You wrote a book. You poured blood, sweat, and tears into those pages, and now you’re ready to share it with the world. What was once an idea is now a full-blown display of your expertise. Publishing a book is an incredible milestone that deserves a serious celebration. Book launch parties celebrate your big accomplishment while also amplifying your marketing strategy. Read on for best practices for a successful book launch party.

Celebrate

The primary goal of a launch party is simply to celebrate your hard work. This is an opportunity for reconnecting with friends, family, employees, and everyone involved in the publishing process to mark this milestone. Like an engagement, wedding, or baby announcement, publishing a book is a special event that deserves recognition and celebration. The celebration of milestones brings everyone closer!

“All the highs and lows would be mean nothing unless you capture them, and share the lessons with others.”

—Frank Fiume, author of Running with My Head Down

Make a Memory

Launch parties allow you to make a personal connection with your guests. Whether it be a private or public event, book launch parties allow you to personalize the emotion behind the pages and provide an experience for your guests. Hosting a live reading, signing copies, or doing a photo shoot creates an experience and gives you the opportunity to showcase yourself as an author.

Case in point: Frank Fiume, author of Running with My Head Down, advises authors to go all out. Your first book publication only happens once, and you will regret it if you don’t go big! Treat the book launch party the same way you would treat any other major life event. Your book’s publication is something you want to remember, cherish, and pass down to your kids. Take photos, shoot videos, and make the event a cherished memory.

Key Recommendations:

· Hire a videographer and photographer to capture the moment—you will regret it if you don’t!

· Invite friends, family, employees, and other members of the community who made an impact on you and your story.

· If you want media coverage, decide on a location that allows for that. Many private locations do not allow media presence. If you’re looking for extra publicity opportunities or intend to invite media to your launch, negotiate an appropriate location in advance to accommodate the media presence.

· Prepare and promote! Prepare for the party in advance, and brainstorm what you want.

o Do you want an intimate gathering or a large party? Do you want appetizers and drinks or a sit-down meal? Public or private?

o Send out your Save The Dates six months in advance to your guest list and send email reminders in the months leading up to the party.

o If you are seeking media coverage to promote and publicize your party, here are a few key tips to keep in mind: It’s a good idea to give publications plenty of lead time for your party.

o For print publications, alert them about the party 4-5 months ahead, though, be aware that they will not give confirmation until right before.

· Facebook groups are incredibly involved and engaged. Prior to your book launch, join some Facebook author/writer/reader groups or groups related to the content of your book and invite them to the launch party. You’ll be surprised how many people will travel to the event!

Create Some Buzz

Launch parties are a great way to have some fun after countless hours behind a computer screen, and they are also an extremely effective way to create some support surrounding your publication date. In anticipation of the inevitable questions around your launch party from media and friends alike, plan ahead for some media or local press to attend and publicize the party. Create a hashtag for the party such as #BooknameLaunch, or add the year as well, ie: #BookNameLaunch2020. Encourage your guests to post photos with your launch party hashtag.

Your book launch party is also a great opportunity for community involvement. Invite local press, the chamber of commerce, and local businesses, and consider tying in related local charities as beneficiaries of book sales proceeds from the event to amplify your impact and reach.

It’s important to note that there is no “correct” way to throw a book launch party. Most of your attendees have never even been to one and don’t know what to expect. The key is to make it what you want, while leveraging it as the one-off promotional opportunity that it is. Launch it well, and attention will follow!