My Book’s Released, Now What?

DiAnn Mills

Our book has been released. Our story or message is available for readers. Lots of marketing and promotion have gone into the book’s journey. Right from the beginning, we planned how to attract others through social media, blog posts, interviews, advertising, and face-to-face events. That’s all great, but now that the launch has passed, we may feel bewildered and questioning ourselves about what to do next.

Is our book’s life over? How can we maintain the launch momentum to attract readers? Is it time to move on to the next project? Are we feeling just a twinge depressed?

Our book may be released, and we will most certainly move on to another project, but we can take steps to keep existing readers loyal and locate our next fan by following a few simple instructions.

First, sending a few thank-you notes, either physical or e-type to those who have helped make your book launch a success: 

1. Send a personal thank-you note to every member of the editorial team. This demonstrates your appreciation and humility. Who do you think the editorial team will recommend as a conscientious and gracious writer?

2. Send a personal thank-you to every member of the sales and marketing team. These people are your unsung heroes. They are on the front lines when bookstores are looking at what to purchase for their customers.

3. Send a personal thank-you and possibly a small gift to every person who endorsed the book. Include those who hosted you at a speaking event and allowed you to sell your books in the back of the room.

4. Send a personal thank-you to every hostess who allowed us to guest blog , hosted a blog tour, recorded a podcast, interviewed us for media, or conducted a virtual event.

5. Send a personal thank-you to every member of the street team who helped publicize your new release via word-of-mouth or social media.

6. Send a personal thank-you to every reviewer. 

Next, identify ways to expand your book’s visibility while giving thought to future reader-fans:

1. If our book is self-published, we can offer a discount.

2. Enlist more reviews.

3. Share behind the scenes interviews and/or research.

4. Offer the first chapter to those who subscribe to a newsletter or blog.

5. Create a contest to fuel interest.

6. Explore new or unique marketing and promotion opportunities.

7. Pitch yourself as an expert on the book’s topic or content.

8. Speak on the book’s topic or content.

9. Continue to seek out guest blogs and podcast interviews.

10.Use social media but adhere to the 80/20 rule where no more than 20% of your posts is for self-promotion.

11. Remember readers want an exceptional read, and the date of publication isn’t necessarily important to them.

12.When a new book is released, backlist books create additional titles for readers to discover and enjoy.

13. Offer giveaways of backlist books when promoting new books.

14. Arrange a Facebook Live topic: Q&A, setting, humorous happenings during the writing or research of the book. 

Our books live on in the hearts and minds of our readers and spark interest for our other books. Write on! Promote on! And always put the reader first. 

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She weaves memorable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn believes every breath of life is someone’s story, so why not capture those moments and create a thrilling adventure? 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 Marketing Conference, and the Mountainside Novelist Retreat 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. DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas. DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on: Facebook, Twitter, or any of the social media platforms listed at diannmills.com