Bookmarks are designed to hold your place in a book.
But, are you using it to its fullest potential as a marketing tool?
From the obvious to the creative-
Hand them out at signings.
Send one to all fans and friends.
Send one in every letter!
Leave one signed for your waitress or waiter.
Leave a stack at the library.
Send stacks to school libraries.
Save postage-paid return envelopes and include one with a short note - "Thanks, but I'm not interested in ___, but perhaps you'd like to read my book?"
Leave them in doctor and dentist's offices.
Send stacks to bookstores.
Carry them everywhere and hand to those you tell about your books.
Leave one at every business you visit.
Include extra bookmarks with any book you sell or give away.
Include one with gifts.
And the totally unethical - stash one in your competition's book at the bookstore. (Yes, I confess, I've done this!)
What are some other creative ways you can use a bookmark to market your book?
I love the last one. Unethical, but the competitor could always reciprocate, so two books get marketed at the same time.
ReplyDeleteI sent it to a friend who is self-publishing, and was thinking of using bookmarks as her sole marketing material.
Thanks - some stuff I'd not thought about. And that last one is funny.
ReplyDeleteWhat about tourist and welcome centers. Especially in your hometown. That was they can promote they have an author living in the town.
ReplyDeleteMason
Thoughts in Progress
Great marketing ideas here!
ReplyDeleteI'm tweeting this...
Elizabeth
Mystery Writing is Murder
If you live in a small town, see if local shops and touristy places will let you put a stack on their check-out counter. Love the last tip!
ReplyDeleteHelen
Straight From Hel
I love these ideas, quite useful. Here's my question though, where do you get said bookmarks in the first place? I've tried googling book mark print-on-demand services and so on. I'd prefer print-on-demand because I could order a few when I can afford them for my writing and I could then also put my artwork on bookmarks and make them available for purchase on my site. I've turned up less than useful results which is disappointing.
ReplyDeleteBy the way I found this because Elizabeth tweeted it :D
ReplyDeleteI've done them all except the last!
ReplyDeleteJai
Aurey, glad to have you here!
ReplyDeleteIf your publisher doesn't supply promo materials, I recommend GotPrint.com. They have the best prices and the best quality.
Yes, I know - bad Spunky for the last one!
I love bookmarks! Great post. I should get busy. ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat advice! I use bookmarks instead of business cards. People are more likely to put them in a book and remember me. LOL Cheers~
ReplyDeleteLove the last one LOL! I never thought of using book marks, but now that I see all the useful purposes I'm going to add this to my marketing and promotional ToDo List. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteStephen Tremp
I love this post. That is all. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas. I haven't used bookmarks with my pub's before but I plan on using them in a BIG way with my new release this year.
ReplyDeleteThe Old Silly
Bookmarks make total sense and you really covered most of the bases I think. Let's see-- drop them over the city from an airplane? No--too messy and to much waste.
ReplyDeleteLee
May 3rd A to Z Challenge Reflections Mega Post
I would have never thought of that last one – I love it!
ReplyDeleteAwesome ideas - the last one cracked me up completely :) Great idea!
ReplyDeleteBookmarks are the #1 physical marketing tool for an author!
ReplyDeleteI imagine there will be lots of the last idea ocurring soon...
I'm guilty of the same thing (sticking my bookmark in another author's book). But the store manager told me to. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Great ideas!
ReplyDeleteHow about sending one to your local newspaper human interest reporter or book reviewer? Roland
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSorry about the cyber-missfire. Another thought. Leave some at the magazine rack at your local airport. Roland
ReplyDeleteLike the new layout. :)
ReplyDeleteAllyn