If you’re planning a book launch, one helpful marketing tactic to consider is joining a promotional book group. A promotional book group brings together like-minded authors on their book launch journey. In this post, we discuss the different types of promotional book groups and how they contribute to the success of your book launch.
Benefits of Promotional Book Groups
The value of having a group of people who understand the challenges of marketing a book is worth the effort, and a group that specifically aligns with your genre and where you are on the writing journey is priceless. Additionally, these groups support your struggles and celebrate your successes. They’re a place to go when family and friends don’t understand the challenges you’re facing, whether business-oriented or even the emotional ones. Nobody can relate the life of a writer like another writer.
To find a promotional book group that’s right for you, check out online communities such as Facebook groups, Goodreads groups, and author networking sites. These groups are often free to join and a great way to connect with other writers, readers, and publishing professionals.
Joining a promotional book group can provide numerous other benefits to authors looking to launch their books successfully.
These benefits include:
Exposure: Joining a book group exposes your book to a wider audience of readers. Members often share each author’s work with their audience. This allows you to reach new readers and gain more visibility for your book. Most members will pre-order, recommend their library purchase, and leave reviews for other members. This benefit can be valuable in making it onto best-seller lists and feeding Amazon’s algorithm.
Networking & Support: Joining a book promotion group allows you to connect with other authors, who will become great resources for you. You can learn from their experiences, share tips and advice, and form lasting professional relationships. They can also provide the support and encouragement you need to keep going.
Book Marketing Strategies: Groups will often host book marketing and promotion events, such as online book fairs and virtual book tours. These marketing strategies can help you reach new audiences and increase your book sales.
Choosing a Promotional Book Group
When choosing a promotional book group to join, you’ll want to keep your book marketing goals in mind. Also, be mindful of how much time they expect of you. Make sure you are comfortable with this kind of commitment. Some groups hold meetings and host giveaway events. The more active the group, the bigger the time commitment – and likely the bigger the results. Don’t be afraid to join several groups, and if one doesn’t work out for you, look for another. Like any other kind of group, they’re not one-size fits all, but there is one that will fit you nicely, so don’t give up.
There are several different types of promotional book groups, each with its own focus.
- Single-Year Group – A single-year group is dedicated to books launching in a specific year. This group type is often beneficial for new authors and debut books.
- Multi-Year or On-Going Group – A multi-year or on-going group commits to promoting every book by its members regardless of when they release. Some groups may offer rolling or on-going memberships as some authors do not release a book each year.
- Genre-Specific Group – A genre-specific group highlights a particular book genre or theme. For example, humor, horror, romance, etc.
- Category-Specific Group – A category-specific group focuses on an individual book format. Such as Adult Fiction, Young Adult fiction, Graphic Novels, etc.
Whether you are launching your first book or looking to expand your reach, a promotional book group is a powerful tool for achieving your publishing goals. By linking up with other authors, you benefit from the exposure you need to get your book in front of the right people and help it reach its full potential.
