Rate each # with points that reflect best where you are.  From 1 to 5 with 1 being the worst /least and 5 being the best /most and 3 being neutral.  

And share your comments as you go along.  

Make sure to click SUBMIT after you've looked at your score.

1. Create a FOCUS For Your Book.  This is about having a clear genre and message.   One that speaks to an audience that has a clear interest in the subject you’re addressing.

Do you have one, and is it clear?

Score between 1-5:

2.  Defining a NICHE. - Do you know WHO this book is for? And what problem it might solve for them? 

EG:  Women over 60 who are going through or recovering from divorce - wanting to know that life doesn't end here, but is actually the opportunity for a new beginning. OR Millenials working in Tech Startups who need Leadership Guidance to achieve Success in High Growth Business

 

Score between 1-5:

3.  A Plan for Marketing Your Book. - Do you have a plan in place to market your book? This means having some method to your madness.  Ok not madness, but certainly there will be danger of that with all the moving parts to think about.  Make sure you have a path to follow - so you're clear and not overwhelmed.  It's always easier to move forward when your path is clearly laid out before you.

Score between 1-5:

4.  Choosing Specific Strategies / Methods to market the book and build your outer community:  Speaking, Teleseminars, Interviews, Book Reviews, Blogging, Guest Blogging, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter.  You don't want to do them all! You want to do the ones that feel natural to you, and do them well.  This is often called building a Platform. It's HOW you're going to share your book with the world. Do you have a clear idea of the strategies and methods you want to use?

Score between 1-5:

5.  Building an Email List  about building a community to share your message / your upcoming book with, and to sell your books to.  If you don't have an inner community (your email list) that you've been building a rapport with, chances are your launch will be like a falling tree ln the forest - uneventful.  We don't want that!  Make sure you start building your inner and your outer community early! This is also part of your platform.  How far along are you with this?

Score between 1-5:

6.  Nuture Your Email List - once folks have subscribed, you wan tot have a way to nurture them, in the form of newsletter, articles, tips etc.  Figure out a strategy to help you keep them interested once you've had them opt-in.  :-)   Don't let them sit for weeks or even months on end without a peep from you.  Now you want consistent communication. It's an opportunity to start building a BUZZ about your upcoming book.   

How are you doing on this front?

Score between 1-5: 

7.  Build a LARGE author following on Social Media (again, part of your Platform), - get that up and running - whether it's Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter - doing it smartly and strategically.  Depending on who your audience is and the topic you're addressing will depend on where choose to you spend your time and energy!  It might be Twitter and Facebook.  It might just be LinkedIn. It could be Facebook and Pinterest.  Choose carefully. Again don't try to do it all!    

How are you doing with this crucial piece of the puzzle?

Score between 1-5:

8.  Setting up web copy and layout for your website in regard to your book - preferably on a page dedicated to your book on your website or a stand alone site.  It's all about creating excitement and buzz and credibility.

Score between 1-5:

9.  Creating an opt-in gift for your book launch webpage (get it done easily and professionally through The Business Springboard) or choose other types of free gifts etc for pre-launch interest and sales, These give your audience an experience of your book and creates BUZZ before the launch!  This is also a great way to create PRE-Sales!

Do you have at least ONE digital free gift created and does it work for you?

Score between 1-5:

10.  Prepare 3 topics / talks to speak on to help market you book.  These will help you get speaking engagements whether it's in front of a live audience, on radio, online radio or tv, that you can use at a moment's notice. This is again, part of your platform building.  This will be especially helpful when you decide to do an online book tour.

Do you have 1 to 3 talks prepared yet?

Score between 1-5:

11.  Create free gifts to encourage folks to sign up to your list when speaking or being interviewd.  2 or 3 different gifts that are relevant to the topic you're speaking on is a great way to go.  Each can be different, enticing and relevant to your book. This goes beyond having your gift on your author website or page.  These are stand alone gifts that are in alignment with each of your talks. It's a fabulous way to get folks to subscribe to on your list.

How are you doing on this front?

Score between 1-5:

12.  Preparing for Radio Show Interviews - doing interviews with online radio shows who have an established following is a great way to build buzz.  It's also a great launch pad if you were to do an online radio book tour at the time of the launch.  It helps to get support when you're embarking on a tour or using this as a list-building strategy - as there are important steps to help you secure the interview.

Score between 1-5:

13.  Writing a Blog - as you're a writer, and writing comes naturally, it makes sense that one of your list-building and nurturing methods is to write a blog.  This is a great way to attract folks to your website and create buzz in social media by driving traffic to your website - all with great info on the topic you're passionate about.  It's a great way to nurture your community /email list too.

Score between 1-5:

14.  Guest Blogging - Part of magnetizing your audience and getting subscribers /followers means tapping into promotional partners who believe in you, your topic and have a community already who are going to appreciate your expertise and value.  This is an awesome way to share about your topic (from your book) and to attract new subscribers to your list /social media community.

Score between 1-5:

15.  Leverage Your Book To Help Get Clients - Your work might be what you're basing your book on, but it's quite possible that your book might become the platform for your work. When you develop a system based on the teachings of your book, it's possible to get clients, speaking engagements etc. much more easily.

Score between 1-5:

16.  A Source of Resources - for website creation, publishing, formatting, digital book creation, copy-writer, editor,  publicist, proposals and pitching, media sources (like HARO) etc.  Do you have them?

Score between 1-5:

17.  Support to cheer you on AND SHIFT you when the going get's tough!  We all need help getting focused on priorities and next steps - and to clear any doubt or confidence issues when they surface.  This could be a transformational author visibility coach like myself or someone in your sphere that you trust.  This is the person who will help you get your platform created and established, so that when you're taking the next step to get published or work with a publicist - you'll have all your ducks in a row, and you'll be ready to LAUNCH!

Do you have someone in your corner to support this big journey you're on?

Score between 1-5:

With all these pieces in place you’ll be READY to make that SPLASH with your book launch.  As you can see there is a lot more to birthing a book, than just the writing of it.  If you want your message to go out into the world, make an impact, get more speaking gigs, build your business or get more clients – it’s a super important component to the process.   PLUS I'm sure you really want to reach MANY people with your message.

Remember the Universe aligns with your intentions AND actions. :-)

So how did you do?    Add your points together for each one, and total it up. (if you scored 5 in one question you'll add 5 to your score, if you scored 2 in another you'll be adding 2...and so on) 

YOUR TOTAL:  _______________

 

Now see how you've scored.  This will show how far you've come on this road to becoming a successful published author, and reflects what might still need to be done. :)

If you scored between 60 - 75:

Woohoo! You’re rocking it, and already well on the way to launching your book with a big SPLASH!  Chances are you’re doing fine on your own, have a plan and are really in the flow.  Your list is building nicely, your Social Media communities are really growing, and you have a lot in place to help promote your book before and during the launch.  You’re a launch pad ROCKSTAR. You might want to ask yourself - is there anything more I can do that will help me make this an even bigger splash? Perhaps something from this checklist will resonate that you hadn't thought of yet. Keep up the good work!!!

If you scored between 35 – 59:

You’re on your way!  Things are happening, but perhaps a bit slower than hoped.  Perhaps things are a bit haphazard, lots of balls in the air with some overwhelm happening.  OR you know what to do, but might be getting stuck.  You ARE doing some things, so well done on that!!  The key is to get the results you’re looking for and be consistent in your efforts with a clear plan.   If you’re struggling and need helpthis  or know you could be doing this better , I would encourage you to get support asap.

If you scored between 15 – 34:  

Uh oh!   Either you’re just getting started (all good here - we all have to start somewhere, right!?), or you just don’t know what you should be doing, and you might be feeling overwhelmed and unclear.  The key here is to make sure you have a do-able plan.  AND to get HELP!  Don’t go this alone.  We weren’t given a digital download when we were born or like Neo in the Matrix, of all the things we need to do to get ready to launch a book, right!? ;)  Give yourself permission to be GREAT at the writing of the book, and then have someone GREAT give you the coaching and guidance you need to help you build your platform and get you prepared for your launch.  Doing this isn’t a bed of roses, but with the right support, all will be well.  I encourage you to reach out to me, or someone you trust to help you do that.   Here’s to you making a SPLASH with your launch. You can do it!!

Phew!  So much to think about right?  More than you thought?  It can feel like a lot.

If you’re curious about how you can get support with this, and you feel ready – I’d like to invite you to connect with me.  I have different levels of support and investment available for authors – to help you on your way. Whether you need a touchstone, accountability, cheering, place to ask questions, to full on customized support to create the visibility you need, with the methods and strategies in place for you to launch your book. I really want you to have a big following for that moment when you launch your self-published book, or when you submit that proposal to a traditional publishing company.

As a seasoned radio show host I even have ways to help you get ready for radio show interviews, get interviews. AND I just LOVE helping my clients create freebie offers - either in a professional ‘done-with-you’ way to get your freebie opt-in gift done (and cool exposure with it!) or brainstorming with you around the ones you'll be creating. You don’t have to try and figure this stuff out on your own.

Just click here to set up an appointment and we’ll take it from there.    There is no obligation – this is just a get to know each other conversation to see how you can have a successful book launch. The fun part is that we'll start to build your strategy. I know you'll get a lot from this chat together.  Can’t wait to talk to you.

I wish you well on your journey of writing and launching your book.  It’s with people like you in the world that we will influence more healing, transformationand and create happiness in a much bigger way.  I’m so thrilled that I get support your journey - even if it's just this checklist!

Much love, and to your shining success!

Louise x

P.S.  Don't forget to hit the SUBMIT button before you leave this page. :)

 

Louise Crooks
aka The KeystoClarity! Coach

Visibility Coach for Coaches, Healers and Authors

www.keystoclarity.com