How to Host a Book Signing

To make an author signing a successful and profitable event, here are a few hints to make the day work to your benefit.

1. Design: set up two tables away from each other, one for the author and one for sales. Customers purchase their books and then proceed to the author’s table if they desire an autographed copy. Sales table should be as guest enter the room and far enough away from the author table so guest are comfortable and can stand in line.
2. Have a greeter at the door.
3. Author’s table should be comfortable seating and chairs available for the author, illustrator and/or guest. Be sure to have several pens and water. Make author visible, don’t seat them in an out of the way place, like the back of the room.
4. At the sales table be sure to have plenty of books, post it notes, pens, change, a sign that notes who to make checks payable to. Post if credit cards are accepted. At the sales table have three or four volunteers to help sell, one each for cash, credit and checks.  Print the name of the person the book should be autographed to on a post it note and place it on the cover of the book. This will help to make the autographing process fast and error free.
5. Promote, Promote, Promote. Send out advertisements in your newsletters, emails and take orders. This is usually a one time fundraiser with time limitations. Sell why the book should be purchased. Subject matter, for anyone under the age of 10, etc.
6. Credit card sales are accepted online, have the customer fill in the credit card information and receive their book at the event.
7. Increase sales by taking orders before the signing. If people can not attend sell the book and the author can sign it before the visit and have it shipped or available for pick up. Remember that shipping is an extra cost.
8. Follow up with the author a few days before the signing to confirm the number of books to be shipped or brought to the event.