Writing a business book is a huge achievement, and one that requires dedication, insight, and a lot of late nights. But when it’s time to launch your book, you need to do a lot more than just hit ‘publish’; you need to create an experience that builds anticipation and excitement.
Why is this important?
To maximise sales, you need a captivated audience ready and waiting to engage with your expertise. A really effective way to generate this kind of buzz is through a well-designed waitlist.
As a novice, how do I make this happen?
The good news is that the new ScoreApp ‘Pre-Register for the Book’ template will make this step incredibly simple, by offering a seamless, ready-to-use solution!
In this blog, I’ll explain exactly why a waitlist is so essential for your book launch and show you how you can effortlessly set one up using this intuitive tool.
Why create a waitlist for a book?
Creating a waitlist for your book is a smart, strategic play that offers many benefits. You’re gathering names and email addresses, gauging genuine interest, cultivating a loyal following, and refining your marketing strategy with real-time feedback.
It sounds amazing, doesn’t it? It is—and it’s so simple to do! Building a waitlist will allow you to tailor your marketing, engage with your audience meaningfully, and build momentum long before your book is officially released.
Register interest and support the direction of the book
A waitlist is an extremely valuable indicator of how much interest there is in your upcoming book. It provides a direct way for potential readers to express their excitement and anticipation.
Now, this has the advantage of boosting your confidence as an author, but it also allows you to gather insights that can shape your final draft.
Knowing exactly who your interested readers are can help you adjust your book’s content, style, and messaging to meet their needs and expectations.
Reduce costs
One of the most significant advantages of using a waitlist is the potential for cost savings. Traditional marketing campaigns are expensive, especially when you’re targeting a broad, unqualified audience.
A waitlist will help you focus your resources on people who have already shown an interest, thereby reducing your cost per acquisition.
With a targeted list, you can allocate your marketing budget more efficiently by focusing on high-impact activities that convert leads into sales.
Solidify your book idea with a survey
A waitlist is a valuable resource even if your book is still in its early stages. By integrating a survey into your waitlist, you can also test your ideas and gather insights.
This data will show you whether your book’s concept is connecting with your target audience or if it needs tweaking. It’s a great way to tweak your ideas before fully committing to your writing.
How do I create a book pre-sale list?
Know your audience and offer
The first step towards creating a successful waitlist is understanding your audience. Who are they? What are their interests and pain points? What value does your book offer them?
When you know the answers to these questions, you can use the information to create a value proposition that speaks to their needs.
If you’re unsure, use the waitlist to test different angles and experiment with your messaging!
Set your launch date
Setting a clear launch date creates a sense of urgency and anticipation and provides a timeline for your marketing activities.
Announce this date early and promote it frequently to build excitement and make sure your audience knows when to expect your book.
Choose technology – ScoreApp
Choosing the right technology is crucial for managing your waitlist. We’ve been refining ScoreApp for years, and it’s the most advanced, intuitive platform on the market. It makes it easy to set up your waitlist, collect data, and engage with your audience.
With built-in templates and customisation options, you can create a professional-looking waitlist page in minutes.
Create a landing page
Your landing page is the face of your waitlist. It should communicate clearly what your book is all about, why it’s valuable, and what your readers can expect to gain from it.
It should have compelling visuals, concise copy, and a strong call-to-action (CTA) to encourage sign-ups.
Promote your waitlist
Promotion is the key to building a robust waitlist with valuable insights. Use all your channels—social media, email newsletters, blog posts, and even paid advertising—to get the word out there.
Your goal is to reach as many potential readers as possible and encourage them to join your waitlist.
Automate your emails
Email automation is the best way to build your waitlist. Set up a series of automated emails to keep your audience engaged and informed. These could include sneak peeks, exclusive content, and updates on your book’s progress.
Automation will make sure your audience stays engaged without requiring constant effort from you.
Launch
When launch day arrives, prioritise your waitlist. As a show of appreciation for their early support, offer members exclusive early access, discounts, or even special bonuses.
Adding extra value not only rewards them but also creates a sense of urgency and encourages them to act more quickly.
How to produce a compelling waitlist page for your book
Clear book offer
A compelling waitlist page begins with a clear and concise description of your book.
What’s it about? What problem does it solve? What will readers gain from it? Answer these questions to hook in potential readers.
Building excitement
Engaging visuals, testimonials, and compelling copy will build excitement.
Highlight unique aspects of your book, such as exclusive content, limited editions, or early access benefits. The goal is to make your book irresistible to readers!
Encouraging sign-ups
Make it super easy for visitors to sign up. Use a strong call to action and provide clear incentives for joining the waitlist.
Whether it’s exclusive content, early access, or even a special discount, make sure there’s a compelling reason for people to sign up now.
Things to include on your waitlist landing page
- Strong value proposition: Clearly state why your book is unique and valuable.
- Clear and compelling call-to-action: Create a sense of urgency with a strong call to action.
- Reason to sign up early: Offer exclusive content, discounts, or bonuses for early sign-ups.
- Social proof: Include testimonials, endorsements, or pre-publication reviews.
- Clear copy: Ensure text is accurate, concise, engaging, and jargon-free.
- Email sign-up form: Make it easy for visitors to join the waitlist.
- Story about why you’re launching: Share the motivation and inspiration behind the book.
- Short bio or profile: Introduce yourself and illustrate your authority on the subject.
Ready-to-go book launch waitlist template
The ‘Pre-Register for the Book’ template on ScoreApp is a game-changer for authors keen on creating a waitlist. This free tool is so easy to use and offers customisation options that let you fine-tune every detail.
You can choose colours, fonts and layout – so that everything is perfectly aligned with your brand identity. It’s packed with all you need to craft a compelling waitlist page that looks professional and deeply engages your potential readers.
Now you can build an experience that will draw your audience in and set the stage for a successful book launch!
Get more book pre-sales with ScoreApp
With ScoreApp’s template, you can engineer a streamlined and effective launch strategy. Our user-friendly interface and robust features will help you to:
- Connect with potential readers
- Build an engaged audience
- Gather invaluable insights
- Tailor your marketing to stay efficient
- Tweak your concept or content pre-launch
- Get more pre-sales of your book
- Ensure your book launch is a success!
Ready to take the first step? Try ScoreApp’s template for FREE and set the wheels in motion for a winning launch!
