When you are a week out from the launch of a book, it can be a strange time.
Two years of decisions around developing, planning, writing, designing, marketing, and publicizing are all manifesting into this small window of time.
WIth a national launch, you are shipping books to warehouses and retail stores all over the country. You are coordinating with journalists and producers for stories and interviews to be released in concert during launch week. Email campaigns are being sent to encourage those last minute purchases while interest is at its height.
You’ll likely have last minute fires to put out. Last week was lots of little things like that. That’s why the posts have been light.
This morning, I got an email from a customer. They have a When Everyone Leads event tomorrow and they only got a partial shipment of the book. I called Kansas Leadership Center and they shipped a carton out today that should arrive tomorrow. And then we found out someone was driving in the direction of the event, so we put another carton in their car to be delivered, just to be sure they got there in time for the event. Is it more than needed? Maybe. But I now know there is a 99% chance there are books there tomorrow for that customer.
I don’t plan much in the week before launch because you never know what is going to come up. You want the capacity to meet those unexpected misses or fortune opportunities.
If you find yourself in the final week before launch and not sure what to do, focus on short lead activities.
- Who can you write that you haven’t yet and ask them to buy a single copy of the book?
- Who do you know that has an email list, big or small, that can be lined up to send a short note out about your book?
- If you visit your local bookstore, you could introduce yourself and see if they will stock the book?
There will never be more energy around your book than right now.
People will want to help.
Find things for them to do.
And don’t be afraid to ask.
