Every year I try to attend a wonderful writers’ symposium called Life the Universe and Everything. Here are some notes I took from a panel of author(s) who were guests at the symposium. These notes are a continuation of last week’s panel. Enjoy

–        Big-name authors will go to the biggest store in town and then have their affiliates of that same brand store advertise about the book signing.

–        This can sometimes bring people from over hundreds of miles away.

–        Create buzz of your book signing by arranging for interviews and school visits, etc.

–        Google how to do a book signing

–        Don’t rely upon the number of books sold to determine the success of your signing. Making positive personal contact with other people can mean success meet with the employees of the bookstore and make a connection with them. A personal touch provides success.

–        Sign all the books that are still in the store.

–        Drive-by signing is when you go into the store, cold & the books or to do it at the airport. You also have a chance to meet with customers for in the book section of where your book is that make contact with them.

–        Consider a book signing as a social event where you have a chance to go out and meet people.

–        Introduce yourself. Don’t try to sell your book as the reason for meeting people. Eventually they will ask what you write.

–        Try other venues besides bookstores such as state fairs woman conferences, Christmas fairs and schools and of course conventions.

–        Get attention in an unusual way. For example one author filled helium balloons and put in a chemical that prevents them from losing their fuel too quickly and might be called pi float. Then you add candy or weights to keep them from falling too high, and then paying at tag was signed that says you do a book signing in such and such area. Deposit them a different sections of the grocery store or where ever business you’re at

–        Libraries are willing to have you signed books, but you’ll want to see if the let you sell them.

–        The way the Stephen Covey seven successful habits sold his books was by giving businesses a discount. That has helped him get each of his books Brown bestseller lists.

–        Booksellers don’t like books that are not returnable. That often discourages them from getting books from an author that hasn’t gone to the normal publishing routes.

–        Once you have a revenue to show how me books you’ve sold that will persuade booksellers to host you.

–        For school signings. Email the flyer in advance for the kids a take-home and invite kids and parents to your book signing

–        See if it’s okay to sell books at the school, if not sit there willing to let you advertise. Give each child a giveaway, such as a bookmark.

–        Weekdays are a good time to do, book signings for children. Avoid weekends except perhaps Saturday afternoon.

–        When doing a book signing in Nice to be that night or tomorrow night to meet the short attention span of the children.

–        Bookstore good to have, book signings on Friday and Saturday.

–        Schools will also have a community relations person.

If you would like to add your own suggestions, please feel free to do so in the comment section of this blog.