Missingham launches Lounge Marketing

Lounge Books founder Sam Missingham, formerly digital project manager at HarperCollins, is launching a book marketing service for authors called Lounge Marketing.

According to Missingham, the Lounge Marketing website will offer practical marketing, publicity and creative tips, ideas and insight for authors free of charge.

There is also a membership option which - at £10 per month or £100 for a whole year - includes Q&As with experts, opportunities to self-promote and access to discounts and "perks".

Expert contributors, whose Q&As will be made accessible through a private Facebook group, will come from traditional, self-publishing and other industries offering practical advice that authors can implement to help sell more books. In the first six weeks, experts include author Mel Sherratt, book blogger Linda Hill, former-Faber marketing director Matt Haslum and social selling consultant Tim Hughes, among others. 

Becoming a member also gives authors the opportunity to promote their books on the main Lounge Books website and through blogs that will be promoted across Lounge social channels. They will be entitled too to discounts and "perks" (worth over £700) from partner organisations such as Kogan Page, The Literary Consultancy, BookSwarm, The Bookseller and the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook. 

Missingham said she wanted to empower authors to sell more books by enhancing their practical skills and knowledge. 

"Over the last few years, I have noticed authors owning more and more of the publishing, marketing and selling of their books," she said. "Self-published authors are c.e.o.s of their own writing careers and need a whole raft of skills to make this a success. Whilst traditionally published authors are also very active engaging with their readers, managing their own websites, newsletters and hustling for opportunities, they continue the good work of their publishers when the natural marketing and promotional period ends for their books. That’s where I hope Lounge Marketing comes in, to give these authors even more practical skills and knowledge that will have a direct impact on book sales. I am very committed to supporting authors and to keep putting more books into more hands."

The new venture follows the launch of Lounge Books in April 2017. Missingham previously worked for HarperCollins for four years, during which time she ran large-scale marketing campaigns, author events, email and social strategy.