So I’ve got a few things setup for the year–talks at some local writing clubs and a couple of conferences. I’ll be spending a little time this month looking into some 2011 scheduling–it always blows me away how early you have to get on top of this stuff, but it doesn seem like a reality. Overall, though, I’m feeling pretty good about the marketing work I’ve done for The Writing & Critique Group Survival Guide, in terms of “live appearances.”
What I’m not so sure about is the kind of handouts, if any, I should be bringing along with me.
True confessions: I am not a handout person, in terms of being on the receiving end. I don’t use bookmarks; I just pretty much remember where I’m at when I close a book. I don’t pick up flyers at workshops, except to read them and put them down again for someone else to take away with them. I’ll take a business card if someone hands it to me, but too often it ends up in the laundry or in a pile that I don’t ever get to sorting through and organizing.
On the other hand, when I’m talking marketing with other writers or reading their blogs/tweets online, I get the impression I may be in the minority. And that I’m not doing myself or my book any good assuming that other people think/respond like me on this.
So…your take, please. As readers-when you’re at a writing event or a bookstore signing, and there are various and sundry marketing materials being handed out or displayed attractively on tables, what do you pick up? What do you take home & actually use, or hand on to someone else as a piece of information you think they need? If someone was going to hand you a single something, what would you like it to be? And–writers–what pieces have you had the most success with, at least in terms of their disappearing from your stack and needing to be replaced.
- A fun, colorful bookmark with a picture of the book on it, a few choice, descriptive words, and the author’s website url
- A pen or pencil, also colorful, with the title of the book & the author’s name
- A postcard with information about the book, but also detailed contact info for the author (email, blog, website)
- A flyer that tells you about the book & any services that author may provide to other writers (editing, school appearances, workshops)
- A basic, simple business card
In other words, I guess, are you more interested in getting a lot of information, or would you rather have something bright & cheerful that doesn’t overload you with details? And, since I guess the point of this is to spread the word, which would you be more likely to take a few of and pass around to your friends?
Everybody has the marketing tasks they enjoy & the ones they’re not so crazy about. I think this is one of the latter kind for me–I haven’t yet worked out what I’m supposed to DO with these things when I’ve got them with me, or if/how I should be distributing them around the world, without being present to hand them out in person.
Please leave all & any thoughts in the comments. And if any of you have found THE PERFECT COMPANY (aka quality and not-too-scary quantity at a reasonable price), I’d love it if you’d drop in that info with your comment.
Thanks again, for helping me benefit from the true power of the Internet…you guys. 🙂
Becky Levine 