eBooks-On-Web Index

Giving Bookmarks to Connect With Readers and Fans

It is hard for many authors selling online to make contact with fans and get feedback. Here is a marketing idea for authors that will help you do both: give away a free, signed bookmark printed on cardstock. Even if you only sell ebook versions of your book, people using that bookmark will be reminded to check for new books by you everytime they see it.

What you want is a card stock bookmark that has some art work that fits you as an author or your fictional world. You want to have your pen-name and the URL to your website printed on it. Finally you want some blank space where you can sign the bookmark like you would a book.

You are going to offer a free signed bookmark to anyone that sends you a self addressed, stamped business sized envelope. That way you are not paying for postage or stationary.

Checklist:

1. Discuss having bookmarks printed with a local printer. Printers can give you some good tips as to how to maximize your bang for the buck. Settle on a size and color or black and white printing.

2. Either design, or have designed some artwork for your bookmark. Remember, you want your name, URL and a space to sign it.

3. Put up a page about free bookmarks, signed by you on your author website. Remember the bit about the stamped, self-addressed envelope. You will have to put your own snail mail address on that page so they know where to send them.

4. [Optional] Put a signup form for your mailing list at the bottom of that page too. Use the list to announce your new books being published, and your book signings. Only use that list for what you say you will, do not abuse the privilage. Bravenet is a good place to get an email mailing list from.

5. Each bookmark is an advertisement for you as a writer, so I would offer to send more than one per envelope if requested (you want fans to give these away to friends) but I would set an upper limit so people are not taking advantage of you.

6. Be sure to put the URL to your author website in your books.


The bookmark becomes your business card and helps you get a feel for how well you are gaining an audience. People that take the time to send for a bookmark are highly likely to to also buy your other books and recommend your books to friends. So if you are getting a lot of requests for bookmarks it should tell you things are going well. The bookmark signed by the author really helps set off a POD book being given as a gift. Every bookmark you send by request is another potential sale - those bookmarks can knock around peoples homes for years reminding them of your name!

posted by Brad @ 12:35 PM