Dear Author – Book Launch Teams
I love being on Book Launch Teams but at times it can be stressful.
Why because I love reading books and being able to promote good books. The stressful part comes from finding out an author requires more of the launch team than normal. This is normally when they didn’t say what the minium requirement would be and I find they require several posts a week.
What is a Book Launch Team.
There are different names for this but they are basically the same idea. For a free ARC (Advance Reader Copy) the reader will review the book, and help create excitement. This can happen in different ways. Posting on Social media about the book or using graphics the author provides. Blog posts or just reviews. Their are also publicity tours that do all the hard work for the author. Some names will be Launch team, Street team and some are as simple as a review team.
In March alone I have been on three different launch teams and two review teams. Each has required something different. Penny Zeller asks we post a cover reveal, reel with pre-order special and a post on release day. Melody Carlson requested the cover reveal, 2 posts featuring the pre-order special and /goodreads giveaway and there will be a release day graphic.
Amy Anguish again Cover reveal, and we do a count down to release day from 4 weeks. This can be re-sharing her graphic.
Review teams and Book Launch Teams.
There is a difference between being on a review team and launch team. It may seem obvious, but it can be confusing. I have had times when asked to review a book where it was just reviewing. However other times I found I was on a launch team. This is when it can be confusing to a reader.
Whichever you decided, Review team or launch team be clear what you require upfront. When asking for team members make sure you include what the requirements are. How often you need to post on social media etc. If you have a minimum sharing commitment, make sure you include the information. Readers need this information without it we may assume wrong. Not all launch team requirements are the same.
What I have discovered from being on launch teams.
I have discovered what works best for me. Launch teams requiring posting several times a week are too much for me. Most weeks I already have commitments for a couple days for posting items and trying to fit all requirements takes time. I know for me I need to restrict to two maybe three launch teams at the most a month. However I know at times I will get it wrong due to not all the info being provided. This year alone there have been teams I would have loved to join but I didn’t have the time to read the book. Over committing will cause me to stress which causes me to not cope with reading.
I have met some wonderful authors and readers on these groups. Most want to help spread the news about books. I feel like I have made some personal friends and found some great books to read.
What I would like Authors consider
Most reviewers have a list of books they plan to read. I personally keep a record of what books I request and what dates they are either releasing, or a blog tour is taking place. This keeps me on track and stops me over committing. I aim for no more than four books in a month. This lets me know which book I needs to read next. If I receive an ARC early and I am up to date them I will read it but otherwise I have a list of books to read first. Authors need to understand this and that they are probably not the only team you are on.
If the requirement is to read as soon as it arrives, I may not sign up. I try to read the book at least a couple weeks early. It’s one reason I try to keep to only two launch teams a month. Review tours or blog tours are different.
Also if you want the team members to post more than the cover reveal up to two months prior again let us know. I also need to know if you require more than once a week as I have a regular weekly posting schedule. There are times it gets stressful when there is more social media requirements and I am on more than one team. Especially when you didn’t know the requirements when you signed up.
If I am behind or can’t post as often due to life issues I will contact the author and most are understanding. I also will contact an author if I am unable to post as much as they would like.
One last thing to consider is telling readers when to expect the ARC. If you are only sending it out the week before release or less, I need to know as it will impact if I join or not. A 400-page book I know I won’t finish in time but a novella I would be OK with. If you know roughly how many pages, and please say pages not only word count let the readers know. The book will be around 250 pages or around 400 pages. Page count makes a lot of difference. If I have three book all over 300 pages and they are only arriving a week or two before release I will have an issue.
Great advice and feedback. Thanks, Jenny! I’ve only ever done the ARCs, but you’ve made me think I should try for the launch teams as well (with just social media posting). Thanks!
Most people are happy to share on social media for you. And it doesn’t have to be all places. I use to mostly post on FB and X but now I do Instagram a lot more and Pinterest. The biggest thing is being clear with what is expected. some authors have a group on FB where they connect for the team which can be good. This month again I have stretched myself a little thin. After this month I have a couple of review books from instagram and 2 launch teams. which will be so much easier to handle
Hi Jenny
How do you request or participate in review and/or launch teams? Does the author submit a request in the FB group?
Hi J Antony, At times people will ask in the group for readers but I started blogging probably around 20 years ago maybe a bit less. and I use be to on some book alliances where we could request a book to review. The book was free for a review and to blog about the book. Those days are gone. But the relationship with many authors remains. For reviews I often use NetGalley (there is info on the blog if you search netgalley in the search button). Some publishers are easier to get a copy from than others. For Launch teams some have come from being on author newsletters and they ask for people to review or be on a lauch team. some call it street team. It helps if you regularly review at a blog, amazon, goodreads etc. Some of the leads have come from just writing to an author about how much I loved a book. which may have been from Netgalley or one I bought myself. A few this year for reviewing have come from being active on Instagram.
Rochelle Stephens of Wombat books has reviewers for the childrens and teen books she produces.
Some will ask at Facebook. I don’t get accepted for all launch teams I apply for. One I had tried a few times and not been accepted and this year was asked if I would like to apply for a book coming out this month. Being consistent and building up a platform where people know you are a reviewer really helps. (I also review books I pay for. not just freebies)
Thank you for the detailed explanation. Is this something you do because you enjoy it, or to give back to the community or simply reciprocating for the support you receive for your books? It sounds like you enjoy what you do, but you’re also dedicating a lot of your time.
I do it because I enjoy it I only join teams if I want to read the books. I am a reader only I don’t write books and have no ambition to start. It doesn’t take a lot of time to post and I have been reviewing for so long. I only read about 4 books a month and as I said I try not to over commit. I know In July I can probably get a free Kindle United trial and I will keep that time free to read books there too.