**CAMPAIGN STRATEGY DOCUMENT**
**Campaign:** The Midnight Archive Launch  
**Client:** Elena Vance (Debut Gothic Fantasy/Thriller)  
**Prepared by:** Maya, Director of Marketing Operations  
**Date:** [Current Date]  

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### 1. PRODUCT SUMMARY
We are marketing *The Midnight Archive*, a gothic fantasy thriller by debut author Elena Vance that follows an archivist who discovers a sentient book rewriting itself based on readers' deepest fears. The novel combines Victorian atmospheric mystery with contemporary magical realism, offering strong visual storytelling potential through its "living book" concept, intricate world-building, and aesthetic cover design that performs exceptionally well in digital unboxing environments.

**Key Selling Points:** Unique sentient-book hook perfect for visual social media; crossover appeal between literary fiction and fantasy communities; strong female protagonist addressing imposter syndrome and archival obsession—themes resonating with the 25-40 demographic.

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### 2. TARGET AUDIENCE

**PRIMARY: "The Curated Escapist"**
- **Age Range:** 25–40
- **Platforms:** Instagram (primary), TikTok (secondary), Pinterest
- **Purchasing Triggers:** Peer recommendations from trusted Bookstagrammers; aesthetic packaging ('shelfie' potential); emotionally immersive first chapters
- **Emotional State:** Seeking intellectual escape from daily burnout; desires "cozy dark" atmosphere; values female-led narratives with emotional depth

**SECONDARY 1: "The Literary Professional"**
- **Age Range:** 30–55
- **Platforms:** LinkedIn, Goodreads, Substack
- **Purchasing Triggers:** Critical acclaim blurbs; MFA-adjacent prose quality; discussion-worthy themes for book clubs
- **Emotional State:** Intellectually competitive; seeks prestige reads that signal taste; professionally exhausted but culturally aspirational

**SECONDARY 2: "The Algorithm Binger"**
- **Age Range:** 18–35
- **Platforms:** TikTok (primary), YouTube Shorts, Spotify
- **Purchasing Triggers:** Trending audio hooks; FOMO from viral moments; unboxing ASMR content
- **Emotional State:** Anxiety-driven need for community belonging; seeks hyper-specific aesthetic identity markers ("dark academia," "gothic fantasy")

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### 3. MESSAGING PILLARS

**Pillar 1: "Some Books Read You Back"**  
*Focus:* The sentient/magical reality element—positioning the book as an interactive, almost dangerous experience rather than passive consumption.

**Pillar 2: "Found Family in the Shadows"**  
*Focus:* Emotional core of the protagonist's relationships and the underground literary community she discovers—emphasizing belonging and acceptance.

**Pillar 3: "The Archive Opens [Date]"**  
*Focus:* Urgency and exclusivity; treating the launch as a limited-time cultural event rather than a standard product release.

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### 4. CHANNEL PLAN

| Platform | Content Type | Frequency | Owner |
|----------|--------------|-----------|-------|
| **Instagram** | Static carousels (mood boards, quote cards), Stories (polls/quizzes), Reels (transitions, unboxing) | 2x daily (Feed + Stories) | **Zara** |
| **TikTok** | Short-form narrative (GRWM reading, "POV: you found the book," aesthetic edits), Duets with beta readers | 1–2x daily | **Zara** |
| **LinkedIn** | Author career journey articles, "Day in the life of a debut novelist," publishing industry insights | 2x weekly | **Maya** |
| **Email (Warm List)** | Nurture sequences, ARC updates, exclusive deleted scenes, launch countdown | 3x weekly | **Leo** |
| **Press/PR** | Long-lead reviews (Booklist, Library Journal), podcast guest spots (Writing Excuses, But That's Another Story), library marketing kits | Weekly outreach | **Maya** |
| **Goodreads** | Giveaway campaigns, "Ask the Author" Q&A, Listopia additions (Gothic Fantasy, Books About Books) | 3x weekly | **Leo** |
| **Pinterest** | Aesthetic pin boards (Dark Academia, Gothic Libraries), quote graphics | 5x weekly | **Zara** |

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### 5. CAMPAIGN PHASES

**PRE-LAUNCH (Weeks -4 to -2)**
- **Visual Teasers:** Cryptic "found footage" style Reels showing the book appearing in unexpected locations (library stacks, antique shops)
- **ARC Distribution:** Mail 100 physical ARCs to micro-influencers (10K–50K followers) in custom "Archive Boxes" with branded reading journals
- **Early Access:** Email blast offering "Founding Archivist" tier—pre-orders with signed bookplates and exclusive Discord access
- **Influencer Seeding:** Target 50 BookTok creators with personalized pitch letters referencing their specific content style

**LAUNCH WEEK (Week 0)**
- **Daily Social:** Coordinated Instagram/TikTok posting schedule with countdown stickers and "Archive Opening" countdown timer
- **Email Blast:** "It's Here" announcement to full 10K list with direct purchase links and retailer options
- **Press Push:** Syndicated press release to 150 literary outlets; author available for interviews
- **Paid Activation:** Meta/Amazon ads targeting lookalike audiences from email list; TikTok Spark Ads boosting top organic creator content

**POST-LAUNCH (Weeks 2–8)**
- **Review Amplification:** Screenshot and share positive Goodreads/Amazon reviews as quote graphics; encourage UGC with #MyMidnightArchive hashtag
- **Community Engagement:** Weekly Instagram Live reading sessions with author; Discord AMAs; virtual book club appearances (3-5 clubs)
- **Retargeting:** Meta pixel campaigns targeting page-turners who didn't purchase; abandoned cart email sequences (3-part series)
- **Mid-Tier Partnerships:** Collaborate with 5 macro-influencers (100K+ followers) for dedicated review videos

**LONG-TERM (Months 3–12)**
- **Evergreen Content:** Pinterest SEO optimization for "books like The Night Circus" and "gothic fantasy recommendations"; blog posts on "How to Create Your Personal Archive"
- **Reader Community:** Maintain Discord server with monthly reading challenges; quarterly author Q&As; early cover reveal for Book 2
- **Backlist Marketing:** Bundle pricing with future Elena Vance titles; holiday gifting campaigns (Halloween push given gothic themes); library conference presence (ALA)

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### 6. SUCCESS METRICS

| KPI | Baseline | Target | Measurement Tool |
|-----|----------|--------|------------------|
| **First-Week Unit Sales** | 500 units (comparable debut average) | 3,000 units | Nielsen BookScan / Publisher Portal |
| **Social Engagement Rate** | 2.1% (current account average) | 6.5% (viral threshold) | Sprout Social analytics (likes + comments + shares / reach) |
| **Email List Acquisition** | 10,000 subscribers | 15,000 subscribers (+50%) | Mailchimp subscriber growth + landing page conversions |

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### 7. EXECUTION TASKS

**MAYA (Strategy & Professional Channels)**
- Write press release and media kit (author bio, headshots, press-ready excerpts)
- Draft LinkedIn article series (3 posts): "From Query to Shelf: A Debut Year"
- Coordinate author interview schedule and talking points
- Design campaign monitoring dashboard (weekly metrics reports)
- Manage PR firm liaison and review copy mailing logistics

**LEO (Email & Community)**
- Write 5-part pre-launch email nurture sequence
- Write launch week announcement email and abandoned cart sequence (3 emails)
- Set up Goodreads giveaway (100 copies) and manage entry period
- Create ARC recipient tracking spreadsheet and follow-up protocols
- Draft Book Bub Featured Deal application copy

**ZARA (Visual & Social)**
- Create 30-day Instagram content calendar (carousels, Stories, Reels)
- Script and film 10 TikTok videos (including "unboxing" and "aesthetic reading vlog" templates)
- Design Pinterest graphic templates (10 quote cards, 5 mood boards)
- Manage influencer outreach (custom DM scripts for 50 targets)
- Create branded hashtag campaign assets (#ArchiveSociety)

**CROSS-FUNCTIONAL**
- **All:** Weekly stand-up meetings (Mondays 10 AM) to review content pipeline
- **Leo + Zara:** Coordinate ARC mailing (packing and shipping logistics)
- **Maya + Zara:** Approve final visual brand guidelines for TikTok transitions

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**Next Steps:** Leo to finalize email automation triggers by Friday; Zara to begin filming teaser content Monday; Maya to confirm press list and pitch angles by Wednesday.

*— Maya*