics With Book SnippetsGraphics With Book ReviewsGiveaway/Competition ImagesSale GraphicsUniversal LinksIf you’ve never heard of them before, universal links allow you to list all of your book links via one link.
Those interested in buying your book can then click on said link, and get the ebook and paperback options available so they can go with the retailer of their choice.
It’s super easy to set up, you can update it anytime, and it’ll give you something to add to your social media posts, websites, and the other marketing checklist items listed here.
While a Google search will give you a few universal link options, for my releases, I’ve used Books 2 Read and have never had an issue.
In order to build excitement for your book, a cover reveal is a marketing must.
Traditionally, a teaser is posted first, which usually features just part of the cover, before the whole cover is revealed at a later date. How far after the teaser you release the full cover is up to you, but try not to go too far out so that you don’t lose any anticipation.
Both the teaser and cover reveal posts can be made using use free graphic programs, like Canva or Bookbrush. They all feature ripped paper/torn covering graphics that you can easily add on top of your book cover to create the teaser you need.
For a cover reveal with punch, make graphics for all of your social media platforms, and your blog/website/newsletter if you have one.
If you’ve got a street team or groups/friends in the writing community who are happy to share your reveal, either ask them to do so after you’ve posted yours, or give them a private heads up and ask if they’d mind posting your reveal on their own post/account at a pre-agreed time.
After your cover reveal, give the readers more info about your book with a blurb reveal!
You can put together images of the text from your blurb, or a video to use in social media posts and reels.
This is easy to do in Canva and similar programs. For an idea about how to, I have a blog post for making an animated book teaser video here. It will give you the basics to make snippets, reviews, and blurb reveal images/videos.
While you’re making your reveal graphics, put some work into “Out Now” graphics too, so you have them ready to go on social media, newsletters, blogs, and websites once your book has been launched.
The launch of a new book is the perfect time to give your social media accounts and author-related content a little refresh. You can do this by updating your author profile picture and other author-related graphics.
Update the following across all platforms.
Twitter/X profile pic + cover/header/pinned postFacebook profile pic + cover/header/pinned postAmazon Author pic profileInstagram profile pic + cover/header/pinned postGoodreads profile picPinterest profile picThreads profile picAnd any other social media platforms you’re a part of that allows you to add profile pictures and/or a pinned post or banner.
Keeping your profile picture and banners consistent across platforms confirms for any reader that they’ve found/are following the right person, and updating them at the launch of a book is the perfect way to draw attention to your social media profiles and your upcoming/new release.
You may not want to tinker with your bio for every book launch, unless your bio lists all of your books. At least once a year, however, check and update it on your social media, blog, website, and any other place it’s listed.
For any promo opportunities, it’s a good idea to have some decent photos of your book. With phones like mini cameras, it’s easy to snap a few good shots. Just find a nice background, I.e. a bookshelf, a garden, or even just a flat surface in a suitable color, and then use the pictures in your graphics or just to post online as part of your marketing efforts.
One thing to do during a final read-through before publication is pull out any snippets that you think will make interesting graphics and add them to a note file.
When it gets closer to launch, take those snippets and turn them into graphics to post on social media.
When reviews start appearing, take portions and put them on graphics to share too. If you can’t/don’t want to check your own reviews, have someone you trust send you the best bits so that you can use them without having to read the whole review yourself.
If you’re running any type of giveaway or competition with your book launch, now is the time to create some graphics for that as well.
Same with a special sale. If you’re having a discounted launch price for your latest release, or if you’re discounting other works in celebration of your new release, put together some graphics so you can let people know.
And there you have a checklist of basic book launch marketing things to do to prepare for your book release! Remember to go with what will work for your skills, and enjoy this part of the book launch process. You’ve worked hard, and it’s time to show off what you’ve created!
— K.M. Allan
You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Threads, and Goodreads. You can also subscribe here to get my blog posts delivered directly to your inbox!
K.M. Allan
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