Get the Ball Rolling with a Street Team
Your book’s introduction to the public starts with a tiny splash and hopefully builds into a sizeable wave. First, it goes out to the paid reviewers (more about reviews), then the media reviewers, then the actual readers, who may or may not review it. One way to get the ball rolling on reader reviews is to put together a street team.
What Is a Street Team?
A street team is a group of people who help promote a forthcoming book in simple but very important ways: by 1) reading an advance review copy (ARC) 2) reviewing the book on launch day 3) posting about the book on their social media accounts, if they have them 4) spreading news about the book via word of mouth. Basically these are the people who support the author by posting and talking about their book. Be assured this is a very important role to play, and all authors appreciate their street team enormously.
The street team is a group of influencers, book buzzers, and most important, ARC readers and reviewers. They will read the novel a month or so before it’s available to the public. The author will check in with them once or twice to remind them to read the book before its release date.
Those who would like to receive a free digital copy of the author’s book in exchange for an honest review, will have to provide their Kindle address (instructions for how to find it appear below). The reason authors like to use Kindle as a means for distributing digital copies is that they can control to some extent who receives the book, and prevent piracy. They also may opt to provide other forms of digital content, if a reader uses a Nook, smartphone, tablet, or something else to read on.
To send digital copies via Kindle, you’ll have to ask for the street team member’s Kindle email address. Then that person will have to add your email address to their Approved Senders list. It's easier than it sounds. Here’s how:
Go to Amazon.com and sign in. Hover over where it says “Hello, Your Name, Account & Lists” and click Content and Devices when the menu drops down.
At the top, you’ll see Manage Your Content and Devices followed by Content, Devices, Preferences. Click Preferences and scroll down to Personal Document Settings. Click.
Under Send-to-Kindle Email Settings, your Send-to-Kindle email address(es) will be listed. Take note of which one you want me to send it to.
Now scroll down a bit further because you’ll need to add my email address to your list of “Approved Personal Document Email List.”
Click Add a New Approved Email Address.
Enter the desired email address (kim@authorkimcatanzarite.com) and click Add Address.
Now the author will be able to send you the book.
Be Sure to Remind Them
As the author, you’ll have to remind readers to leave a review on the book’s release date because that is the best day to receive a review—remember your goal of getting ten to twenty-five reviews on launch day? If you get those reviews, Amazon will take notice and start recommending your book to other readers.
In order to leave a legitimate review, each street team member will have to start the review with a disclaimer that basically says the following: I received a free ARC in return for an honest review.
Also, tell everyone in the group not to reveal any spoilers in their review. If they give away too much, no one will need to read the book.
Other Reviews Are Important Too
Goodreads allows readers to rate and review prior to the book’s release date, so if any of the people on your street team have a Goodreads account, they can leave a review at their convenience. (Those who want to leave a review on Barnes and Noble, Google+, Apple iBooks, Instagram, Facebook, and/or anywhere else can as well.) In a world cluttered with book releases, every mention helps!
In addition, the street team can put their social media accounts to use. A mention of the book on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or any book-loving site like LibraryThing or Bookbub, is quick and easy to do, and helps to draw much-needed attention. An author can talk up her book in subtle and not-so-subtle ways, but it’s not the same, never as powerful, as when someone else talks or posts about her book.
The street team is made up of the author’s core supporters. They will be there for you when your book releases, and when they have a book coming out, you can be there for them.
***
Next week, I’m going to take a break from self-publishing to discuss the secret to making readers love all of your novels, short stories, or anything else you write.
***
Join me on Goodreads
Instagram and Facebook: Author Kim Catanzarite
Twitter: @kimcanrite
Kim Catanzarite is a writer, editor, and instructor for Writer’s Digest University. She has worked as a developmental and copy editor since 1994. Her thriller, They Will Be Coming for Us, will publish June 1, 2021. Pre-Order Here. See my Special Offers here.
