| Many different industries host trade shows on an | | | | show. |
| annual or more frequent basis. There are shows for | | | | Before Attending a Trade Show |
| almost every type of business. There are national | | | | Set Goals |
| shows, state shows, and even smaller local events. | | | | Are you hoping to sell books at the show or just to |
| Choosing which to attend comes down to which | | | | increase your exposure? Not all fairs are focused on |
| events are the best fit for your book. | | | | selling items. BookExpo America, for example, does |
| A book-industry trade show is a great place to see | | | | not allow selling, so publishers and authors give away |
| what other authors are doing to promote their | | | | free copies of their books, hoping that the exposure |
| books, and to meet and mingle with booksellers, | | | | at the show will result in recognition and sales later |
| librarians, and other industry professionals. More niche | | | | on. |
| trade shows are a great way to find your target | | | | Determine Which Types of Shows to Attend |
| reader audience (rather than the higher-level | | | | There are lots of local book fairs as well as non-book |
| booksellers). If your book is about bird watching, | | | | events that might be good fits for you. Think outside |
| your state's nature, sports, and outdoor expo might | | | | the box. Where will your target audience be? Book |
| be the perfect place for you. | | | | events will be full of other authors, publishers, and |
| Why Attend a Trade Show? | | | | bookstores. Non-book events are great if you can |
| Networking | | | | identify where your target audience will be. Since |
| The largest benefit you will get from most trade | | | | these events are not focused on books, there will be |
| shows is the networking opportunities. It's easy to | | | | less book competition. |
| strike up a conversation with someone when you | | | | Think About Who Will Be At the Show |
| know one of their interests. Talk books at a book | | | | It's important for either your target audience (those |
| show and RVs at an RV show. Make connections, | | | | bird watchers) or a gatekeeper to your audience |
| and follow up with them later. You never know who | | | | (your local gardening store's manager, booksellers, |
| you'll run into and how they can help you and your | | | | librarians) to be in attendance. This may take some |
| book in the future. | | | | creative thinking. For example, if you wrote an |
| Exposure | | | | educational children's book, school librarians, principals, |
| You can gain exposure for both you and your book, | | | | and teachers are an important audience. If your book |
| whether you're merely walking the show floor or | | | | is a World War II memoir, historical museums and |
| displaying your book and other materials at a booth | | | | reenactment groups are good audiences. |
| or stand. | | | | BookExpo America (BEA) |
| Research | | | | BookExpo America is the biggest publishing trade |
| -Walking around the show floor and visiting the | | | | show in North America and a terrific venue for |
| different exhibitors can give you valuable insight on | | | | authors to meet booksellers and promote their |
| new ideas and trends in the market. | | | | books. There are usually around 30,000 industry |
| - What you see and hear can also be good fodder | | | | professionals, including authors, publishers, booksellers, |
| for your blog, especially if you can tie your own | | | | librarians, agents, and members of the media, in |
| expertise into it. | | | | attendance each year. Where else can you be in the |
| - If you are at a book event, see how other authors | | | | same place with thousands of other book lovers? |
| are promoting their titles. There might be some ideas | | | | BEA generally showcases new releases, although not |
| you can replicate. | | | | exclusively. It's good to attend around your |
| Education | | | | publication date to launch your book. However, if you |
| Many trade shows will have additional educational | | | | choose to attend after your book's release, it's a |
| sessions and seminars during the show. | | | | good way to revive your book. Most people cannot |
| Speaking | | | | easily tell when a book was first released, so they |
| Shows also look for speakers for the various | | | | won't know that your book is old, especially if they |
| educational sessions and seminars they hold. If you're | | | | haven't seen it before. |
| a speaker, look into how to get booked for the | | | | |