MARKETING FOR YOUR KICK-OFF DATE
As you work toward your launch date, we require promoting the book club’s sign-up page with at least two separate standalone emails. Of particular importance is sending a “Last Chance” email the week leading up to your launch. Even though members can sign up at any point during the year, this messaging serves as an imperative to prompt your community to sign up before our first discussion begins. Our experience has found that this increases member sign-ups by 50-100%. You can download the emails using the link below:
Please keep in mind that the emails should be standalone, call-to-action emails. We have found that, on average, including the same information in newsletters will not yield the same results as a targeted book club campaign. If you have any questions about marketing for your launch, do not hesitate to reach out to your Onboarding Specialist and Book Club Manager.
SOCIAL MEDIA SAMPLE POSTS
Possible Facebook or LinkedIn Post
There are some key benefits to taking part in the (Community Name) Book Club! It can help trigger more diverse reading habits, promote lifelong learning, hold you accountable for regular reading, and even improve your health! So, join us and (re)connect with [insert reference to your community] by participating in our book club!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2016/08/09/the-best-reason-for-reading-book-lovers-live-longer-say-scientists/?utm_term=.a1d502e89cb9
Possible Facebook or LinkedIn Post
Looking for ways to engage and network with fellow alumni? Join our new book club! You can learn what we’ll be reading and how the book club works by going here: https://www.pbc.guru/[insert unique ID]
Possible Twitter or Instagram Post
Calling all #booklovers! Join our new online book club for our first book! To sign up and learn what we’ll be reading, go here: https://www.pbc.guru/[insert unique ID)
SUPPLEMENTAL MARKETING IDEAS
Suggested Supplementary Marketing
- Post a photo of staff reading the book with the link to the sign-up page.
- Post a photo of the first book in iconic locations with a link to the sign-up page.
- Ask participants to post a photo with their copy of the book.
- Highlight a quote from the book and link to the sign-up page.
- Photo of the book’s author with a blurb from the author’s bio and a link to the sign-up page.
- Grid of photos of book club members reading the book in different locations.
- Include a blurb in a newsletter.
Above-And-Beyond Marketing
- Giveaway: Ask participants to comment on a post for a chance to win a copy of the next book.
- Post of video of the author speaking in an interview, TED Talk, or a public reading.
- Create a hashtag for the book club and use it consistently across platforms.
- Give new graduates an “Alumni Book Club Bookmark” at graduation.
- Mention the Book Club on your Alumni Website – or even give it its own page!
MARKETING AFTER THE LAUNCH
While PBC Guru announces, markets, and creates content for your book club throughout the year, our reach is limited to members of your community who have already signed up for a program. It is up to you to market your book club to new members, but we will help make that as easy as possible!
Each reading period, PBC Guru provides draft marketing materials to promote upcoming books, author talks, and member recruitment. You can expect your respective Book Club Manager to reach out with this collateral to share with your communications team. We also highly recommend marking your calendar in advance to plan a new member recruitment email during January and May, attracting New Year readers and fresh graduates’ voices.
We have more marketing resources for you on our dedicated marketing page, located here:
https://help.pbc.guru/help.pbc.guru/3-4-marketing-email-suggestions