How to Pick Promotional Products to Spread Your Message
We’ve all seen it—a child’s recent art work held up by a refrigerator magnet reminding you of a particular company’s contact information.
Look on your desk or in your purse. How many pens do you have with a business name and phone number imprinted on them? Millions of people just like you may not know where these products came from or how they got them, but they use them all the time.
Promotional products can range from printed paper materials like scratch pads, bookmarks, to plush toy animals or tools. They’re a great way to influence people to remember you.
As an author, you can remind people of your book through bookmarks, business cards, or any number of creative creations. There are many ways to spread the message, service, or product you offer.
Authors are particularly very creative with promotional products to match their books. Though bookmarks or postcards provide great introductions, you can expand your reach with additional creative products that showcase your book.
As an example, we have an author who wrote a book on finances. She offers a calculator and piggy bank to help parents teach their children financial responsibility.
Another author has a children’s book and commissioned one of the characters to be made into a plush toy.
Three things you need to put promotional products into your readers’ hands:
1. Brainstorm
Make a list of ideas of things that might relate to your book. With over 750,000 products to put your name or book title on, there will be just the perfect item for you. Choose fun, interesting, or practical products that support your message.
2. Demographics
Narrow down the list of the people you want to reach. Are they home makers, church goers, college students, or business professionals? Consider where they will be when they need your product the most and might pick it up when that time comes.
3. Consultation
Use a great company with a good reputation that can offer you many different choices and help you find the right product for your book. There are many companies to choose from online and off, but a pen or a mug may not be the right product for you. Talking with an expert can help you come up with creative ideas that will draw attention to your book and keep you in the forefront of your audiences minds.
After years of helping authors creatively market their books, WinePress Publishing established Notation Printing & Marketing Group . Since 2007, Notation has helped authors, small businesses, and organizations build strong marketing campaigns and brands. Their marketing experts love to brainstrom ideas for promotional products and programs that generate results.
Tweet This!Being Used By God: WinePress Author on CBN.com
Thanks to a collaboration with WinePress Publishing’s publicity services, author Steve Schaefer and his book, Living in the Overlap, were recently featured on the front page of CBN.com.
CBN featured an excerpt from Chapter 5 of Living in the Overlap as part of their Spiritual Life, Bible Study and Theology section. Read it here.
Living in the Overlap: How Jesus’ Kingdom Proclamation Can Transform Your World clarifies a topic that many Christians find mysterious, exploring the challenges and benefits of living in a kingdom that is both “already” and “not yet.”
As Schaefer says, “We who live in the overlap are amphibious creatures, navigating two worlds simultaneously as we begin our transition from one to the other. We are Jed Clampetts, tasting the splendors of Beverly Hills without having lost our Ozark accents or our fondness for fried possum and crow gizzards. Like Jed, we should not expect a seamless transition.
You can find out more about Steve Schaefer and his thought-provoking book at www.livingintheoverlap.com.
Tweet This!Canadian Author Gives 5 Effective Marketing Strategies
Writers often hear from their publicists and marketing representatives how to launch their book on its campaign trail, but today let’s hear from Els Van Hierden, author of Ransomed.
Realizing the first few months after a book is published is critical for promotions, Els adopted what she calls the “Book of Acts” principle: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the outer ends of the world as her campaign trail. She works diligently to promote her message, and now shares her effective marketing tips:
1. Begin with a Media Campaign in your Community
“Most local newspapers, radio and television stations are happy to give an interview. Also, contact your local book stores. Even secular stores are open to carrying Christian books, but your first contact should be your Christian bookstore. Offer to do a book signing, and make the book a popular option for them to carry.”
2. Branch Out Using the Same Technique
“‘Employ’ your friends as book sellers and offer them a percentage of the sale to reach their circle of influence. Connect with organizations that might be interested in your topic.
I offered my book to various organizations as a fund raiser. Because my book deals with adoption, abortion and healing from post-abortion syndrome, I was also able to market it through various pro-life organizations and adoption agencies. And, because I donate a certain amount to charitable organizations, many people are excited to help with this project.”
3. Advertise Your Book
“An effective way to promote your book is through online advertising through blogs and Facebook. Thanks to WinePress, my book has been featured on many blogs and featured in book give-aways. This has connected me with people all across the United States.”
4. Ask, “How does my book add value?”
“The number one thing we need to ask ourselves is, ‘How can my book add value to the others?’ If it’s all about us and our book, our success will be limited. Only when we begin to offer up our product as a tool to be used by others, will we find success.”
5. Attend a Conference
“I found the ICRS 2010 to be a great inspiration. Connecting with other authors and so many people in the industry was great. I came home with renewed vigor to continue the process. Remember not to push yourself on people, but allow the Lord to arrange meetings.”
About Els:
Els and her husband Edward adopted their fifth child from Russia in 2006. She has combined her passion for writing and her heart for suffering children to produce this compelling novel, based on her personal experience in Russia.
About Ransomed:
Russia, 2003. An infertile couple seeks adoption, a grieving American businessman pours his life into homeless teens, and a wounded orphanage director is haunted by her past. Can they bring hope to the orphans, and find healing for themselves?
Related article:
‘Ransomed’ Novel Receives Favorable Review
Tweet This!8 Important Tips for Guesting on a Live Call-in Radio Show
By Laura Christianson
Anything can happen on talk radio – and it often does. Particularly when you’re a guest on a live call-in show.
Although callers are screened before they’re allowed on the air, many callers wander off track quickly, or they use the airtime as an opportunity to promote their particular philosophy.
Rabbit trails can be frustrating if you’re the guest author, because you’re on the line – along with the show’s host – to answer questions about your book. Some callers get so enamored with listening to themselves talk that you – the invited guest – get very little airtime.
Despite the fact that your guest appearance may turn out differently than you had anticipated, participating in a live call-in show is invigorating. Here are 8 tips for how to make the most of your experience:
When you guest on a live call-in show, make sure you have paper and pen in hand. Write down the caller’s first name when the host introduces the caller.
Listen carefully to the caller (even when the caller rambles), jot down the caller’s question(s), and make note of key “talking” points you can address.
When it’s your turn to respond, address the caller by name and reiterate the caller’s main point in one succinct sentence. You can say, “Susie, I hear you saying…”
Then respond to the question (or the caller’s implied question) concisely. If the caller rambles and you can’t make sense of what he or she is saying, you can respond, “Good point. That reminds me of…” and then bring the conversation back to the topic at hand.
Most callers just want to be heard. So listen carefully and empathetically.
At the end of the call, thank the caller warmly for participating.
Laura Christianson is the author of The Adoption Network, published by WinePress, and has been a guest on dozens of live radio call-in shows. Visit her at www.bloggingbistro.com.
Tweet This!Will Endorsements Make or Break You? 4 Types That Work Best
By Abigail Davidson
As a publicist, many of my authors ask me if they “need” endorsements.
I reluctantly tell them endorsements are not necessary for your book’s success. However, they push it forward much quicker and give your message validity.
Endorsements (also called “testimonials” or “blurbs”) set readers at ease who are not familiar with you as an author.
When considering how to gather endorsements, you should know the different types and how to solicit them.
1) Peer Endorsements
I’m a publicist, but I’m also a mom, a Christian, a woman, a home school teacher, and I love to read fiction.
Every shopper wears many different hats and goals when they look for books.
- If you’re an author of young adult books, why not have young adults read it and give you an “endorsement”?
- If your market is moms, have moms read it and send in their recommendation.
You don’t have to have someone famous to attract a buyer; you just have to have something in common. Enlist your church or community group to help. Offer copies in your church bulletin or newsletter and ask for volunteers.
2) Professional Endorsements
Is your book about health? Wellness? Diet? Would it be beneficial to have a doctor’s recommendation?
If you have a topic that would benefit from a professional endorsement, go the extra mile to secure one.
- First go to your personal physician, physical trainer, pastor, teacher, etc. Ask for their help and for other names of professionals who might review your work.
- Remember to match your endorsements with your topic. A comment from your plumber on parenting doesn’t carry the same weight as a family counselor.
- Give ample time to professionals – at least six weeks or more depending on their profession.
3) Author Endorsements
This is similar to peer endorsements. If you’ve done your research you will know what other authors write in your genre. Don’t be timid; find their web site and look for a contact page.
Write a short friendly e-mail inviting them to review your book. After they’ve agreed to review it, mail a sample chapter or e-mail a chapter for them to look over.
Watch author websites to see when your favorite authors are doing book signings in your area. Be sure to read their books and give a good review of them on Amazon or their website. Be willing to give as well as take. Popular authors receive requests all the time, so don’t take it personally if they decline your request for an endorsement.
4) Unique Endorsements
I’ll always remember the hilarious endorsements on the back of a humor book I read.
Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and be creative with your endorsements. I think sometimes we get “star struck” and focus on big names, when there may be more creative ways to reach your audience than having a famous person say, “It’s a great book.”
Endorsements will not make or break your book’s sales potential; however, it is a very important piece in the book publishing process.
Most publishing houses and agents expect you to have a list of endorsers in your proposal—ones you can realistically obtain. Our authors at WinePress have often gained new endorsements as the book goes to print. So relax and spread the word about your book and see what happens.
Abigail Davidson has worked with WinePress Publishing since February of 2005. She helps promote WinePress authors through radio, television, print and Internet. She enjoys helping authors build strong publicity campaigns and platforms.
