by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
Before last year, the last time I’d launched a new series was in 2019. In a lot of ways, the series from 2019 seems like a brand-new series still. I guess it is, compared to the other series that had their starts back in 2009 or 2010.
Fortunately, I remembered my top tip from 2019 about releasing a new series.
Release the first book of your new series on the same day you release a book from a long-running series.
This is a pretty easy thing to do that, in my experience, has a good payout. I either write the book from the new series at the same time as a book from an older series, or I write a book in the older series and sit on it until I’m ready to release the book from the new series.
Then I announce the pre-order for both at the same time on my social media and in my newsletter.
This approach seems to help to make readers more aware of the new series, and also seems to help catch them in a pre-ordering mood, since they’re often already ordering the book from the older series. It helps them link both books to me.
Readers of your established series might be more willing to try your new series when they’re already in the mindset of purchasing your work. And having two books to promote can increase your overall visibility on social media by spurring more engagement.
That’s my bigggest tip, but I’d love to hear from you. What tips do you have for introducing a new series to readers?
Launching a New Series as an Indie: Share on XImage by Annie Spratt from Pixabay
Step one – actually complete two books at the same time! I've always been impressed with your writing output.
That’s the tough part, ha! And thanks–it’s easier when writing is a full-time job. :)
That's a great tip if you have two books ready at the same time. I've seen some authors celebrate their book releases with a blog tour hosted by a blogger with a big Amazon gift card giveaway that got lots of responses. It might be a way to attract new readers.
Nice tip, Natalie!
That is a great tip. Readers would be open to trying the new book after devouring the familiar. I like that. In addition, while promoting one, why not two?
Exactly…it’s really the same amount of promo for half the work. :)
That is a really good idea, Elizabeth, especially if that first series has real traction with readers. It also makes it easier on the author. When you do a double launch like that, you're only doing all of the pre-release promo work once, even though it's two books. And you only have to approach bookshops, blog hosts and so on once. I see the vaule.
I wish I'd had a continuing series when I launched my latest one. But it was such a vastly different genre from anything I'd done before, I doubt it would've helped.
Good point that it’s a more helpful strategy with similar genres!