By Annette O’Hare
Having
successfully launched my first novel this year I consider myself an experienced
Facebook virtual book launch party planner. Okay, so maybe I’m not an expert. Google
Facebook book launch and you’ll find everything you need to know…almost! Today I’m
sharing my shortlist of things you won’t learn from the experts. Here we go!
No. 1 – A
twenty-something year old (An older teen
might do the job)
I’m blessed
to have my own, living in my garage apartment. She’s my daughter. Why do you
need this? Because, a Facebook launch party is complicated and insanely fast! I
posted a question to the group, allowed fifteen minutes for responses, and commented
on approximately forty replies per question! Without my daughter I couldn’t
have posted the next question, queued the guests, or informed the group who won
prizes. It’s a two-person job unless perhaps you are a twenty-something!
No. 2 – A
lot of great giveaways
Every
attendee expects giveaways such as signed books, bookmarks, etc. What they may
not expect is quality jewelry you got for next to nothing as a jewelry party hostess.
In addition to signed copies of my book and gift cards, I also gave away
premium jewelry. I helped out a friend’s new business and in return I earned
items to give away at my book launch. Win and win! This would work with
numerous catalog-type parties.
No. 3 –
Engaging questions entice attendees to post
Here are some
questions receiving the best responses.
1.
What
is your favorite, least favorite…? Questions asking readers their favorite or
least favorite will bring a lot of responses. Everyone has an opinion and most
want to share it.
2.
What
is your conclusion? Questions asking for a conclusion to a problem where the
answer is unknown. You know, make something up, the funnier the better!
3.
What
is the strangest, weirdest or grossest…? My question was food combination.
Readers love sharing their weirdness.
No. 4 – A Facebook
literate audience (I can dream)
This goes
back to why you need No. 1. My twenty-something spent a lot of time lassoing
rogue attendees and herding them back to the appropriate post. Yes, there were
instructions, posted in bold.
Instead of posting beneath the “current” question, some posted directly to the
top of the page. Some posted on my Facebook author page. Some posted to their
home page. I saw my daughter post at least a dozen times, “Post here now to win prizes.” Facebook
illiteracy…the struggle is real!
No. 5 –
Really funny friends and family
Do you
have funny friends or family? Invite them! One thing that made my Facebook launch
party a success was participation by my crazy, funny friends. Yes, my party was
three hours of organized chaos, but reading hilarious replies made it all worth
it. I even saved them to read when I’m feeling down.
Thank you,
Southern Writers Magazine for allowing me share my list. Even though they’re a
bit unorthodox, I hope these five things will help you in planning your next
Facebook virtual book launch party.
____________________________________________________
Annette
O’Hare is an award-winning author living in Southeast Texas with her husband,
Dan of thirty-one years. Her love for the history and heritage of her home
state shines through in her first novel, Northern
Light, a Civil War romance set on the Texas Gulf Coast. A member of
American Christian Fiction Writers and ACFW Writers On The Storm, Annette’s
desire is to reveal God’s love to her readers and hopefully give them a laugh
or two. The O’Hare’s are proud parents of two Texas A&M graduates, one
exceedingly imaginative high school sophomore and two rambunctious, loveable
rescue dogs. Her Social Media Links are; Website:
www.annetteohare.com Facebook - www.facebook.com/annetteohareauthor
Twitter - www.twitter.com/AnnetteOHare
No comments:
Post a Comment