Helping your novel achieve its full potential in the marketplace is part of your responsibility as an author and part of your publisher’s responsibility. You’ll discuss things like cover design, target audience, and marketing campaigns. You will also set a date to launch your new book.
On the surface, you might not think it matters when you launch your new book, but it does. In this post, we provide information and ideas for you to consider before you make your novel available to the public. There are several things to aim for and several timing situations you’ll want to avoid.
Launch your new book early in the week
Do you know that most publishers in the U.S. use Tuesday as their chosen release day? Marketing analysts say that Mondays and Wednesdays are also good choices when determining a day to launch your new book. Releasing books early in the week enables authors to garner sales before the weekend. This system is reportedly most conducive to the way online platforms such as Amazon records sales.
Early in the year is also best
Many regions throughout the country experience inclement weather during the first several months of each year. That makes it a great time of year to launch your new book. People may be stuck indoors more often in January, February or March, which means they might want to cozy up with a good novel.
Summer has its place for new release dates
Mid to late summer is peak vacation time. People love to pack their Kindles or take along a few books to read while lying on the beach or lounging in a cabin in the woods. This makes mid to late summer months a good time to launch your new book.
Avoid Christmas time, unless it’s Christmas in July
One of the worst times of the year to schedule a novel’s release date is Christmas. You might think this doesn’t sound logical, since many people give books as gifts. Even if the story in your new book takes place during the holidays, it’s still best to avoid launching the book during the Christmas season.
You’ve probably been to a few “Christmas in July” sales at some point. This is the mindset you’ll want to have when determining a launch date for a new novel. People have more time to read reviews, scroll online and mosey through brick-and-mortar books stores in July than they might have at the height of the Christmas shopping season.
Timing can make or break sales success
When you’re ready to launch your new book, make sure you discuss options with your publisher. Choose a time of year, date and day of the week that maximizes your novel’s chances for success. It’s not a one-size-fits-all issue, which is why it’s crucial to work with a publishing company that understands why timing matters when launching a new release.
