How to Host a Book Launch Party Hint: Have Two!
- cooperreaves
- Nov 3
- 3 min read
It’s been two years since I launched my communications playbook, Fill the Dam Thing Up! about the $400 million Boone Dam project and how it was communicated to the community. I regularly get questions about how to actually launch a book. Since I had two successful launch parties (judging by both attendance and books sold) I am glad to provide these tips:
1- Host two events- As my dear friend and fellow author Nancy Williams told me before I held the parties…not all of your friends can make the date of the first party. So plan on hosting two. The first was a Thursday evening 5-7 pm drop-in party at my co-working space, Spark Plaza in downtown Johnson City. People loved the high energy vibe. The second event was a few weeks later on a Saturday morning at a local coffee shop.
2- Host it on your birthday! Hey, I can’t think of a better way to remember the date of a very significant event, can you? In my case I was born September 22 so I held my book launch September 21, complete with my favorite walk up song supplied by Earth Wind and Fire! (Do you remember the 21st night of September?)
3- Make it a drop in- One thing I’ve learned is people love drop ins. It gives them flexibility and freedom to be at a place when they can make it rather than at a specific appointed time. We held very brief announcements, and I thanked everyone for attending at 6 pm because that was when we had maximum attendance.
4- Hire a professional photographer- Documenting your big day is a gift to give yourself for years to come! If it’s a great group photo, like Earl Neikirk took, you can use it over and over when discussing the launch. A beloved elderly friend, Suzy Williams, has since passed. I love remembering her support each time I look at that photo.
5- Invite all your friends! I invited dear friends and family and anyone who was in the area who was connected to the project. Be sure to remind your friends as it gets closer to the date, and, if you can, place the event on their calendars as a calendar invitation.
6- Invite the media to at least one event- I invited the media to the Saturday morning event. Both WJHL-TV and the Johnson City Press turned out for it. Saturday tends to be a slower news day and the event was close to both media locations.
7- Serve food (and plenty of wine!) - For the first event a friend made a beautiful charcuterie that was enjoyed by all. We actually ran out of red wine so that’s something to consider at the 5-7 pm hour. Beer kept flowing! Of course the Saturday morning coffee shop was a different menu and vibe. In that case, everyone who came to the party had coffee or tea and pastry and of course, the shop owner loved the business.
8- Have a “hook” and swag- Since my project was about water I created a “private label” bottled water that was a fun gift keepsake for all. I asked my printer to make some labels with the book branding and and our family pressed them on regular bottled water. I also had a full size banner of the project and plenty of bookmarks and business cards to give away. My book talks about my love of pink so the pink hardhat I wore daily on the project made for a fun prop.
9- Create a short form video-This is an event you will remember and cherish always. Make sure someone is there to document it as a short one-minute or less video. In my case, Isaac Deel from FoundersForge was there to help out!
10- Prepare to sign all those books! My intern was set up to sell the books at a side table (Square, Venmo, cash). Once people purchased them they invited me to autograph which I was only too glad to do with my special pen! Enjoy the fact that you have brought a new and wonderful creation to life!
To learn more about book launches and other creative ideas, please join Dr. Natalie Pickering, Alaina Bradley and me for a FREE authors’ panel at Spark Plaza Thursday, November 6 from 12-1 pm. Chicken Salad Chick will be served at this Lunch and Learn that’s part of StartUp Summit week. Click on “get tickets” at the link below!
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