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How to Launch Your Book
10 Step Guide for Authors
How to Launch Your Book
10 Steps for Authors
Are you launching a book and wondering what steps to take?
Are you launching a book and wondering what steps to take?
Learn how to plan, promote, and launch your book using a practical step-by-step process.
A successful book launch requires planning, preparation and a clear timeline of events to make sure every step of the process is completed at the right time before your book is released. This guide outlines the key steps to take in the months leading up to your release date to prepare for your launch, promote your book, and reach your target audience.
Follow these 10 steps to prepare, promote, and launch your book with a clear and practical plan in place.
1. Create your book launch timeline
2. Final Touches: Editing, Proofreading, Book Title & ISBN
3. Book cover design and layout
4. Choose your printer and calculate printing costs
5. Set your book price (RRP) and shipping fees
6. Enable book pre-orders
7. Build early reviews and social proof
8. Plan your book marketing and publicity campaign
9. Plan your book launch event
10. Prepare for launch week
Step 1: Create Your Book Launch Timeline
Timing: 3-4 months before launch
A book launch timeline outlines the important tasks that need to happen before your book is released. These tasks typically take 3-4 months and include editing, proofreading, book design, printing, pre-order sale, planning your marketing and publicity campaign and planning your book launch event.
Set your release date to coincide with your book launch event. Write down the key decisions you need to make along the way, such as cover design, pricing, where to sell, and how you will run a marketing and promotion campaign.
You can start taking pre-orders for your book 6–8 weeks before it’s launch date, once your cover, description, and pricing are finalised.
A clear timeline keeps you focused and ensures you build momentum with your audience as your book launch date approaches.
Timing: 3-4 months before launch
We recommend using a professional editor to edit and proofread your book. Editing improves structure, clarity, and flow, while proofreading provides a final check for spelling, grammar, and small errors. Book editing costs in Ireland vary depending on word count and level of editing required, but it is an important step in producing a professional-looking book.
Choose a short and concise book title and a separate book subtitle. You can visit your local bookshop and look at similar titles in your genre for inspiration.
In the back pages of your book, include a short author biography and list any other book titles you have written. Let readers know where they can leave you a review or connect with you on social media and your website.
We recommend that every book has an ISBN, as it allows your book to be sold through libraries and other retailers. It also enables your sales data to be tracked by Nielsen BookScan in Ireland. You can purchase an ISBN directly from Nielsen.
Step 3: Book Cover Design and Layout
Timing: 3 months before launch
Designing your book cover and interior ensures your book looks professional and is properly formatted for printing. One of the key decisions is who will design your book cover.
Rather than using Canva to design it yourself, it is highly recommended to use a professional cover designer to ensure the typography, imagery and layout match the book’s genre and appeal to your target readers. Cover design costs vary, as does quality, so make sure to ask for examples of work they have done in your genre.
You may choose to include a review quote on the front cover of your book. If you have previously been a bestselling author, you can also mention that on the cover.
The back cover of a book can include a review with your book description and ISBN barcode. We recommend keeping your front and back cover content clear and concise and keep your author profile and picture to the back pages rather than the back cover.
You can visit your local bookstore and get some ideas for your book cover design in your genre.
The interior of your book must also be formatted before printing. This includes setting consistent margins, choosing readable fonts, and ensuring chapter headings and page numbers are properly aligned.
Printers require print-ready PDF files for both the interior and the cover.
Step 4: Choose Your Printer & Calculate Printing Costs
Timing: 2-3 months before launch
Choosing your printer and calculating printing costs will help you understand the cost per book and decide how many copies to print.
Once your book design is finished, the next step is to decide where to print your book and calculate the costs involved. It is a good idea to request two or three quotes from different printing companies for different print quantities of your book, and to understand their production timeframes. Some printers may offer to send you a sample copy so you can assess the printing quality before placing your order.
Printing costs in Ireland vary depending on page count, paper type, trim size, and whether you choose a paperback or hardback cover. As a rough guide, paperback books printed in bulk are usually much cheaper per unit than hardbacks, while smaller print runs increase the price per book. Printers will provide a quote based on your specifications and quantity. Production time can be 2–4 weeks, so you should factor this into your launch timeline.
Step 5: Set Your Book Price (RRP) and Shipping Fees
Timing: 2 months before launch
After you finalise your printing costs, the next step is to decide the price of your book. Getting the price right is important to ensure that you cover your costs and generate a profit, while offering similar pricing to other books in your genre.
It is a good idea to go into a bookstore and research the pricing for similar books in genre, page length and format. Standard paperback books in Ireland typically range from €15-€25.
When setting your book price, take into consideration your production, print costs, and the amount of books you expect to sell. You may also consider offering a special pre-order discount for your book to generate more sales upfront which can help you fund your printing costs.
The shipping fee for your book will depend on its weight. We recommend that you go into a post office and ask them to weigh your book and packaging. You can then calculate postage fees for each region you want to ship to. We have further information on postage costs for Buy the Book members in our seller support centre.
In Ireland, if you’re book weighs over 500g, the shipping costs can increase significantly for domestic and international postage. For example, shipping in Ireland is currently €3.50 if your book weighs under 500g but increases to €9 if your book weighs over 500g.
To avoid asking your customers to pay high shipping fees, consider incorporating some of the shipping fee into the retail price of the book. This can improve the conversion rate when people are buying your book online.
By selling with buythebook.ie, authors can also offer a pickup option either locally or at a book launch event, helping their customers avoid shipping fees entirely.
Step 6: Enable Book Pre-Orders
Timing: 6-8 weeks before launch
A book pre-order sale allows your readers to purchase your book before it is officially released. Pre-orders are a great way to build momentum ahead of your release date, and to understand how many books to print. We recommend a pre-order period of 6-8 weeks before your book’s release date. To list your book for pre-order, you need to have the front cover, description, and pricing finalised.
You can start your pre-order sale before your book is printed. The revenue from your pre-orders can then be used to fund your printing costs and give you an estimate of how many books to print based on demand.
At buythebook.ie, you can list your book on pre-order and start generating sales before your release date. Authors are paid immediately for pre-orders, making it an effective sales channel when launching a new book. Pre-order sales also count towards the Irish Times Bestseller List.
Step 7: Build Early Reviews & Social Proof
Timing: 4-6 weeks before launch
Early reviews for your book provide valuable testimonials that you can use in your marketing campaign. To get reviews before your book is released, you can send an advance copy to people in your audience, your professional network, or individuals with expertise in your book’s content.
You can use quotes from these reviews on your book sales page, and include them in social media posts, email newsletters and printed material. You can also include reviews in your media kit that you will send to newspaper journalists and radio producers.
At buythebook.ie, readers can leave a review of your book that other readers will see on your book’s page.
You can read more about how to get book reviews in our author articles.
Step 8: Plan Your Book Marketing and Publicity Campaign
Timing: 6-8 weeks before launch
A well-planned marketing and publicity campaign ensures your book reaches your target audience and gains attention ahead of your launch.
As soon as you have a pre-order link for your book, you can start your marketing campaign and approach journalists with a press release and author photograph.
You can start by promoting your book to your existing audience and professional network. Share the book’s cover and tell them why you wrote the book and the story behind it. During the pre-order period, you can take excerpts from the book and share them on social media. Also share your early reviews, and make sure you include a direct link of where to buy your book.
For traditional media, you can start with your local newspaper and radio station. Prepare a media kit before making your approach. A media kit for an author will include your author bio, headshot, book description, cover image, press release, and early reviews. The press release is a short announcement to the media about the launch of your book, along with an overview of you and your story.
For both newspaper articles and radio interviews, make sure you let people know where they can buy your book. You can also invite local journalists to your book launch event.
We recommend that you read our author guides for more information on how to market your book and get publicity as an author.
Step 9: Plan Your Book Launch Event
Timing: 4-6 weeks before launch
A book launch event is an opportunity to introduce your book to readers, supporters, and local media when it is released.
You can start planning your book launch event several weeks before your release date. Decide on a suitable venue, date, host, and format. Send out invites to your guest list, including local journalists and media contacts. Think about how many books you will need to bring to the event. Arrange for a photographer to capture photos and video at the event that can be used for social media and future promotion of your book.
You may want to include bookmarks with your book or a pull up banner. Your printer should be able to provide you a quote for these materials.
Costs of a book launch vary depending on the venue, number of guests, and whether refreshments will be served. Some venues may charge very little if a large turnout is expected and guests are likely to buy drinks during the event.
Consider how you will take payments for sales at the event. At buythebook.ie we offer authors a book launch service where we handle all sales and card payments. This is ideal for authors in Ireland looking for a professional setup for in-person sales.
You can read more about how to host a book launch in our author articles.
Step 10: Prepare for Launch Week
Timing: 1-2 weeks before launch
Launch week is when your book is officially released. Place an order with your printer at least 2-4 weeks before the release date to ensure your books arrive in time for your launch event and launch week. Use the number of books sold on pre-order, along with the number expected to sell at the launch event, as a guide for how many books to print.
When your launch weeks arrives, be ready to package and post your books that were sold on pre-order. Continue promoting your book and let people know where they can buy it. Create a short video of you holding your book and give your audience a preview of what’s inside.
You can offer a launch discount to encourage people to buy during your launch week. Encourage people who have received their book to post photos or videos about it on social media. Continue to post reviews and feedback you receive from your readers. Be sure to thank everyone who helped you produce the book and those who have supported you by buying a copy.
Ready to Start Your Pre-Order Sale on buythebook.ie?
At buythebook.ie, we support authors as they launch their book and begin their marketing campaign. Our platform allows you to enable pre-orders and start generating revenue as soon as your book cover, description, and pricing are finalised.
We also provide guidance through masterclasses free for members on how to launch your book and the bestseller process.
Our strong reputation in Ireland is reflected in the excellent reviews we receive on Trustpilot.
Find out more about becoming a member of Buy the Book today. Click here for our membership plans, or email us at [email protected] if you have any questions about joining.
Read More Articles
Read our Author Guides for more information on selling your book.
FAQ - Your 10 Step Guide to Launching Your Book
How do I launch my book?
Launching a book involves planning several steps in the months before release, including editing, proofreading, book design, printing, pre-order sale, planning your marketing and publicity campaign and planning your book launch event. A clear launch timeline of 3-4 months helps ensure each step is completed at the right time. Preparing early allows you to build momentum through marketing and reviews, and ensures you will maximise sales by the time the release date approaches.
What is a book pre-order?
A book pre-order allows readers to purchase your book before its official release date. Authors can enable pre-orders once the front cover, description, and pricing are finalised. This helps generate early sales and revenue before the book’s launch.
How long should a book pre-order period be?
A typical book pre-order period lasts 6–8 weeks before the release date. This gives you time to promote the book, gather early reviews, and build momentum before launch day. It also allows you to gauge demand and plan your print run more accurately.
Can I take pre-orders before my book is printed?
Yes, you can take pre-orders before your book is printed as long as you communicate the release date. Pre-orders allow you to generate early sales while you finalise printing and book launch preparations. They can also help you estimate demand and decide how many copies to print. If you’re a member of buythebook.ie, you can enable pre-orders as soon as your front cover, description and pricing are finalised.
How many books should I print?
The number of books you print should be guided by the demand you see during your pre-order period. Pre-orders give you a clear indication of how many readers are planning to buy your book before it is released. You should also factor in copies needed for your book launch event and any early sales you expect in the first weeks after launch.
What price should I charge for my book?
Your book price should cover your printing costs and leave a reasonable profit margin. Research the prices of comparable titles in your genre with a similar word count and target audience to understand what readers expect to pay. It is also helpful to set a price that will allow you to offer discounts during launch week.
How much does it cost to post a book in Ireland?
The cost of posting a book in Ireland depends mainly on its weight. For example, a book that weighs under 500g can cost around €3.50 to post domestically, while books over 500g may cost around €9. To calculate the exact cost, bring your book and packaging to the post office to be weighed. We have more information on postage costs for Buy the Book members in our seller support centre.
Do I need an ISBN for my book?
You do not need an ISBN to publish a book, but it is strongly recommended. An ISBN allows your book to be sold through retailers and libraries and enables your sales to be tracked through Nielsen BookScan in Ireland. This tracking is important if you want your book sales to count towards lists such as the Irish Times bestseller list.
How do I join buythebook.ie?
Find out about our membership plans here or email [email protected] for more information.
About Buy the Book
Buy the Book is an Irish owned and Independent online book marketplace established in 2021 for authors to sell their books directly to their readers.
Buy the Book actively promotes Irish authors and is a growing author community and support network.
When you Buy a Book from us, you are supporting our Irish authors directly.
Ní neart go cur le chéile.
Buy the Book actively promotes Irish authors and is a growing author community and support network.
When you Buy a Book from us, you are supporting our Irish authors directly.
Ní neart go cur le chéile.
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