A Street Team is a group of volunteers dedicated to helping an author succeed. They serve as beta readers, like and comment on your social media, and buy and review your books. With their help you can make your dream of becoming a self-supporting author come true. Without them though it can be a very lonely trip that ends in a dead end.
But how do you form one and use it to make your book launch successful?
I didn’t have a Street Team in place with my other book (under my other pen name) because I didn’t even know what that was!! LOL Consequently that book never gained traction or enough readers to break out.
This time around though I’ve done my homework on marketing and I’m already seeing it paying off.
I had a Street Team in place that helped with The Wicked Wolves of Windsor and other Fairytales ebook launch. I’ll be sending out an email to everyone by next week to discuss the next phase, the paperbook launch.
If you were a beta reader for Wicked Wolves, you are automatically put on the Street Team list. If you did a review, and I recognized your name, I’ll be reaching out to see if you are willing to be on my Street Team.
What would a Street Team member do exactly? Various “duties”
- Serve as a beta reader (you read the book prior to publication and provide private feedback);
- Buy the book on book launch dates to help spike sales. This improves visibility (during these times I will always price the ebook at 99 cents to make it economical);
- Review the book on Amazon and/or Goodreads so it helps the visibility of the book on selling platforms.
- You follow, like, comment, and/or share on social media platforms.
I don’t expect a Street Team member to do all of the above. Some will have time just for smaller tasks and others will want to go the whole she-bang.
As volunteers I just truly appreciate your help.
UPDATE: I’ve learned so much more about Street Teams since I wrote this article. I have formed my own company, writing a software to help authors manage these fans!
