What happens after you launch a book?
Highlights from my first month as a published author
Hiya, Sara here! Welcome to The Scoop. If you’re new here, I talk about women making money, doing work they love and growing spacious, ease-filled businesses for all seasons of life. I don’t believe working for yourself needs to be draining, and everything I share is to help you find your ease and balance, too.
‘MORE SALES PLEASE’ HAS BEEN OUT IN THE WORLD FOR A MONTH!
And since I love bringing you behind the scenes of the book launch experience, here’s my month one round up.
When it was just me and my lowly keyboard, bashing out my best efforts and creating More Sales Please chapter by chapter Google docs, I found myself feeling isolated and constantly in a state of the unknown.
“Am I doing this right?”
“Does that last bit make as much sense as I think it does?”
“Will anyone even read the bloody thing?”
I don’t know quite what I was expecting writing a book to be like, but I do know it made me *really* appreciate the energy of others. Stories from the other side would have been a wonderful tonic to me and would have made the whole thing feel less lonely. If you’re in the middle of your book writing experience just now, keep going and I hope this helps spur you on!
What has happened since my book came out a month ago?
Well, quite a lot, actually.
(Relatively speaking - we’re not talking Prince Harry releasing “Spare” levels of hysteria, here.)
And that’s stating the bleeding obvious, I know: I’m a business owner who wanted to create a book that helps creatives increase sales and make money from work they love.
It gets me fired up and I could talk all day about how many great things happen when more creatives earn well from their businesses - and I do! I also know it’s pretty niche stuff, in the grand scheme of things.
While I haven’t seen my book in any physical stores, I’m not on a book tour spanning the country, and there hasn’t been any big budget promotion…I couldn’t be happier.
Here are some things that have already made me so happy I wrote this book:
Feedback
As you may already know - but also maybe not - every time a newbie author like me sees a new review on the behemoth that is Amazon we do a very enthusiastic happy dance. It’s like the law or something. Completely compulsory and joyful and wonderful. The reason why our bodies squeal and smile and wiggle around freely when we get reviews is because being a new author in a niche category makes it H-A-R-D to be found by new audiences. Visibility outside your own circles is the holy grail, and Amazon reviews are a powerful way to nudge things in the right direction. Each one is a reminder for Amazon to consider sharing the book to new audiences. There are 74 reviews at the time of writing this, and let me tell you I have danced and whooped and clapped every single one in. If you’re reading this and you’ve left one - THANK YOU.
Today’s review that got me dancing:
“A truly informative and practical resource - I gained so much and would highly recommend it to any small business owner looking to understand sales and marketing. There are so many great tips and examples that it has me actually excited to focus more on sales and building my brand. Well worth the read!”
More Sales Please in the wild!
Who knew it would be so fun to see photos of my book in it’s new home? I LOVE getting photos of all the corners of the world More Sales Please has made it to, from Seoul to Australia, the US to mainland Europe. I smile every time I see a copy in a new place - on a train to Berlin, accompanying your morning cup of tea and even being read in the bath!
Why did nobody tell me how heartwarming these daily visuals would be?! Here is my book hanging out by a beautiful library in Seoul!
Daily Conversations
Every single day since publication I have received lovely comments and DMs from people who are finding the book easy to read, have had lightbulb moments and who are making sales by implementing the content tweaks and tips inside. I COULD NOT LOVE THIS MORE - OBVIOUSLY! Sure, it’s great that the book is helping AND the fact that I’m a total extrovert who gets so much energy from being in conversation with people makes this a win win! All those dark days sitting alone at the keyboard were worth it for the chats I get to have now as a result.
New Invitations
Subscription boxes, book clubs, recommended reading lists, in person events, it’s all happening because of More Sales Please. My inbox is awash with lovely invitations to speak on podcasts and panels about my favourite topics: creatives making more money, women feeling their true power and owning their skills, and chatting about all the things that make sales a certainty. I’ve had more invitations in the last 30 days than in the last 5 years combined.
Tailored Trainings
I have always wanted to create ease within different industries, and so far this month I’ve spoken about delivering trainings to communities for photographers, artists, interior designers and cake makers. I’ve chatted to freelancer communities, female only businesses and so much more. It’s just the beginning, where shall I speak next? If you have any ideas of small business niches that could use some help with increasing sales, do let me know!
Audience growth
Since launch over a thousand new followers have arrived on my Instagram account @saleswithsara. I’m not someone who chases numbers but I will say that’s more followers in a 30 day period than I’ve ever had in a year. If you want to grow your audience, write a book!
Launch party lols
Another huge highlight was my launch party. I wasn’t going to have one but I’m SO GLAD I DID. I started January wondering if anyone would come (early January, train strikes, snow, blah blah blah), and I’ve ended it beaming from ear to ear. Bringing the book earth side with so many of the women featured in the book, supporters and friends was the best of times. You cannot have a do-over so my advice is, throw the party. There is nothing like a room full of your peers to celebrate this big milestone. A must have memory that I’ll remember forever!
So, there we have it, my one month round up.
It took a year to create More Sales Please, so I’ll be documenting highlights each month for the first year I reckon. Expect more to come when we get to the end of month two!
I have no idea how many books I’ve sold (I think I’ll find out a few months in), but I can honestly say, it’s not even about that, it’s so much more enjoyable to celebrate all the lovely chats I’ve chat, the people I’ve met and the stories I’ve heard from businesses up and down the country.
If you’re wondering whether creating a book-shaped home for your specialist knowledge is worth it, if it will bring your business new opportunities, if it will amplify the impact of your work, I can wholeheartedly say YES. My experience has only been positive.
I wish I’d known how much fun this part of the experience would be. If I had I’d have done it much sooner!
Have I persuaded you to consider writing a book?
I think the world would be a better place if lots more women did, so let's talk about it!
What do you want to know about writing or launching a book?
Let me know and I’ll write about that next!
Sara x
Thanks for sharing this Sara! I have had a book idea in mind for the last few months... It's in my vision, my priorities, my to-do list, yet I still feel 'scared' and full of self-doubt. So it's very useful reading this. I know it's going to be a long and hard journey, but your experience makes it possible and keeps me optimistic about the outcome!
Well done Sara, it looks like you’re having a blast!
Very well deserved! 👏👏👏