Book Signings...Expensive...But Worth It

My first Book Signing is this Saturday, December 13th at West Park Mall in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

It has required much preparation...and much money .

I have spent hours scouring the web looking for tips, tricks, and solid advice about how to have a successful book signing. I have examined photos and poured over videos, creating a list of "best practices" and "Definitely Do's" and "Absolutely Don'ts!"

One thing that stood out is the importance of optics, visuals. Just sitting at a plain table, off to the side, even with a sizable stack of printed books flanking you like columns of glory won't cut it. I may have swayed towards the "overkill" end of the visuals section, but we will see how things go this weekend.



Here is a list of my printed materials:

1. 7-ft. tall "Announcement" banner.

(Reveal-graphics.com)

This gets attention to the fact that there is a book signing.

The banner rolls up into the base (which has nice flip-out pegs that stabilize it) and it also has the stick that goes up the back to hold it up. Simple. Portable.

And the banner can be removed and a new banner can be installed in the hardware for less than $50.



2. Front-of-Table Banner.
This contains the all-important advertisement promise: FREE, and it hangs down and covers the awkward area below the table.
(Reveal-graphics.com)



3. Back-of-Booth Banner. (Reveal-graphics.com)

This creates a more substantial look and feel for the table, and makes it seem "bigger" than it is.

Plus--it has a killer tagline.
FRONT                                          BACK


4. 1000 Glossy 4x6 inch Autograph Cards with book cover/blurb. 

These allow you to give something, (including an autograph) to EVERYONE that stops by the booth. These are cheap.

http://gotprint.net/gotprint/showStat...

Double-sided and thick. Very nice.



5. 16x20 Cover Enlargement for the table.
Hey--who doesn't love seeing a nearly 2-ft tall version of their own book standing proudly on the table?

I ordered this from Wal Mart online (http://photos.walmart.com/walmart/pro...)



6. Six-Pocket Book Rack Floorstand. 

This holds about 18 paperbacks. (https://bookdisplays.com/stock/floord...)

I am bringing about 72 hardcovers and about 70 paperbacks, many of these have pre-sold...I am not expecting to sell nearly that many!

(Most "non-big-time" authors sell less than 50 copies on a good day)

Hopefully all of the optics will come together to make a visually captivating booth. The banners (Front of table + Backdrop + 7 ft Banner) totaled around $380. The case of 1000 signature cards were about $40. The black cardboard book rack was about $30. The 16x20 oversized print of the book cover was about $40 (Wal Mart print). Throw in a $20 black table cloth (black velvet on sale at Hancock Fabrics) and the total approaches $500.

This is a STEEP investment for a self-published book from a brand new author. I will have to sell MANY books to overcome this outlay of cash.

In my own defense of reckless spending--many of these things can be re-used for other purposes, and can be re-used for future book signings, including book signings for the sequels in this series.

It is hard to put a value on IMAGE and SELF-PROMOTION. Just having an appearance before a large group of holiday shoppers has intrinsic value, no doubt. It is impossible to track the potential future influence that this type of book signing could create.

Profit per book is not that great, but the ability to meet the public, meet with excited readers, and the opportunity to get "your face" out there is priceless .

I am looking forward for my next blog entry where I will recap the highs and lows of my first signing, with photos, observations, lamentations, and celebrations.