Book Launch Parties - good thing/bad thing?

[T.L.]

Hi again,

I'm just starting to ramp up activity to a new book launch. I'm trying to get pre-reviews, author interviews and fb/Twitter ads and posts to promote. You know, all the right things.

I've noticed many indie authors go onto fb and have an online launch party. I am on eBook only still at present, so have nothing to 'giveaway'.

In your experience, are launch parties successful?
Is it worth doing? Would you take part in one?

Thanks ever so muchly for your input xx

[Virginia]

Hey T.L.,

Are you asking just about online launch parties or physical launch parties as well? I've never participated in an online one, though I've read articles suggesting they don't actually do much to generate sales (but that's just one source, definitely check in with other authors here with more experience in that realm).

I do have experience with running a physical launch (I organized my own and then helped a fellow indie author and friend organize hers as well) and I'll be doing another one for my next book too. They are excellent for a number of reasons, not least of which is making you feel even more like an author. But if that's not what you're asking about I don't want to dump info on you that you're not looking for! :-)

[Elizabeth]

I have not had one as of yet, though I have been toying with the idea. My suggestion for an e-book only would be to print up book marks, pictures of the cover art or interior illsutrations (if there are any) and use those as give away prizes.
Depending on the amount of people who participate, you might even print up post cards with those same cover and/or interior pictures and send everyone a "Thanks for attending my online launch for....." with a signature. That way, even though your book is simply an eBook for the moment, you've sent them a signed copy of the cover with a personalized thank you note.

[Justin]

I'm having one on Sept 25th to honor the release of my upcoming book, Opium Warfare. I don't expect to make a ton of sales and I'm having it to honor the release date and to have some fun by giving away some copies as well as other authors books. Its a good way to generate buzz and a good first start in getting a book recognition.

[T.L.]

Thanks gang,

Yeah I'm talking about an online launch.
I'm in the UK with an eBook so physical book launches possibly wouldn't do much for me. Maybe once I get some printed?

Thanks for the suggestions on freebies.

Just need to be sure it's worth it before doing expensive printing stuff.

From the feedback so far, it may not be worth the effort?

[Anita]

It is a lot of fun to do - and it gives a writer a chance to "take a few bows." You can bring a couple of books with you and sell them on site. I always have a contest or two - based on my book - the person who gets the answers right, and thereby shows they've read the book - win first prize!
Otherwise, its fun just to celebrate all of the hard work it took to get that book out the door. It's good for your writer's soul and spurs you on to the next book.

[Justin]

I've held two events on Facebook that have faired okay so I'm hoping this event since it's a book launch will be a lot better than the previous events. Your more than welcome to check it out to see what it's like and how it goes.

https://www.facebook.com/events/14606...

[Angela J.]

I had a ton of fun at my Facebook event - it generated a lot of likes for my Facebook page, follows in Twitter and Pinterest and, of course, book sales. I gave away gift cards, things like a Starbucks, iTunes and Amazon, and of course an ebook and the grand prize, an autographed copy. It was well attended but I did hire a PR company to do it for me. It was a great event and a way to introduce my book to a new audience.

I also had a physical book party the night before, completely sold out of books and was overwhelmed with how amazing it was.

[Kat]

For physical launch parties: where do you hold them?

Local bookstore? Library? Elsewhere?

Do you advertise it in the paper? How do you get people to come and pick up a copy of the book?

Up until now I had tought of my "launch party" as the day my book is going to be available, and me celebrating this by getting roaring drunk with friends.

I may have had the wrong idea of "party" there...

[Angela J.]

Ideally I wanted to hold my launch party at a local venue - the idea was to make it much like a wedding reception or huge, classy birthday party. I ended up having it in my home and only invited select people (there was only so much space). I live streamed it for people out of state so they could watched the festivities and hear me read aloud.

I wrote about it on my blog, including the party favors, games, food and drink. I had a table setup with books I sold and used Square so people could pay with cards (it's a free app and they send you a free card swiper it was very effective).

Next year I plan on having a bigger party and inviting more community members and media.

[Lisa]

I'm having a book launch party for my first ever published book a couple of days before the release date. It's being held a neighbourhood pub and I've invited friends and co-workers and neighbours and random people I pass on the street (I'm just a tad excited about the whole thing). It's a bar, so people will be responsible for their own beverages but I'm going to have appetizers served. I'll have books on hand in case anyone wants to buy an autographed copy and I'm planning on giving away a couple of door prizes. It should be fun. You only publish your first book once, why not make the most of it!

[Ellison]

I'm having a launch party for my second book in November. I had a similar party (online) for the first one since I knew nothing about how to actually host a book party to the right people (other then my family and the family support I've received is more moral support than anything, i.e. they don't market for me :)

A launch party is one of those things I think is worth the money since if you go with a PR business they invite bloggers and readers interested in their authors. It's a great way to get your book BAM! out there and it's fun, there are games and readers get to know a little about the author and book.

I didn't gain any sales from it, but I received likes, and tweets and a couple of bloggers requested the ARC and reviewed.

[Justin]

I'm having a launch party on Facebook on Thursday. Aside from being about my book I'm also having a few authors giveaway copies of their books. I'm hoping it's a success and I'll gladly show support for anyone else who holds them.

[T.L.]

So, nobody has generated sales from an online launch?

Just wondering what one has to do to achieve these mysterious sales I keep hearing about. :-/

[Ken]

T.L. wrote: "Just wondering what one has to do to achieve these mysterious sales I keep hearing about. :-/"

There are lots of things to try, but the trick is that nothing sells books like...selling books. Amazon's algorithms reward success by making the book more visible in a number of ways.

If you want to jumpstart sales, the best method I've found is to run a promotion and advertise with the big name sites like Bookbub, ENT, KB&T, etc.

I should add that you could do all the marketing in the world but may never sell more than a handful of books, if you're writing in a niche genre that very few people want to read. I learned this the hard way :)