Author Tips for a Successful Bookstore Book Signing
Finally, after an excruciatingly long wait, your book is released to the public. You're still basking in the glow of being an Author, and suddenly, along comes an invitation to do your first of many book signings at a bookstore. Now what? How do you make this a stress-free and successful event?
First of all, work with the bookstore. They're going to be investing their staff, their time, and their money in you. They will probably also order advance copies of your book to have on hand for your book signing.
It was my experience that they will print signs for store windows around town, large posters to introduce you and your book, pay for newspaper ads informing the public of the time and date of your signing, and possibly radio and TV ads, as well.
There are many things you can do to make the day come off without a hitch, besides the obvious: dress professionally, arrive early, and be excited to meet people. Think of the store as your ‘home’ for the event. If you approach it in that way, you'll enjoy yourself, as well as sign and sell a lot of books.
Ask to be set up either close to the entrance, where you can be like an unofficial greeter, or in the case of a children’s author, ask to be set up in the children’s area of the bookstore.
You never know when you might get the chance (during a few slow minutes) to read your book to a small group of children ... they will tell their parents what a great person you are for reading to them and, ultimately, this brings even more sales.
Before your book signing, have business cards printed and have them beside you on the table in a small dish, or business card holder. Have some bookmarks printed, or design and print your own. Both are invaluable.
When people walk down the aisle near you, smile, go over and introduce yourself (Hi, I’m John Smith and I’m signing my books here, today). Shake their hand and give them either a bookmark or a business card to
take with them. After you’ve signed a book, tuck a bookmark inside. It should have all of your contact information printed right on it.
The whole purpose of a book signing is to sell your books. People buy from people they like, so your goal should be to first sell yourself. Most of the people you’ve given a business card or a bookmark to almost always stop back before they leave the store and take a look at your book ... some even buy.
It’s always a good idea to check with the bookstore a week or so before your signing. Be sure and ask whether there will be posters or signs near where you'll be. If not, make your own! Have a full color copy of your book cover blown up in size and glue it, along with your author photo, to a poster. The store will have easels and tripods to stand your posters on.
If you have any book reviews or press releases, glue those to your poster, too. Use your printer to print some small signs on card stock that when folded, will stand alone on your table. Have them say something like, “Introducing John Smith, Author of “The Little Purple Duck” or, if you prefer, with just your name and your title, ‘Author’.
If you really want to draw people to the table where you’re signing books, bring some homemade cookies or brownies with you and pile them high on a plate next to where you're set up. I never did this, but I met a few who did.
What I enjoyed very much was large bookstores that had several Authors signing books at the same time. During slow periods, go meet them, share information, trade ideas, as well as business cards. In a few cases, we even traded signed books. You just might meet the next best selling author —or they will, by meeting you!
In closing, have realistic expectations. Always hope for the best, expect the worst, and the results will probably fall somewhere happily in between. But have fun, be yourself, and remember, everyone who walks into that store is a potential customer ... and a future reader of your book.
Oh, and for heaven's sake, smile!