tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898084201599138650.post3146979868350252370..comments2023-06-21T07:39:38.607-07:00Comments on Magic City Writing: Marketing Monday: Swag to Hook a Reader (Beyond the Paper)Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03267367299834306309noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898084201599138650.post-3310796831523586162015-04-07T10:49:55.420-07:002015-04-07T10:49:55.420-07:00Yes!! And hello Movie Star, too!! I should go to A...Yes!! And hello Movie Star, too!! I should go to Asheville and leave some postcards there :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08307459134851243121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898084201599138650.post-81040262625514817632015-04-06T18:22:42.507-07:002015-04-06T18:22:42.507-07:00That is a great idea! I saw an author's flash...That is a great idea! I saw an author's flashlight in a geocache, and thought it was smart. Wouldn't it be cool to see one of your promo items travel from where you left it to a location for one of your books? If it went to one of the resorts in the mountains (hello Maverick) I would follow :) Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13648529337809485033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898084201599138650.post-20976761767366784012015-04-06T18:21:07.809-07:002015-04-06T18:21:07.809-07:00Thanks Kathy! You are so smart when it comes to p...Thanks Kathy! You are so smart when it comes to promo. Everything you have done compliments your books (which are AWESOME) beautifully. I really appreciate your sharing your expertise with us.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13648529337809485033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898084201599138650.post-68289536099063011982015-04-06T18:19:23.512-07:002015-04-06T18:19:23.512-07:00I think your Mason jars are brilliant. It is tied ...I think your Mason jars are brilliant. It is tied to your Southern brand and useful. The Kleenex are also a great idea (especially now when pollen is attacking us like we owe it money). Thanks for sharing!Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13648529337809485033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898084201599138650.post-35038305733000248162015-04-06T15:22:16.864-07:002015-04-06T15:22:16.864-07:00Thanks Heather!! You're next!! I think its jus...Thanks Heather!! You're next!! I think its just good social karma. When I was at M&M last year an author had purchased books for giveaway in the conference bags. She gave me 6 unclaimed books that I used for my goodie bag at the Southern Magic Luncheon after I asked if she'd be okay with me including them. Win for both of us. I made a new connection and the readers were happy!<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08307459134851243121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898084201599138650.post-54000478416217775992015-04-06T15:20:32.655-07:002015-04-06T15:20:32.655-07:00I put my postcards into the server's bill fold...I put my postcards into the server's bill folder at restaurants along with a big tip. I also leave them behind at hotels where I also leave big tips. And I just gave two away today to some people at the gym who asked about my books. Even if they don't end up buying, I have something to instantly give them to show them the covers/blurbs. You never know what will stick. Seven hits to 1 reader usually generates a sale or a new reader. I'm like the Loretta Lynn of the Romance World. One Reader at a Time Sweet Jesus.... :)<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08307459134851243121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898084201599138650.post-66112199422486393142015-04-06T15:20:23.011-07:002015-04-06T15:20:23.011-07:00This is a great post, Lady Heather! Thank you so m...This is a great post, Lady Heather! Thank you so much for including my stress bones and for your kind words!!! With a name like Bone, you can't go wrong. (That kind of rhymes. Heehee!)<br /><br />For an unpublished author, the key to swag is figuring out what will stick in readers' minds. My last name is Bone and I write pirate romance so it was easy for me to figure out what promo would stick ~ my last name. I searched for promo that would give the most impact and when I found my stress bones, magic happened. Huzzah and Hoorah! I have people contacting me to ask for more. One author asked for two so she could make her grandchildren Pebbles and Bam Bam costumes for Halloween. Woot!<br /><br />If you write cowboy books, think of things cowboys would use, tie twine at the end of your bookmarks, incorporate theme into your promo. Same can be said for every genre in romance. Find that one thing that resonates with you and readers will love it! Make it unique by adding that one spark that showcases individuality.<br /><br />One thing I see that works really well is recipes. If you use postcards, put recipes on one side and your author/book info on the other. You ARR giving the reader something useful as well as getting your name and info out there.<br /><br />I agree with Lynn Raye Harris. Promo isn't really to plug your books. It's a giftie/treasure for readers, a method of parlayin' with future fans or current fans. It's the gift that keeps on givin'. If you keep that in mind when determining which promo/swag best works for you, you won't go wrong. Hildie McQueen does great swag too. As does Debra Glass and Naima Simone. <br /><br />What jazzes you about swag/promo will probably jazz readers too. And be willing to experiment. I've done this. Try bookmarks, postcards, and so forth. See what works and what doesn't. Swag isn't a one size fits all for authors. What works for Author A may not work for Author B. The primary key is have fun, be willing to try new things, and know that the ultimate business motto, "it takes money to make money", holds true for anything we do as authors. My .02. (Pirate!)<br /><br />Thanks for this great post today, Heather!!!Katherine Bonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14701961380138616355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898084201599138650.post-74922508858602053512015-04-06T13:44:58.671-07:002015-04-06T13:44:58.671-07:00I get lots of compliments on my Mason jar with str...I get lots of compliments on my Mason jar with straw (has my name/logo), but that's one of those pricier items I'd like to reward readers with. A cheaper option people have liked is I buy travel Kleenex packs and put my sticker on them. They'll ride in a pocket book for a while until the tissues get used. I've stopped getting postcards since I've heard so many people say they trash them. I've heard authors with a lot of books out say they do a postcard or brochure with all their book covers. I'm not sure it sells books, but if readers start one and like it, they'll know the other titles to purchase. :D Loving this convo, HeatherAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10732062929489021714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898084201599138650.post-59792099723618287602015-04-06T09:28:45.123-07:002015-04-06T09:28:45.123-07:00Dang old hungry blogger - it has done that to me a...Dang old hungry blogger - it has done that to me a few times on other blogs. All my brilliance lost to cyberspace (bwahahahah). You are the best about promoting authors you love. I have found more great authors because of your Facebook parties and events.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03267367299834306309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898084201599138650.post-39585542759747242422015-04-06T09:27:37.716-07:002015-04-06T09:27:37.716-07:00I agree about the advice, Jillian. We are fortunat...I agree about the advice, Jillian. We are fortunate to have a great group in Southern Magic (you included) with superior knowledge and a generosity of spirit with respect to sharing that knowledge.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03267367299834306309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898084201599138650.post-37629298041588531742015-04-06T09:26:49.498-07:002015-04-06T09:26:49.498-07:00Great point, Rashda - the swag needs to hook the r...Great point, Rashda - the swag needs to hook the reader. When the bookmark lets me know more about the book than the delicious abs of its hero, I am more likely to check it out. Thank you for commenting!Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03267367299834306309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898084201599138650.post-28061931459384705172015-04-06T09:25:52.875-07:002015-04-06T09:25:52.875-07:00Cara - I promise not to expand File 30 any more! ...Cara - I promise not to expand File 30 any more! I actually bag up all the pens I get at conferences and give them to the pub down the street from my house. The servers love them and have said they get more comments from the customers about the pens.<br /><br />Great advice. Thank you for sharing!<br />Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03267367299834306309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898084201599138650.post-58282672797936171592015-04-06T09:24:52.722-07:002015-04-06T09:24:52.722-07:00Great advice Suzanne. Just signed up for artscow&...Great advice Suzanne. Just signed up for artscow's mailing list!Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03267367299834306309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898084201599138650.post-61535627437284140082015-04-06T08:26:26.934-07:002015-04-06T08:26:26.934-07:00Blogger ate my post, too. Boo. I love all the advi...Blogger ate my post, too. Boo. I love all the advice. And agree with Carla-give that stuff to your local library or save it for a giveaway for your readers. Promote yourself along with the other fabulous authors you love!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08307459134851243121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898084201599138650.post-30796718688474618662015-04-06T07:18:03.129-07:002015-04-06T07:18:03.129-07:00Great post, Heather and good advice from the comme...Great post, Heather and good advice from the commenters!Jillianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08153037458860004412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898084201599138650.post-25740439757425320522015-04-06T06:50:42.557-07:002015-04-06T06:50:42.557-07:00I have to agree with Suzanne, I like useful swag -...I have to agree with Suzanne, I like useful swag -- pens, bottle openers, chip clips -- but they don't really make me buy books. What I do pick up so that I remember to get the books are the postcards with cover, blurb and maybe a small excerpt, bookmarks with some identifying info etc. Of course, in those cases, something about the cover and blurb had to hook me first. :)Rashda Khanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04803134396969891096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898084201599138650.post-34015723838043333242015-04-06T06:44:57.931-07:002015-04-06T06:44:57.931-07:00Heather, please stop throwing away all of that swa...Heather, please stop throwing away all of that swag you don't want. Be sure to think of your local (or not so local) libraries! They LOVE swag of all types equally. Book marks, booklets with excerpts, and anything else you don't want to keep or have extras of. Once a year, I take a bag filled with swag to my hometown library. They are so excited to see the bag -- I like to think me too -- and treat it like Christmas and their birthday rolled into one.<br /><br />When it comes to swag, all of it is money tossed into the air with the hope it will land in the right hands. I give away books bags, book marks, car cup holder coasters, books (paperback and e-book), pens (some with a stylus on the end), gym bags (you missed out), tee shirts, Hello Kitty dolls, etc. All (except for Hello Kitty) had one thing in common, my name on them. And most had my website and tag line. It does no good to give something away without your name on it. <br /><br />(The Hello Kitty dolls didn't have my name on them, but I figured most of them would be handed off to a child in the end anyway. I don't want them looking up my info on the web. Not PG at all.)<br /><br />Speaking of the fabulous Lynn Raye Harris, I agree totally with her on that "swag is more for your current readers as a thank you." They're the ones who will create more fans. Word of mouth about a good book is the key over all the Hello Kitty dolls in the world.Carla Swaffordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01711161447004839163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5898084201599138650.post-45616950537234666792015-04-06T06:37:53.029-07:002015-04-06T06:37:53.029-07:00Hmm....Blogger ate my earlier comment, I think, so...Hmm....Blogger ate my earlier comment, I think, so I'll try again.<br /><br />I used to pick up bookmarks and postcards and always ended up throwing them away, so I no longer even pick them up. I always keep pens but, honestly, don't look at who they're from after the initial pickup. Other keepers: lip balm and flash drives.<br /><br />My most successful swag has been chapter books. I had 20-page, four-color 5x7 booklets printed (saddle-stitched binding/self cover, in printer parlance). Each spread featured a cover image, trivia, and excerpt from one of my books, along with purchase info. I haven't left these en masse because they cost about $2 each, but I do give them out at conference events and at book-signings, and they get snapped up.<br /><br />Another cool thing I've found: www.artscow.com. Get on their mailing list and you can take advantage of their frequent specials with free shipping. That's the time to pick up unusual swag--I pick up things in small quantities as newsletter giveaways or special giveaways for signings if someone buys a book: umbrellas, USB hubs, card decks, all kinds of bags and pouches, photo books, watches, compasses, etc., all of which can be printed with your book covers or other promo. I'm off to order my three cosmetic bags for $10 with free shipping now!<br />Suzanne Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14180604715572075576noreply@blogger.com