Your Book Signing Tour
How to Host a Successful Event

If you're a brand new author with your first published book, doing on a book signing tour will get your new book started on the right track to success. Even seasoned authors continue to do book signings after they've published a new novel or release so their fans can meet them in person and get an autographed copy of their latest book.

One of the best ways any new author can get noticed and increase sales is to do a book signing tour and meet potential customers who can turn into avid fans and repeat buyers. Follow our book signing tips to ensure a successful event for your new book.

New authors may want to set up their own tour and other times, if a press release was issued, local venues may invite a new author to do a book signing on location at a favorite book store or other venue.

Whether you're setting up your own tours or you're being invited to appear at a local venue, you want to plan your tours effectively to get the most out of them and walk away knowing you had a successful book signing.

Where to Have the Book Signings

Libraries and local book stores are often a favorite. If you're marketing your books on your own, you can contact your local book stores and ask about doing a book signing on location. Many book stores see this as a way to increase their own traffic as well as a goodwill promotion to help a new author get started.

You can coordinate a book signing to happen during local events too, for example if your town is celebrating an anniversary or having a large block party sale or event. These types of events are excellent ways to promote your status as an author, especially if you've just published a new novel that takes place in your own town.

Another idea is to have your promotion take place around the theme of your new book. For example, if you've just published a non-fiction book that has to do with music, contact some local music stores to have a book signing.

How Much Time and Money Do You Invest

Just like with any other type of marketing and advertising, you're probably going to have to invest some of your own money to ensure your booking signing is a success. Some expenses will include...

Promotional announcements and invitations to the event. It's best to issue a press release once your tour dates are set and you can send invitations for a more personal announcement to your friends and colleagues.

Purchase a set amount of copies of your new book to sell at a special introductory discount. You can set a limit of 25 or 50 books to have on hand at your table, and if your event is taking place at a book store you can leave an additional 10 or so books with the store to put on display and sell after the event.

Flyers and posters to be placed at the book signing tour locations announcing the event so customers know ahead of time that you'll be there. Make sure these promos are set up at least a week in advance.

Promotional items like give-aways to the first 'x' amount of customers who come to your table to get their book autographed. One of the best give-aways is to have a customized laminated bookmark inside the cover of every book you sign. This keeps you in the mind of the reader long after they've finished reading your book because they can use it again and again in every book they read.

New pens and markers to sign the books. And if you can do it, use the pens and markers as promotional items. After signing the book, give the pen to the customer with the book as a gift.

Travel expenses like a hotel and other travel accommodations if you'll be traveling a good distance from home for your book signing tour

Make Your Book Signing Tour a Success

Book signings are publicity events, designed to introduce you to the public and hopefully help you become a favorite author of your readers so they rush out to buy your next new book. So while you're waiting for customers to buy your book and wait for an autograph, be personable, smile, talk to the customers who are coming in the store or walking around your table.

And one of the best ways to get yourself ready for your own book signing tour is to visit the book signing events of other authors. This will give you the insight on what you need to do to make sure you have your own successful book signing.

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