Other Promotion Ideas on a Budget

Looking over promotion ideas for published books, I've blogged on the importance of book blog tours and investing in book trailers. Today as I'm stamping postcards to mail out, advertising my newest release - Love Finds You in Bethlehem, NH, I'd like to take the opportunity to talk about other avenues of promotion available and that I'm using right now with my Christmas releases this year.

Postcards and bookmarks are great tools in getting the word out about your books. All readers love to have a bookmark in their favorite novel. So have some on your person to give out. I had the opportunity even on the plane heading for a Christian Writers' conference to hand out a few bookmarks to nearby passengers (in fact, one even became a Facebook pal after we were introduced not once but twice on the plane!). Bookmarks can be placed in many places such as in libraries, bookstores, offices like doctors and dentists, anywhere people might be reading or looking at books. Check with your publisher to see if they can print up bookmarks and postcards for you. Postcards can be mailed out to contacts in your address book. I am also using the tear-off sheets sent to me from my previous Heartsong novels to send a postcard announcing my latest release to those who have supplied mailing addresses, letting them know what's available.

Another great promotional tool I've used is found at Vista Print. Here I was able to order some huge posters to put up for my booksignings happening this November, and for little money. As a bonus, they also printed up my own T-shirt that advertises me as an author along with my website. Oriental Trading Company offers little notepads where you can put address labels printed with your website address that can be handed out as freebies. People love the idea of little notepads. And I was able to get some personalized wooden pens also, a cheap but nice way to advertise your books without spending a lot of money.

These are a few promotional ideas I've used and am using now with my releases. If you have any other suggestions, feel free to comment.