I love in-person events like book signings. It’s an opportunity to engage directly with my readers (or potential readers) and see what it is about my novels that appeals to them, that gets them excited enough to buy the book. Every time I do a signing, though, I take some time to prepare, Here are some tips from twelve years of doing these events.
1. Draw Them to Your Table
Your table must have an interesting vibe. Some authors have large banners or posters that stand next to or beside the table. That’s eye-catching. A tabletop poster works, too, though. Most importantly, make sure your books are standing up so the titles can attract people.
2. Table Display
Sometimes the venue will supply a tablecloth, but it’s best to bring your own in case they don’t. Choose a color that sets off your book covers. For example, if your covers are all brown or black, don’t use a black tablecloth. Bring bookstands and set up one of each of your titles standing up. If you have a lot of titles, you can keep your stock in a box under the table and only display one book. If you only have one title, put several books on the table. Put a price tag on your display book so that it’s clear what you will charge for the book.
3. Swag
People love free stuff. I have bookmarks and pens that match my books . I have also done brochures with an excerpt from the first chapter. Make sure your website is listed on all paper you give away. Edible giveaways are also popular. Some authors have candy. For one book release, I made cookies that had edible copies of my book cover on top. Unfortunately, a lot of people thought they were soap and didn’t take one.
4. Payment methods
Make it clear what types of payment you take. If using cash, make sure you have change. Most people will have $20 bills they got from the ATM. Also bring something to keep the cash in so you’re not digging into your purse or pocket for the change. I’ve used Square to take credit cards, but it can sometimes be glitchy depending on the wifi where you are. Square also charges a small fee. Most recently, I’ve been using Venmo. I have a small tabletop display of my Venmo QR code that customers can scan to pay. I get an email verification almost instantly. Very easy.
5. Final Tip
Bring a pen to sign all those books!
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