Bookmasters will have a strong presence at this year’s BEA (Book Expo America). (If you don’t know much about BEA, we have a post for you.) You may be thinking, “that’s great for you…you get to go to New York, schmooze with some industry folks, and eat some great food, but why should I care?”

While some of those things do happen and we usually have a pretty great time, BEA is a lot of work and expense. Of course part of our BEA strategy is our own self-interest; to strengthen brand reach, catch up with publishing partners, and court potential customers. And, I guess if you are one of those potential customers, this is also your benefit that you can set up a meeting with our folks at the show.

But if you are already working with Bookmasters, it still is to your benefit, and it should still matter to you that we attend the show. By attending, we do the important work of a hands-on look at what is going on at the most important trade gathering in the United States. We are on the floor hearing what the buzz is all about, attending the informational events to keep up with the changing industry, and networking with key accounts and vendors.

Maybe you are one of those folks that aren’t working with us, and you don’t really have a plan to work with us. Let me take a moment just to ask you to check out all the different things we do as a company. You will likely find that we can help you with your publishing project. And in the spirit of this topic, we are at BEA for you, too. As a company, we work to observe publishing trends and anticipate your needs. This show goes a long way in helping us accomplish those goals.

Per their official website, BEA, or Book Expo America, is “the premier publishing event in North America where the book tradition converges with the digital revolution.” By way of invitation, they ask you to “discover authors, new titles, new ideas, new technologies, and the passion driving the industry.”

The show started out as the American Booksellers Association (ABA) convention. Back then, there were no exhibitors or publishers at the show. Now the show is driven by the exhibit floor and educational sessions, panels, and lectures.

The BEA draws more than 26,000 attendees, media, and trade professionals annually. Concurrent events include the following:

ABA Day of Education
IDPF Digital Book
Publishers Launch Conference
BlogWorld & New Media Expo NY
BEA Bloggers Conference
uPublishU at BEA
New York Book & Media Week

This year the show will run from June 5-7 at the Javits Center in New York City. Check back to our blog in the next few weeks for more information about the show and how it this important gathering of industry professionals effects you.

And if you will be at the show, plan on stopping by the Bookmasters exhibit at booth 3052.

The London Book Fair is just finishing up, but it is not to early to start thinking about June.

Book Expo America, or BEA, is the premier publishing event in North America where the book tradition converges with the digital revolution. Each year thousands of book people gather to see what’s new, discuss what’s been working, and speculate about the future. This year the show is held June 5-7.

But for every person that attends the show, there are many that could benefit but don’t get to go. If you are one of those that don’t get to go, here are some ways you can still reap the benefits of the show.

1. Have a proxy

Yes, there is a lot of “noise” at BEA. You might even call it information overload. You may look at the number of exhibitors or see pictures of walls of books and wonder how your book can have any impact at such a venue. But don’t underestimate the value of physical presence.

Especially since so much of what anyone does anymore is done virtually, the impact of an actual physical presence where thousands of book loving professions congregates can have a good marketing impact. Even if you can’t be there, your book can.

Check out Bookmasters’ Think ForeWord BEA Bundle for ways you can have your book represented at the show.

2. Follow on Twitter

Use the #bookexpo hashtag to follow the BEA conversation. You will likely find a lot of observations from the different BEA scheduled events. And though #bookexpo is the official show hashtag, you may also want to follow #BEA.

3. Watch live feeds

For the first time, BEA will offer live streaming of many of its major events including Book & Author Breakfasts, Buzz Panels, and a majority of programming from the main Author State. The live stream will also feature the ability for a live chat as events are happening. BEA show director Steve Rosato says that they “are also planning to take questions from our virtual attendees for the authors.”

4. Follow industry news those days and following

For one, be sure to check in on our blog, Facebook, and Twitter feeds for updated links and information from the show. You can also follow these major industry news outlets to get daily and event summaries from the show:

Publishers Weekly
Shelf Awareness
BEA Media and News

5. Appreciate what is done on behalf of all book lovers at this important show

A lot of deals go down at the show. This is good for people that like books. Though there is more self-publishing going on now than ever, a lot of quality authors still go through traditional publishers, and a lot of the groundwork for these types of deals happens at the show.

Also, BEA is a place were lots of great publishing minds meet to talk and make plans for the future of publishing. You can’t beat these in-person meeting for the shaping of the publishing business.

So even if you can’t make it out June 5-7 for the show, I hope you will use these tips to make the best of this nation’s largest book tradeshow.