# Campaign Strategy Document: "The Whispering Woods" Launch

## 1. PRODUCT SUMMARY
We're marketing *The Whispering Woods*, a debut psychological thriller by Alex Rivera. This unputdownable novel follows a journalist uncovering dark secrets in a remote town, blending heart-pounding suspense with raw emotional depth. Key selling points: Jaw-dropping twists that rival Gillian Flynn, relatable characters grappling with grief and betrayal, and a binge-worthy page-turner perfect for escapist winter reading.

## 2. TARGET AUDIENCE
**Primary: BookTok Enthusiasts (Women 25-40)**  
- Platforms: TikTok, Instagram  
- Purchasing triggers: Viral #BookTok videos, teaser excerpts, "If you love X" recommendations  
- Emotional state: Stressed from daily life, craving thrilling escapism and "just one more chapter" addiction  

**Secondary 1: Book Club Readers (Women 35-55)**  
- Platforms: Facebook Groups, Goodreads, Email  
- Purchasing triggers: Discussion prompts, ARC reviews from influencers, "perfect for your next meetup" pitches  
- Emotional state: Seeking intellectual stimulation and social connection through shared stories  

**Secondary 2: Aspiring Mystery Fans (Men/Women 22-35)**  
- Platforms: Reddit (r/books, r/thrillerbooks), Twitter/X  
- Purchasing triggers: Author AMAs, free chapter downloads, crossover recs from true crime podcasts  
- Emotional state: Curious and thrill-seeking, desiring smart puzzles amid routine boredom  

## 3. MESSAGING PILLARS
Every piece of content must reinforce **exactly these 3 pillars**:  
1. **Unputdownable Suspense**: "One twist after another—sleep is optional."  
2. **Emotional Gut-Punch**: "Characters so real, their pain becomes yours."  
3. **Shocking Secrets Revealed**: "No one is who they seem in the Whispering Woods."  

## 4. CHANNEL PLAN
| Channel | Platform | Content Type | Frequency | Owner Agent |
|---------|----------|--------------|-----------|-------------|
| **Visual/Social** | Instagram & TikTok | Reels (book teasers, aesthetic mood boards, author readings), Stories (polls, countdowns), Carousel posts (quotes + twists) | Daily Stories; 5x/week posts/Reels | Zara |
| **Professional** | LinkedIn | Thought leadership posts (author journey, thriller writing tips), Sponsored updates targeting publishing pros | 3x/week | Leo |
| **Warm List** | Email (via Klaviyo/Mailchimp) | Newsletters (excerpts, ARC requests), Sequences (nurture to purchase) | Weekly + launch blasts | Maya |
| **Credibility** | Press (PR Newswire, book blogs like Book Riot) | Press releases, guest articles, podcast pitches | 1x pre-launch, 1x launch, 2x post-launch | Maya |
| **Community (Added)** | Goodreads & Reddit | Giveaways, Q&A threads, review amplification | 2x/week | Leo |
| **Paid (Added)** | Facebook/Instagram Ads | Retargeting carousel ads, lookalike audiences | Continuous from launch, $500/week budget | Zara |

## 5. CAMPAIGN PHASES
**Pre-Launch (2 Weeks Before Release - Oct 1-14)**: Build hype with teasers (mysterious woods visuals, cryptic quotes), ARC/early access offers to 50 influencers/book bloggers, targeted outreach to 20 micro-influencers (5k-50k followers on TikTok). Goal: 1k email signups, 500 pre-orders.  

**Launch Week (Oct 15-21)**: High-velocity push—daily social posts/Reels, full email blast to list + new signups, press release distribution, launch-day live event on IG/TikTok with author, $1k ad spend on lookalikes. Goal: Spike sales to 2k units.  

**Post-Launch (Weeks 2-8 - Oct 22-Dec 9)**: Amplify reviews (share top Goodreads/Amazon pulls), community engagement (Reddit AMAs, FB group discussions), retargeting ads to site visitors/cart abandoners. Goal: Sustain 500 sales/week via word-of-mouth.  

**Long-Term (Months 3-12 - Jan-Oct Next Year)**: Evergreen content (author interviews, "behind the twists" blogs), nurture reader community (exclusive Discord/FB group), cross-promote backlist titles or sequels. Goal: 10k total sales, 5k community members.  

## 6. SUCCESS METRICS
1. **Book Sales**: Baseline: 0 (pre-launch). Target: 10k units sold in 12 months (tracked via Amazon KDP/Bookshop.org dashboard).  
2. **Engagement Rate**: Baseline: 1-2% (industry avg). Target: 5%+ on social (likes/comments/shares per post, via native analytics).  
3. **Email List Growth**: Baseline: 500 subscribers. Target: 5k opt-ins (tracked via Klaviyo, with 25% open rate).  

## 7. EXECUTION TASKS
- **Social Media Pack (20 IG/TikTok templates: Reels, carousels, Stories)**: Zara  
- **Email Sequence (5 emails: Welcome, Teaser, ARC Request, Launch Blast, Post-Launch Review Ask)**: Maya  
- **Press Release (2 versions: Pre-launch teaser + Launch full)**: Maya  
- **Ad Copy & Creatives (10 ad variants for FB/IG, incl. retargeting)**: Zara  
- **Author Bio/Media Kit (PDF with headshots, Q&A, fact sheet)**: Leo  
- **Influencer Outreach List & Tracker (50 contacts, personalized pitches)**: Maya  
- **Goodreads/Reddit Content Pack (10 posts: Giveaways, AMAs, review threads)**: Leo  
- **Evergreen Blog Posts (5x: "Top Twists Explained," reading guides)**: Leo  
- **Community Setup (FB Group + Discord invites)**: Zara  
- **Analytics Dashboard (Google Sheets for KPIs, weekly reports)**: Maya  

**Approval Chain**: Maya reviews all assets before publish. Budget: $10k total (50% ads, 30% influencers, 20% tools/PR). Timeline: Finalize by Sept 30. Let's crush this launch!  

*Maya, Director of Marketing Operations*  
Crimson Leaf Marketing