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Book Signing Tips

When I got ready to do a book signing at the local library, I wrote up a checklist of things to do to prepare for the event. Below is my own checklist but I am sure that you can add or subtract ideas for your own.

1. I set the date at least 4-6 weeks in advance. While most newspapers only need two weeks of lead time, most magazines need at least 4-6 weeks to post your event. And that includes local radio stations and bookstores. (or even your own local church or favorite shops). It is hard to get things in the newspaper if you wait until the last moment.
2. Be sure to type up fliers and post your events on community boards and home associations. I wrote down a list of places to go to in a notebook and checked each place off as I stopped there. Be sure to bring a roll of scotch tape and some push-pins with you depending on the board at the location. I was also able to visit the local community center and leave some fliers there and hand up a flier on the wall. Be sure that you are NOT going to tearing any paint off the wall if you decide to this. You could be liable for destruction of property if you do.
3. Be sure to let local writer/reporters and libraries know about your upcoming book signing. A local communiter writer may be able to cover your event and write about you BEFORE you even hold your event. That is free publicity that you just can't pass up. I know, I was that community news reporter who was always looking for local talent to write about. Don't be shy-go for it.
4. Enlist the help of family, neighbors, and friends to promote your book signing event at local club meetings, church calendars and home owners associations. Just imagine what territory you can cover with their help.
5. Be sure to bring some free candy or items (like bookmarks) to hand out during your book signing. Believe it or not, there are people who will only stop at your table if there is something free for them to get. While they are there, make a contact and hopefully, a sale.
6. List your event for free on the internet at www.craigslist.com and at www.netread.com. There are other places to go as well and they are listed in the 'resource' and 'link' page of this website. Use them, I know that I do.
7. Only put up a handful of books for display on your table at one time. Don’t put ALL of your books on the table at one time as this can look like a mountain and become too cluttered looking. Keep all other books under the table, or in boxes in your car to retrieve if needed. I guess about 24 should do if this is your first attempt at it, or unless you got plenty of publicity beforehand. And most importantly, be sure the cover of the book is facing the potential customer and not you. Funny as that may seem, I have seen this happen way too many times.
8. Be sure to have plenty of business cards on hand in case the customer wants to think about their purchase, or wants to give the information to a neighbor or friend. This does happen too and I haven't received calls from total strangers because of it. But then they become potential customers.
9. Try to meet the person in charge of the bookstore, or library, etc.,  that you want to do a book signing at. This is very important for now, and for future book signing opportunities. Ask them their opinion of the event. Many of these people have been down this road before and can tell you what works and what doesn't.
10. It's always nice to follow up with this person after the book signing event with a simple thank-you card. Who knows, you may need to keep the line of communication open for your next book signing. You can also get feedback from this person as to how the customers felt about your presence at the store. This information can be used in the future to improve your image.
11. Design professional looking posters and fliers. Use color images that are sharp and clear. Make a color copy of your book cover and place them in stands to use on your table and throughout the store prior to book signing date. This looks very neat and clean. One stand that I used actually had a brochure holder on the side of it where I put the bookmarks, and another stand at the table had a little holder for business cards. There are many stands to choose from, just visit your local Staples or Office Depot, etc. for ideas.
12. If you wrote a book about a specific interest or hobby, be sure to let the group and clubs know about your upcoming event. If you wrote a book on fly casting, you may even want to bring a fishing pole with you and demonstrate. Okay, but if there is room. It can help sell a book.
13. Be sure to bring your camera and photograph to your event. If possible, have your picture taken with store employees and manager. Looks great for future advertising. PS. Be sure that either your book, or sign of your book, is clearly represented in the photograph. You may even want to have a picture of you signing your book for a customer. You can later post this on your website. And while you have your camera handy, you can always offer to have your picture taken with a customer and then email the photograph to them. This is a great way to build up your database for customers of your future book titles. And it’s free!
14. Be sure to arrive at least 20-30 minutes ahead of your scheduled booking signing to set up your table. I like to come more like 45 minutes ahead of time so that I have time to calm down after setting up the table and books and take a moment to breathe. Be sure to use this time to introduce yourself to all store employees, letting them know who you are and where you will be seated in case some one comes into the store looking for you.
15. If you can do a free drawing for a prize, it can be a way to build your database of potential customers now, or in the future. At least you know that these people read books! I have had some great successes with this in creating a database of future customers and fellow book readers.
16. I like to combine book signing events to speaking engagements. I find that more people will attend your event if you are giving a talk about the subject that you are writing about (or free demonstration). I have also done a power point presentation along with a demonstration for one of my Reiki books. You don’t have to go that far or make it that complicated, but you can if you like. Libraries usually have equipment available for speakers to use. Just ask.
17. Be sure to give the person in charge of your book signing event a press package. A press package is a very important and valuable tool to have. If you need to know more about this subject, you can order my e-book, “Creating the Business of your Dreams,” which will outline how to market and promote yourself, your book, and your business. This information is also available through your local SBA website. There is also a ton of stuff on the internet to help you. The important thing here is to have everything look professional and be cohesive. Make it interesting. If you want, you can make up a small booklet of excerpts from your book, or you can include a small excerpt in your press release.
18. If you can, place some of your books at the check-out counter for purchase. Sometimes the stores will let you do that while you are there with your book signing. But you will have to ask as they normally will not offer that to you.
19. Bring help. If you can bring a helper with you on the day of signing, it will help you enormously. You can have them go around the store and hand out your fliers and/or special treats that you created for that day. It may help to drive otherwise reluctant passerby’s to your table.
20. When I did a book signing at the local library, they made an announcement 10 minutes before the event, then 5 minutes before the event, and then one last time at exactly the start of the event. Worked like a charm driving potential customers to my table. So, if you are in a place where they have an intercom system, be sure to have them announce your upcoming talk/demonstration or book signing event. Write up some cute, cleaver things for the announcer to say-don't just hang the job on them.
21. And while it’s nice to have everything done up perfectlly and professionally the first day out of the gate, for many writers and authors (like me in the beginning) this just isn’t going to be the case. But don’t worry, you can still buy a colorful tablecloth for $1, print your own homemade business cards, fliers and brochures. Use color to make your work pop. Just keep it simple and in good taste. Now, go and do it!

As a writer, you will be asked by publishers and other bookstores to place your Book Title into a category. While there are some differences in the number of categories that will be offered to you, below is a list of some very basic categories. Look over the list and decide where your book title will fall into. Be aware that it may happen that your book title may fit into more than one category. And that is okay.

Sometimes the choice is easy as whether your book is a fictional or non-fictional book. Fictional-you made it up and everything in the book is based on fiction (not true). in the Non-fictional book, your story is based on real people or events, or locations.

Category #2-Scholarly (or University Press Book). This book category contains material that has been thoroughly researched and is generally specialized in its topic. It could be about a somewhat obscure person of interest, topic, or methodolgy. The book sales to these books are generally very low in comparision to other non fiction books by the general public. One author I know only sold a dozen of her book which took years of research to write. It is a shame, really for the amount of work that goes in to creating the book.

Category #8-Biography. This is writing about a specific person and should be based of factual information.

Category #9-Auto-Biography. This is based on you and your life story and still should be based of factual information.

Category #10-Prose and Poetry. This is a collection of prose and poetry and is kind of self explanatory.

Category #11-Short Story. This is more like a chapter than a book and it is a complete story unto itself. Short stories should be able to be read in an one hour. There are a lot of other premises to this category, but that should do. The other option is a novel.

Category #12-The Novel. This is more a very long read, perhaps days. It can be fictional or non-fictional.

There are many more categories and hopefully I will be able to post more of them as my time permits.