If you have a book to launch, you need a book launch team. 
You alone can tell your 1,000 Facebook friends about your book, or your 50-member launch team can each tell their 1,000 friends about your book. That math makes the decision to use a launch team simple, but recruiting a team may not be so easy.
I’ve lost count of how many book launches I’ve led for authors, but I’ve kept good track of the best practices and biggest mistakes authors make when they recruit. I hope these tips help you confidently recruit a wildly successful team:
GET READY—I recommend using Google forms to create a launch team application and Canva to create a graphic to recruit on social media.
GO BIG—Try to recruit 50-100 team members. Focus on recruiting more readers than authors. Authors may share your book on Facebook once, maybe twice, which is great. But readers are typically more generous with their social media space.
GO SMALL—If your invitation to join the team is too long, people won’t read it or click the application link. Skip the why/how behind writing your book. Include a launch team job description instead.
CONSIDER TECHNOLOGY—Launching requires basic tech skills (such as copy/paste to share promotional graphics or buy links). Some launchers may not be willing to learn new tricks. Also, potential team members must be active on Facebook.
ASK YOUR PEOPLE—Post your recruiting graphic and application link on your Facebook page and other social media. If allowed, recruit in your Facebook groups where your target audience hangs out. Send the link to your newsletter subscribers and post it on your blog. Email or text friends and family. If you ask in person, follow up by texting/emailing the link to the application ASAP.
ASK AUTHORS—Author friends with your target audience may share your graphic and application link on their social media, blog, and/or in their newsletters.
USE YOUR TEAM—As people apply for your launch team, encourage applicants to share the application link with their friends who might enjoy launching your book.
DON’T BEG—Ask once. Ask twice. Give a final reminder before the application deadline. Then, accept the “no,” even if it’s from your brother or best friend. Reluctant people may fill out the application, but they likely will not participate in the launch.
Keep these tips in mind, and go recruit a successful team to launch your next book!
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A book launch team frequent flyer, 
Karen Sargent has helped numerous authors launch books, including her own IAN Book of the Year, Waiting for Butterflies. She is a recently retired educator who gets her fix by teaching writing workshops and coaching aspiring authors. Her side hustle, Book Launch Team MVP, equips authors with best practices so they can experience the launch they deserve. Visit her at KarenSargent.com.
