5 key takeaways from King of Scars
POSTED ON: 10/07/19
TAGS:
by katie
King of Scars recently won a BMS Award for Best Young Adult campaign. Here, winners Natasha Whearity and Naomi Berwin share their learnings:
- Start building anticipation early
We announced King of Scars 15 months pre-publication and consistently seeded information, exclusives, giveaways, sneak peeks, etc from then until publication. With a brand with a) an existing fanbase but b) the potential to grow significantly, this gave us the opportunity to build maximum excitement amongst fans both old and new.
- Collaborate with your global partners
We worked incredibly closely with our publishing partners in the US – as well as Australia & New Zealand and other export territories – on everything from messaging and design to major announcement and detailed campaign elements such as social media readalongs. Particularly for a brand with a young, digital-focused readership, that alignment was invaluable in providing clarity of message, driving conversation, and maximising overall impact.
- Work your backlist
As King of Scars is set in a complex fantasy world previously introduced in Leigh’s earlier novels, it was vital that we use our long lead-time to familiarise new readers with the story so far – as well as driving excitement among existing fans by re-immersing them in the Grishaverse. We did this in a strategic, carefully timed, multi-layered way, using a combination of ebook price promotions, event activity, NetGalley coverage, digital advertising and global readalong campaign. Not only did this contribute to the success of the King of Scars campaign and expand Leigh’s overall fanbase, but it also generated significant backlist sales revenue.
- Consistency of message
Early on in the campaign planning process, we agreed on the messaging and visual approach that would be used consistently across territories and all campaign assets. The arresting ‘FACE YOUR DEMONS … OR FEED THEM’ and striking black and gold aesthetic became quickly recognisable and really added to the readers’ sense that they were seeing the book everywhere.
- Know your superfans
Going into this campaign, we knew that Leigh – whilst not yet at the same sales level here as in the UK – had a dedicated and extremely passionate core fanbase, and that these people were our most valuable advocates. We made sure to identify and engage these superfans early on, finding bespoke ways – from exclusive original artwork to personalised chocolate to licenced merchandise and more – to leverage their influence and drive maximum word of mouth.
Related posts
POSTED ON: 22/02/17
CATEGORY: News
TAGS: Adult fiction Awards Children's fiction Guerrilla marketing Non-fiction
Awards given to Constable/Little, Brown Book Group, Trapeze/Orion, Viking/Penguin, Quercus Books and a double win for Hodder & Stoughton
READ MORE
POSTED ON: 29/10/15
CATEGORY: News
TAGS: Adult fiction Awards Children's fiction Guerrilla marketing Non-fiction
Winners were announced at the BMS Meeting held at Penguin Random House’s Vauxhall Bridge Road offices on 28 October for Summer season campaigns.
READ MORE
POSTED ON: 03/07/19
CATEGORY: News
TAGS:
The April-June BMS Awards are now open for entry. You can submit your campaign here. Want to know more about the judges? Find out who’s judging this season’s awards below… Sophie Rochester is CEO an…
READ MORE
POSTED ON: 09/10/12
CATEGORY: News
TAGS: Awards BMS Awards Ebury HarperCollins Children's Macmillan
Ebury, Palgrave and Macmillan notch up a win for the season, and the new “Shoestring” category proved popular in its first outing.
READ MORE
POSTED ON: 01/12/12
CATEGORY: News
TAGS: Christmas Digital Digital marketing
Random House UK is running a digital consumer campaign with ‘handpicked favourites’, in a group project co-ordinated with Marketing and Digital teams across multiple imprints.
READ MORE
POSTED ON: 28/09/17
CATEGORY: News
TAGS: Book swap Social
Our venue has been found and the drinks have been ordered – take the night off and come along to our Autumn social & book swap for some fun on the South bank!
READ MORE
The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.The Book Marketing Society is the representative body of marketing and communications professionals working within the book industry. We oversee a regular Awards programme, and produce a lively programme of member meetings, workshops, and social events, alongside training & development opportunities. Anyone who works for a book publisher, agency, retailer or associated area in communications is eligible to join.
Follow us on Twitter
Receive our newsletter
Join us on Facebook
All BMS Members are entitled to sign up to the BMS Facebook group and join our online community of book marketers.
The group is the best way to be in know about our events, hear about our promotions and ask other BMS members for advise.