How to Create a Street Team for Your Book Launch

What is a street team?

A street team is comprised of close family and friends who are interested in helping you boost book sales.

The goal is to develop a strong team of people who are willing to review your book, post about your book on social media, and share the book with as many people as they know.

It’s not only a helpful marketing tool, but it also provides you with community and support throughout your book launch.

How should I contact my street team?

You can host your street team in a private Facebook group or it can simply be an email list of people that you contact. I recommend an email list since not everyone checks Facebook and there’s also a more intimate feeling in someone’s inbox. The chances of someone following through on these tasks are higher if you email them directly.

Who should be on my street team?

Here are a few ideas for how to generate your team:

• Family

• Friends

• Coworkers

• People in your writing community

• Ask your social media followers if anyone is interested in helping and get their email address

• Industry connections and relevant acquaintances

How do I ask someone to be on my street team?

Reach out to each person directly via email and ask if they’d be interested in helping you during your book launch.

What kinds of tasks should I ask my street team to do?

This is the most important part! Your street team is here to help you. Here are impactful ways they can help for free:

• Write a review on Goodreads, Amazon, and other relevant retailers

• Share the book with their social media audiences

• If they go into a bookstore, have them put your book front and center (if allowed)

• Ask if anyone in your street team is involved in a book club or hosts one

• If they have an email list, ask for a shout-out in their newsletter

• Ask them to invite other people to your street team if anyone is interested

• Ask them to promote any giveaways or contests that you host

• Ask them to recommend your book to libraries near them

• Share important social media posts with them and ask them to engage with and share your posts

• Encourage them to attend in-person events like book signings and help you spread the word

• Ask them if they know of any relevant contacts for you, like book influencers or bookstore owners

• Invite them to your book launch!

• Send thank you notes

See more ideas here.

How impactful is it to have a book street team?

I’ve been involved in many book launches and the most successful (and fun!) ones had street teams. Street teams unite under a mission to promote a book purely out of love for the author and book. It’s very meaningful and fun. It not only has promotional benefits but also helps the author through a stressful launch time.

How to get started

I recommend gathering an initial list of people you’d like to invite to your team. One of the benefits of calling it a team is that it engages people in a helpful mindset. Let them know you’re excited to re-pay the favor!