Author Marketing Essentials II
By LMReviews on Sep 2, 2008 in Writing Products
They say writing is a solitary affair, but if the writer desires to become an author, then knowing when and how to promote your work is essential for literary survival.
In the first article of this series, we discussed the primary tools a writer needs to draw attention to his or her work. Once you have set up your personalized domain name and website and the press kit and Internet marketing tools have been developed, it’s time to gather the elements for the tangible marketing campaign.
It is imperative to have little gifts to give perspective readers at the book signings, writers’ conferences and workshops you may participate in. You might be thinking, “Isn’t that bribery?” and “It can’t come cheap.”
No, it’s skillful book marketing. Thousands of books are published every month both online and off, what are you going to do to make sure your book stands out?
Readers may not buy your book at first glance, especially if you are not a well-known author. Handing out items like bookmarks, buttons and other trinkets that bear your product’s likeness will go a long way to keeping you in front of your target audience. Your next thought might be, “I’m in the industry, as a reader I get a ton of so-called trinkets that stay buried in my conference bag if they make it home with me at all.” True, but that’s why your trinket must be unique and useful. Everyone gives out bookmarks, buttons and book cover flats, but differentiation is key.
Look, don’t be a tightwad. We’ve all seen those teabag packets with the makeshift address labels affixed to the front to market books. Those don’t work because once the wrapper is removed and the bag is used, who remembers what the tea was associated with anyway. Certainly, those book covers are designed to sell books, but what does one do with book cover flats? I still haven’t figured that out. Don’t mortgage the house to invent some one of a kind marketing trinket but make sure it’s useful and memorable.
Debra Owsley, owner of Simply-Said Reading Accessories has a very powerful message to get this point across. Picture the day after a very successful writers’ conference. Numerous bookmarks and author tri-folds litter the ground. How are readers going to remember you if they don’t value your marketing materials? Your book is a homemade literary work of art, right? Well, maybe the marketing trinkets you use to tout your book should be as well. These items have numerous uses. From gift bag stuffers or contest items to viral name spreading tools, your book marketing materials need to stand apart from the rest. Nothing represents individuality like Simply-Said Reading Accessories. With a variety of bookmark sizes and bookplates designed to represent your book in the best possible light you can’t go wrong. Also known for fun book thongs or book jewels that hold your reading spot, readers will know you cherish their time and the money they spend on your books when you give these fun trinkets away as appreciation gifts.
There are many printing companies, which include bookmarks as part of their portfolio, but why not get your bookmarks, bookplates and other trinkets from one supplier? Also, those other printing companies are just that. Printing companies focused on mass-production rather that being a true artisan designing items for the books and authors we all love. That’s what you get with Simply Said Reading Accessories. Look at what’s possible at www.simply-said.net.
Good points, I got a bunch of bookmarks from VistaPrint and they have worked well so far. I use them for everything.