Igniting Your Book Launch (Part 2 Continued)

DiAnn Mills  @diannmills

Expect an Adventure

Continuing from May 20 on Igniting Your Book Launch . . . 

What does a writer do for a street team?

My mission is to do more for my street team than I ask from them. Frequent communication is vital and shows we care, but don’t be a pest. Send a weekly update with a quote, humorous happening, or a devotion. Be creative. Update the team on what is happening in your professional life. Be loving and transparent. This is business, but it can be personal. Let them know where you’ll be speaking or teaching. Share new book covers and exciting pre-release information to them before anyone else. Your street team is your “First to know” group.

Announce opportunities just for your team with prizes and random giveaways that show your appreciation.

My street team members receive a free book, soft cover or e-copy, before it’s officially released. Sometimes publishers will supply the physical or e-books.

For each member, include a letter and follow-up with an e-mail giving them tips on how to promote the book and links to review sites. Provide tweetables, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or Pinterest links to make it easy for them. Include the links to the various websites and platforms for them to post a review. The team can read the book and post reviews on the day of or shortly after the release. Every alert the writer receives in which a street team member has posted a review is given a personal thank-you.

Make sure bookmarks are sent to the team members who request them. Depending on the budget, a writer could consider including book-related bling.

If a team member is in an area where you will be, invite them to share a hug or a cup of coffee. Recognize and reward their importance.

If a team member is a part of a reader group, offer to conduct a phone chat or online session when they meet. If the reader group is in your area, offer to attend the meeting that highlights your book.

What does my street team do when I’m not promoting a new title?

           

This special group of people has other benefits too. They offer ideas for promotion, books, blogs, contests, giveaways, and prizes. Also they are beta readers, help name book characters, pets, and can offer suggestions for plot. Through social media and face to face venues, they help bring a writer to family, neighbors, friends, churches, bookstores, online organizations, community groups, radio interviews, and TV personalities.

What if a member resigns?                                

As in every endeavor, a team member may choose to resign from their role. Before a new book campaign begins, consider sending a note at the end of the weekly update requesting members to contact you privately if they are no longer able to participate. Be sure to thank them for their service and invite them to return in the future. All of us have seasons of different interests and responsibilities.

Organization

Develop a spreadsheet that contains each member’s name, e-mail address, preferred method of receiving a book (softcover or e-book), birthday, address, country, phone number, occupation, and misc. information.

A street team soon becomes more than a community who enjoys a writer’s books, they become family. Do you have a tip for authors who want to develop a street team?

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She is a storyteller and creates action-packed, suspense-filled novels to thrill readers.
Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is the director of the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, Mountainside Retreats: Marketing, Speakers, Nonfiction and Novelist with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

Connect with DiAnn here: www.diannmills.com