Photo by olegdudko / 123rf.com
Click here to listen on your device and subscribe!
Welcome to Season 5 of The Book Marketing Action Podcast with Becky Robinson, where we give you information you can immediately implement to increase your influence and market your books more successfully.
In part one of this two-part series, Becky is interviewed by Franchesca Conner—a PR specialist at Weaving Influence. They explore the vital topic of pre-order campaigns for traditionally published authors, discussing when and how authors should start engaging their audience, the significance of one-to-one outreach efforts, and strategies for creating pre-order incentives.
Stay tuned for part two of this series, which will focus on pre-order campaigns for self-published and hybrid-published authors!
Key Points From This Episode:
[02:05] Franchesca introduces herself and explains her role at Weaving Influence.
[02:55] Becky explains some of the key differences between pre-order campaigns for traditionally published authors and pre-order campaigns for self-published authors.
[06:14] Get a better understanding of the recommended timeframe for setting up pre-orders for traditionally published authors.
[08:33] Becky emphasizes why it’s important for authors to drive sales for their books in order to honor the investment of their traditional publisher.
[09:12] Becky reveals which platforms are typically favored for setting up print books for pre-order and what challenges authors might encounter when using those platforms.
[11:47] Will a publisher usually recommend retailers for an author? Becky explains.
[13:00] Becky talks about how authors can enhance their pre-order campaigns through one-to-one outreach efforts.
[14:43] (AD) Learn about our Book Marketing Strategy Live Course.
[16:20] Becky shares some of the key strategies for authors to promote pre-orders of their books.
[19:14] Becky discusses Amazon bestseller status and outlines ways that authors can create pre-order incentives.
[25:45] Are there specific pre-order incentive strategies that are more successful than others? Becky reveals the answer based on her own experience working with authors.
Action Steps:
- Set a goal for pre-orders of your book. Have an idea of the number of pre-orders you would like to achieve, and then think about the different strategies you can use to reach that goal.
- Look at book launch campaigns that are currently in progress. Take notes on what you see other authors doing with their pre-order incentives and brainstorm ideas of what you might use for your campaign.
Resources:
- Learn more about bookshop.org, an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores.
- Explore Alison Fragale’s book incentives to get an idea of what is possible for obtaining pre-orders.
- Follow Becky on LinkedIn and Instagram.
- Connect with Franchesca on LinkedIn.
Key Quotes:
When it comes to pre-orders for traditionally published authors, the key difference is the timeline. —Becky Robinson
I advise that authors start asking for pre-orders only about two to three months before the publication date. —Becky Robinson
I highly recommend that authors share their author journey through their social channels leading up to the release of their book. —Becky Robinson
It’s important to honor the investment that a traditional publisher is making in you and do everything you can to drive sales for your book. —Becky Robinson
The more authors can lean into individual outreach to their networks, the more successful they will be. —Becky Robinson
It’s so important for authors to think through who they are, what they’ve done, what their goals are, and then identify what will uniquely work for them because everyone brings a different set of resources to their campaigns. —Becky Robinson
Sign up for the bi-weekly newsletter to connect with Becky Robinson and gain access to ongoing learning and conversation.
Read this blog post for more information on pre-order campaigns for traditionally published authors.
Explore our archives! Listen to Becky’s five favorite episodes:
- Episode 125 with Michael Bungay Stanier
- Episode 121 with Juliet Starrett
- Episode 112 with Clint Pulver
- Episode 108 with AJ Harper
- Episode 106 with Jane Friedman
I am the founder/CEO of the Weaving Influence team, the author of Reach: Creating the Biggest Possible Audience for Your Message, Book, or Cause, and the host of the Book Marketing Action Podcast. I’m a wife and mom of three kids, and I enjoy running, reading, writing, coffee, and dark chocolate.