The journey of selling thousands of books begins with selling one. If you can sell one, you can sell two.
Many times authors will neglect doing small book marketing practices because the results appear to be insignificant. But the truth is that a small practice done regularly over time can build up your marketing sales very effectively.
Book marketing is all about making connections. You never know when one connection will make a big difference. Providing as many different avenues for people to find and read your books should be an important part of your book marketing strategy.
Today’s book marketing strategy is using bookmarks to sell more books. And yes, even if your book is only available for eReaders, bookmarks can still be used quite effectively.
The basic marketing idea behind bookmarks is to showcase your book in an attractive way before your target audience. Following are seven simple tips and strategies for authors to use bookmarks to sell more books.
1. Start small by printing only a hundred bookmarks. Yes, you can get a better deal by printing a thousand, but unless you have a big event or mailing list, a hundred bookmarks will be a safe way to test the market. Not every strategy will work for every book, audience, or author. A small number keeps the project doable, affordable, and practical.
2. Put a bookmark in letters you send out to family and friends as well as in bills, notices, and general correspondence.
3. Put a bookmark in books that you package and sell from your home. What greater way for a reader of your book to share with a friend can you find? All the exciting details of your book are printed on one tiny space with contact information to your website and places where the book is available.
4. Put a bookmark in other books that match your target audience. While new bookstores may not want your bookmarks in their books, it doesn’t hurt to ask! They may say yes. You can also put a bookmark in books at the library, used bookstores, and any event such as bazaars and yard sales that are selling books. Ask for permission, of course.
5. Ask bookstores (who are carrying your book) if you can leave a small bookmark display on the counter. Free bookmarks in a small cup or bowl are easy to pick up and fun to take. Perhaps salesclerks will even slip a bookmark in a shopping bag as they ring up an order.
6. Leave bookmarks in public places where readers might be. For instance, when you have a cup of coffee at a coffee shop, leave a bookmark on the table. Include a bookmark in the small folder when you pay for your meal at a restaurant. Leave them on tables in public sitting areas, nice restrooms, at airports and bus stations.
7. Form a bookmark exchange with other authors. This works especially well with books of the same type. Instead of putting your own bookmark in your book, slip in another author’s bookmark. If you have a group of five or more authors, this means each of you is being exposed to four new audiences one bookmark at a time.
Keep a few bookmarks with you at all times and drop them like Johnny Appleseed wherever you wander.
At Wheatmark we know that there is a lot more to your book’s success than simply getting it published. If you’re looking for a team of publishing professionals to take the pain out of book publishing and book marketing for you, tell us about your project!
