Download the Launch Team Strategy document.

The goal of a launch team is to get motivated people to preorder your book and commit to writing a review on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, or any other places. In addition, your launch team members are encouraged to share your book with friends (on social media, word of mouth, with their community).

We summarize the goals of the launch team using the three Rs: Read, Recommend, Review

• Read an early manuscript provided by IVP.
• Recommend the book to others.
• Review the book sites such as Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, Target, etc

Launch teams are typically run by an author. This is because a launch team is usually made up of the author's personal relationships and network, which increases the engagement and motivation of launch team members.

We recommend authors find someone who can volunteer to be a launch team assistant. This person can help with the administrative tasks of putting together the launch team so that you—as the author—can focus on engaging with your launch team members and the book launch itself.

• Password Protected PDF: We recommend that you require launch team members to pre-order your book to join the Launch Team. While they wait to receive a physical copy of the book, we will provide you with a password protected PDF of your book, which you can give to launch team members to read from.
• Social Media Graphics: You’ll receive a URL that hosts shareable social media graphics to promote your book.
• Marketing Manager Support: Your marketing manager is available to help brainstorm, answer questions, and offer suggestions as you work on your launch team.

This Launch Team Strategy document should provide you with the information you need to start building your launch team. Your marketing manager is also available to help answer any questions you have.

You don’t need to stick to IVP’s plan! The launch team can be anything you want it to be. There’s room for creativity. Here are some ways we’ve seen authors get creative with their launch team:

• Shape the group as a book club discussion or weekly topical discussions (by video or text).
• Some authors have shaped the launch team as an online retreat, providing refreshing, spiritual content for their team.
• Created bonus content exclusively for launch team members to use/share.
• Make t-shirts, mugs, and other thank you items for launch team members.
• Host giveaways and contests.
• Throw a local launch party and book reading/signing.