Thoughtful Thursday. Marketing materials: Are they worth it?

We’ve all seen the cute buttons, the unique jewelry, and handy tote bags in giveaways or at events with author logos and covers on them.  If you’re an author, I’m sure you’ve spent hours, even days, thinking of ideas for swag to promote your books.  Lord knows I have.  Then after all that time and getting the design perfect you go to check out, simple enough.  But after entering your shipping information and the actual total price for your order is revealed, you pause.  


Is $25, $50, even $100 worth it?


If you have the money, then yes, yes it is.  Giving out marketing material or “swag” is a convenient way to, well, market your books.  Those who carry your tote bags, wear your unique jewelry or buttons, use your bookmarks, are advertising your novels.  For free!  But if you’re breaking the bank and eating leftovers from last week, praying and hoping it doesn’t make you sick, just to buy those fancy pens and temporary tattoos, then no, it’s not worth it!


But there is a way to make marketing materials on a budget.  

• Using royalty free stock photos, you can create your own pictures with novel lines from your books.  If eye catching, your fans will begin to share, which allows you to reach other potential readers. 
• Business cards, those small cards that can open the door to successful connections and marketing opportunities everywhere, can be expensive.  But they are necessary in your step toward getting your name out there.  Have these little bad boys professionally printed, don’t hand write them yourself and then try to copy and print.  Do watch for sales, don’t just settle for paying big prices.  I’ve purchased over 500 business cards, with my own design, from Vistaprint for only $30 before, but I waited until they were holding a sale.  Patience, sometimes hard to practice, is almost always worth it in the end.  
• Pinterest!  It’s your best creative friend!  
• Do beware of those sites offering “cheap” marketing material.  Trust me, it’s not cheap.  Only 0.19 each can quickly become 1.19 each once you add your own design to them, which you want to do or it will look like any other Plane Jane item.  
• Recycle!  Get Creative.  Think about your book, your logo, and make something that’s completely unique to you and your characters.  I’ve seen authors who took bottle caps, repainted them, added their cover to the inside, and then put them on a necklace or bookmark. 

 Marketing materials can be essential in helping you get your name out there, but not at the expense of your pocket book, or your stomach.  Start with the essentials—business cards—and then slowly work your way up from there.  

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