Andrea Schmidt: Mom,
book designer (nonfiction),
lover of public libraries,
writer, Frisbee thrower
There are many approaches to creating a book launch team, depending on your goals.
My approach is a bit different than others I have come across because it’s specifically designed for authors who are slightly introverted (like myself) and who may be resistant to the very idea of a book launch.
In my approach, the Book Launch Support Team (BLAST) exists to help you tap into a “blast” of support during the process of launching your book.
It’s an antidote to that dreary “needing to do everything yourself” pressure that most self publishers put on themselves (myself included), and makes the process more fun.
Your BLAST exists as a channel to allow some of your already-existing support to flow to you, for the specific purpose of having an amazing book launch.
At key moments, you’ll be calling on your BLAST to help you with a variety of small but important tasks. But the main purpose of this process is to help you remember the support you already have all around you, and have more fun.
Overview
First, brainstorm who will you invite to be a member of your BLAST. Essentially, these are VIP people in your life, who need no convincing: they regard you very highly, they are in your corner, and they would love to help you succeed in this significant goal you’ve set for yourself.
Then, we’ll decide what specific requests we’ll potentially be making, and then (finally) we invite them to be a part of it! If this makes you uneasy, remember: everyone is always free to simply say “no”!
Tip: Every author’s BLAST group will be different and unique. There’s no one right way to do this. No group is too small or too big.
Tip: Your BLAST is a smaller and more personal group than your “potential readers,” or “target reader” (which is also very important, and which we’ll get to in another post).
Although there may well be some members of your target audience in your BLAST, for now let’s think of your BLAST as a separate group.
Step 1: Who are the VIPs in your Life?
In a journal, brainstorm everyone you can think of who actively supports you in your life, including Mom, Dad, siblings, your spouse, special relatives, BFFs, book-related service providers (e.g., your editor, book designer, life coach, mentors etc.).
What about angels, ancestors or guides? God? The Universe? Yes sure! Put everyone and everything you can think of on your list that feels supportive. You are loved and supported!
Return to (and add to) this list regularly as you remember more people who are invested in you and your work. Put your heart into this list. It will be helpful later on for some of our other activities.
When you look at your list, take some time to let it sink in: I am loved and supported!
Step 2: What Do You Need Help With?
Don’t worry now if you’re not sure yet what you yet need from your support team. This will become clear as you move forward, and it will be different for everyone, depending on your goals.
You’re providing a unique opportunity for the VIPs in your life to be part of your achievement. Trust that if they say yes, they want to be there with you!
These requests can include (but are not limited to):
Morally supporting you when you’re freaking out
Helping you choose a book title, cover design, etc.
Sharing and liking your social media posts
Answering occasional spelling or grammar questions (some people LOVE to be asked about these things!)
Purchasing the ebook for $.99 during launch week and giving it a quick review
Step 3: Decide How Best to Communicate
Depending on your preferences and comfort level with technology and social media, you have a few good options about how to invite and communicate with your BLAST. I recommend creating a private Facebook group called something like “[Your Name]’s Book Launch Support Team.” Facebook groups are free, accessible, and linked to your business/author page (in order to set up the group, you would first need a Facebook author or business page, which is a good idea in any case).
Keep it as simple as you like. Apart from a Facebook group, you could alternatively try:
A WhatsApp group thread
Google Hangouts
A simple email chain (making sure people’s to hide people’s individual emails by using the “BCC” field for privacy)
Step 4: Ask for Support
Now we make a simple request to each person we want to invite.
For example:
“Hi [Friend]! How are you? Guess what? I’m writing a book! The working title is [title here]. The estimated launch date is [rough date of launch here]. Are you willing to support me? For example: moral support, sharing my announcements? If you are willing to be a part of my book launch support team, it would mean a lot to me. And if you’d rather not, no worries at all!”
If asking for help is a challenge for you, your book launch is going to be a huge opportunity for you to practice this skill.
Tips:
This is Personal: you’ll want to ask people individually.
Specificity: When asking for help, I’ve found it is extremely helpful to be as specific as possible about what you’re asking for, thereby making it as easy as possible for people to understand what they’re saying yes or no to.
Outcome independence: In all ways, it’s best to ask without expectation. We can ask, and of course people are free to say yes or no.
Appreciation: Make sure to include all members of your BLAST in your book’s Acknowledgements section. And keep an eye out for other ways to show your appreciation for them, e.g., a thank you card, shout out on social media, signed copy of your book. They are VIPs after all.