Spring is here and you know what that means! It’s the season to get out there and showcase you and your book. Here are some tips for a successful author vending event:
1. Advertise: Promote your event in advance to generate interest and attract attendees. Post on social media, email, and any other channels you have available. Consider collaborating with other authors or local bookstores to expand your reach.
2. Plan ahead: Make sure to plan ahead and prepare everything you need for the event, such as books, marketing materials, and displays.
3. Speaking of marketing material: Bring plenty of marketing materials such as business cards, bookmarks, and flyers to distribute. If you’re a children’s book author, make sure you have an info sheet for educators, librarians, churches or other organizations to take. You never know who they might pass your info along to!
4. Be prepared to take different forms of payment. CashApp, Venmo, Square, PayPal and Zelle are popular. Have a display of QR codes to make processing payments easy. And if you’re accepting cash, come prepared with change.
5. Create eye-catching and informative displays to showcase your books and merchandise.
6. Engage with your audience: Interact with attendees and potential readers by answering questions, taking pictures, signing books, and offering personalized recommendations. Also, don’t forget to have a sign-up sheet to get email addresses!
7. Offer incentives: Consider offering incentives to attendees, such as discounts or free gifts with purchase, to encourage sales and make your booth stand out. Pro tip: If you conduct a raffle, don’t offer your book as a prize! You want people to buy your book, and they won’t if they think they might win it. Instead offer merch like a t-shirt or stuffed animal as a prize.
8. Network with other authors and vendors to build connections and potentially collaborate on future events. Don’t forget to get their business cards!
9. Provide excellent customer service to leave a positive impression on attendees and encourage them to recommend your work to others and leave a review on your website, GoodReads, Amazon or anywhere else .
10. Follow up: Make use of those email addresses you gathered! After the event, follow up with attendees and thank them for their support. Consider offering discounts or promotions to encourage them to continue supporting your work.
And that's it! Now you're ready to promote and sell your book! But don't forget that marketing your book includes marketing you as the author. Often times, people want to know the person behind the book. So, LEAP FORWARD and show them who you are!