AS promised, here are the final 5 things I think authors should know/do at a book-signing.
- Preorders – if you’ve got a bunch of books, it’s physically impossible to bring lots of copies of each. I have 60+ books out in the world now, and even if I just brought 5 of each, that’s 300 books. Believe me, there’s no room at a multi-author book signing for you to be bringing 300 books. The way to avoid this is to have a preorder form available before the book signing. That way, people can get the book they really want, you will have already made some sales prior to the vent (Yay!) and you won’t have to cart every single book you have. Along with that, make sure the attendees know the books you ARE bringing – either in a FB post or blog post.
- Unless you are taking pictures with your readers, of the event, or with another author STAY OFF YOUR PHONE! You have less than 1 second to catch a new-to-you-reader’s eye at a multiauthor event. If you are staring down at your phone, scrolling thru tiktok or your email, you will miss that opportunity to get a new reader and sell a book.
- SMILE! I can’t state this enough. No one will approach a grumpy gus. I will approach an author who looks nervous because — I get it!!! But someone scowling, or with resting bitch face? Nope. Hard pass.
- Engage with the people at the event, the readers who may be walking by your table. Say, “Hi, welcome. What do you read?” Anything that will get them to stop, look at your books, and give you a chance to state your schpiel! And SMILE when you do it, lol!
- Thank people when you sell a book. I know this sounds like common sense but I’ve been at signings with BIG NAME authors who think it’s such a privilege they are there and that the readers should prostrate themselves at their tables, that they forget their manners. Don’t you do that. Ever.
Peggy Jaeger, Author 