by Tari Faris, @FarisTari
My third novel (and fifth book) hits the shelves in September but last month I did a cover reveal for that book. It was a lot of fun and I learned a lot in the process. So I thought I would share the why, when, and how to have a successful cover reveal with you.
Why do a cover reveal?
Honestly, because they are trendy right now and it’s an easy way to get others to build excitement for your book at a minimal cost. It’s true. People love being a part of a cover reveal team. It is a minimal commitment for them and your fans love being a part of something. I put out a form for my readers and friends to apply to be a part of my cover reveal team and within a couple of days, I had 50 entries.
I accepted everyone because, why not? And during the day of the reveal, I had 50 people posting about my book with my link all over Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and more. That is a pretty good why right there.
When do you do a cover reveal?
I did mine 7 months before the book came out. This is not ideal as I would love to do it closer to the release to help build the momentum of the release. So why did I do it so early? Because If I wanted it to be a “reveal” then I needed to do it before the cover hit the media. Not much of a reveal if everyone has already seen or could easily find it with a Google search.
If you are traditionally published, there is a small window of when it needs to happen. This window is after you get permission from your publisher and after it is available for preorder, but before the cover has been released to Amazon and other retailers. For me, that left about a 2-3 week window.
You want to wait until it is up for preorder because it gives an action point. Build the excitement and then give the opportunity to preorder it that day. Ideally, you might also offer a preorder incentive. Last year, I offered a free copy of my upcoming Christmas novella to all who preordered and filled out the form, as well as a bookmark and signed bookplate. This year, I planned to do something similar but I didn’t have it all together by the cover release and had to use a generic preorder, “fill out this form, and I will send you something.” Not the best option but better than nothing. Next year, I will work this detail out beforehand.
If you are indie publishing, then you have more freedom. You choose when the preorders go up and when you want to reveal the cover. I would still recommend a preorder link if possible. I am not sure if you can do that without the cover. But if not, maybe you could do the cover reveal the day your preorder link goes live.
How do you set up a cover reveal?
Simple 3 steps:
- Create a form for people to apply and link and advertise to your people (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, newsletter) On my form, I asked them if they wanted to create their own image or if they wanted me to provide an image.
- I created some images for them to choose from with BookBrush, then sent out the images to those who had signed up. I included instructions on the date to post, hashtags to use, links to include.
- I created a form where they could post links to their shared posts and did a drawing from those for 3 prizes.
That’s it. It was that simple. And worth the free publicity. (Well, it cost me a few books in prizes)
Also, I recommend following social media closely the day of the reveal to thank every post you see or sharing them to your story. People love it and it builds loyalty.
What about you? Have you ever done a cover reveal? Any suggestions you would add?
I invite you back to the small town with a big heart in this second book in the Restoring Heritage series.
When she hears that the small town of Heritage, Michigan, is looking for a new librarian, Libby Kingsley jumps at the opportunity. Little did she know the library is barely more than a storage closet stuffed with dusty, outdated books. What the community really needs is a new building. But the only funds available are those being channeled into the new town square, and the landscape architect in charge of the project wants nothing to do with her plans.
All Austin Williams wants to do is get the town square project finished so he can do right by the family business and then extricate himself from the town that reveres the brother who cost him so much. But the local media and the town’s new librarian seem to be conspiring against him at every turn. Will the determined bookworm find her way into his blueprints–and possibly even his heart?
Tari Faris has been writing fiction for fifteen years but has been creating fiction in her head as long as she can remember. She is represented by Wendy Lawton at Books & Such Literary Management and is a member of ACFW and My Book Therapy. She was the 2017 Genesis winner, 2016 Genesis finalist, and 2014 Genesis finalist. In addition to her writing, she also works for My Book Therapy as a special project manager and writes for LearnHowToWriteANovel.com . When she is not writing or working, she spends time with her amazing husband and kids. In her free time, she loves coffee, rockhounding with her husband and kids, and distracting herself from housework. You can connect with her at www.tarifaris.com