Easter baskets were a big deal when my kids were young — not just getting the right sized baskets or deciding what to put in them (chocolate eggs and bunnies, books, stuffed rabbits), but where to hide them. I couldn’t choose a spot that was too easy or it wouldn’t challenge the boys enough. But if the baskets were too hard to find, I’d end up having to “help” the kids scour the house.
So now the boys are in college and I’m worrying about baskets of a different sort this Easter — or more accurately, bags — goody bags. You see, I’m the official “goody-bag coordinator” for my writing chapter’s spring retreat — big title for a fun and easy job. All I’ve had to do is sit at home and let the deliveries roll in. But I think I went overboard in soliciting donations because my dining room looks like a trucking warehouse right now. I can’t believe how many writers and publishers generously contributed to our bags. And since relatives are descending on my house for Easter dinner, I need to get those bags stuffed and out of the dining room FAST.
But looking at all these promotional materials has been interesting, I have to admit. For one thing, I’ve been able to see a variety of items — bookmarks, postcards, chapter samplers, matchbooks, notepads, pens, magnets, coasters, nail files, and so on. For another, it has made me wonder if all these materials really work. Do they help you remember an author’s name? Do they actually sell books?
So, my question is this: What, if any, value do you think there is in promotional materials like these? Are there any that you particularly like or dislike? Do they ever prod you into buying a book?
And in the spirit of giving, I’ll send all the goody bag donations you see in the photos to one lucky respondent. No, no, just kidding (although it would sure clean up my dining room fast)! I’ll actually send you a copy of one of my books. So what do you think? Are promotional materials worthwhile?
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I’d have to say that anything free is greatly appreciated! I enjoy reading any trivia and background information found in the newsletters. I like the magnets, pens ,note pads and bookmarks the best! I use all of the above all of the time. I also received a mini calculator which I carry around in my purse and I use it at the grocery store a lot. I also pass on some of the items (if I get duplicates) to people I know who also love to read! Goodie bags are GREAT! THANKS!
by Laurie G
on April 16th, 2006 at 6:26 am
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Who wouldn’t like free stuff?:grin: Especially if it’s something useful, like jar openers, pens, book mates etc. If it’s something you use often, you are not very likely to forget the writer’s name if it’s written in the item!:wink:
by Minna
on April 16th, 2006 at 6:41 am
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Happy Easter to all.
The best promo material is a book. You can pass it along to others, (and I do) thereby really promoting an author’s work. Bookmarks or whatever wont make me buy a book. Pens are nice as they are useful but the free book is the best promo. I usually pick up a piece of paper to use as a bookmark, so booksmarks don’t get me excited, but a free book does. I think I have said that several times here. LOL.
If I love a book, I will tout it to one and all. If I dont care for it, wont trash it, just wont say much or anything at all. Everyone likes something different. Who am I to say a book is not good.
I buy a book from either a recommendation or by reading the back blurb or if it is an auto buy author. I must admit a colorful cutesy cover draws me right in.
by Pat
on April 16th, 2006 at 7:22 am
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I agree with Pat! I don’t buy books because of the promotional items. Getting a free book and finding out that I like the author’s writing is what makes me buy an author’s books. I also tell friends when I like a book and I’m sure that helps more than a bookmark.
by Carol
on April 16th, 2006 at 8:02 am
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Oh wow, if I had all those boxes in my house I’d feel like a kid at Christmas LOL. That’s my idea of heaven….with a hottie or two thrown in 
I have bought books from the promotional items such as the bookmark with the book synopsis, so I believe they work. I love finding new authors so a variety of ways works for me. I think a free book from a new author is great, no doubt. I love free books! An eye-catching cover will draw me in - that’s how I discovered MaryJanice Davidson - from the cover of her Undead & Unwed book. If I would have had that bookmark, I would have bought the book - it was one of my best finds ever.
Newsletters are fabulous too, especially if they are sent out between 6-12 times a year. It’s frustrating if you get one stray one a year - almost as bad as an author website that is hardly ever updated.
I don’t care for keychains or magnets, but I like the pens or the notebooks. (In fact I got a really fabulous one from Access Romance - love their logo)
by Stacy ~
on April 16th, 2006 at 9:02 am
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I agree, nothing beats a free book. I prefer promotional materials that are useful like pens, T-shirts, magnets, etc and if it could be linked to the theme of the book, so much the better. One really neat promo item I’ve received is a highlighter set that looks like a mini camera clapboard as the book’s heroine is the producer of a reality show. Chapter samplers are great also since they give me an idea of the author’s writing style and are more likely to persuade me to buy the book than bookmarks or postcards. I don’t smoke so matchbooks are quite useless to me and I can’t just leave them outside for general use because I don’t want my parents or relatives looking up on the web what authors I read, especially the erotic romance ones *g*
by Jenny
on April 16th, 2006 at 9:41 am
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I am also on the side of the free book. If I read it and love it, then I tout it to all of my friends. If I read it and am not so impressed, I pass it onto a friend I think will be interested in it. If I am able to match the book to the person well, he or she touts it to other of his/her friends.
Promotional items alone may not convince me to buy a book, though I love bookmarks etc. However, they keep the author or book in mind and I am more willing to search out that book or author when I hit the bookstore…reading a few pages of a book usually decides me on whether to purchase a book or not. Promotional items are not a complete waste in that way, it is advertiseing.
by little lamb lost
on April 16th, 2006 at 9:59 am
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Hi, I am with most of the others. A free book is the best promo item; after all that IS what is being promoted. And I would have it to promote to someone else; the pens too as they are useful. Not into the keychains, magnets or bookmarks.
by Karen T.
on April 16th, 2006 at 10:22 am
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Well, Stacy, I have to admit that the best part of this job has been getting the items. It feels exactly like Christmas all the time, even though the stuff isn’t really mine. It is fun to watch the UPS truck pull up, and then open the boxes and see what came!
As far as the responses so far, everyone seems to agree that free books are good. Where do you get your free books? From blogs and author contests?
by Gail Barrett
on April 16th, 2006 at 10:46 am
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Oh my gosh…that warehouse is like a reader’s dream. I want to visit. haha! I love promo items although have to agree with the others here and say that a free book is probably the best form of promotion for me. If I like it, I will look for that author’s backlist and tell my friends about it. I do like to get notepads and pens because I use those the most but I can’t say they make me remember the author. Sometimes I will get a bookmark and then look up the author’s site. Many years ago I won a book cover from an author and I still use it to this day. It has her name on the front of it so I suppose everyone who sees it thinks that the book inside is one of hers. I carry it with me everywhere. I guess I’ve been promoting her books for some time now. haha! That was a nice item to get.
by KimW
on April 16th, 2006 at 10:47 am
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Hi Gail,
my favorite promo items are bookmarks and magnets. Those things always reminds you of the author. But I also love cover postcards, like the one that you send out for “Facing the fire”.
I discovered many new additions to my auto-buy author list through free book contests.
by Danny
on April 16th, 2006 at 11:01 am
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Hi Gail,
I like bookmarks that give a synopsis of the book or a free book. Once you’ve read a book by the author and like it, you can go to their website and find others.
by Joyce
on April 16th, 2006 at 4:31 pm
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I think promotional items do work in catching a reader’s interest. They won’t necessarily convince me to buy but they may catch my interest enough to make me want to check out the author’s book further. Useful items like bookmarks, pens, t-shirts are great because they get used alot so they are a constant reminder of that author. As for free books through blogs and author contests they are great forms of promotion. I have won a few books and become fans of authors that way. For example, on this blog I won Shadow Force from Linda Conrad and now I am hooked on this series and am planning on buying Shadow Watch which is coming out in my May. Plus I passed it on to my twin sister who usually has the same taste in books as me so she will probably gain another fan there. She plans on passing it on to a friend after she reads it which means even more exposure for Linda. So free books are a great way to promote.
by Cherie Japp
on April 16th, 2006 at 4:45 pm
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I’m really enjoying this thread and the varied opinions. Perfect timing as I’m thinking about whether to do promo items for the goody room at National this year. I hadn’t planned to but you guys are swaying me to consider again.
by Bronwyn Jameson
on April 16th, 2006 at 5:54 pm
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Happy Easter!
Promo items dont determine which books I buy. Some authors I buy no matter what. But a free book is always wonderul and if you are going to do a promo, that is the best in my opinion.
I get my occasional free books from blogs and author contests - and what a nice surprise it is to hear I won something, esp if it is a book or a gift certificate to a bookstore or even decadent chocolate.
by Helen Mac
on April 16th, 2006 at 6:25 pm
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I’m hearing that a lot of people (myself included) have authors they auto-buy whenever a new book comes out, so promo items are irrelevant for them. And I have to admit, that I’m also the same as everyone else in that I’ll read a new author if I get the book for free — and then continue to read that author’s books if I like the first one. I also occasionally buy a book out of impulse (maybe the cover or title interests me) or because I know the author and am curious about her books. I also have to say that I very rarely buy a book because of a promotional item like a pen — but it does help me remember the author’s name. But it seems to me that for that to work, it has to be an item that I keep for awhile, like a bookmark or pen. I remember at nationals last year, some wonderfully generous author supplied bottles of water. It was very hot and I appreciated the water greatly, but for the life of me, I can’t remember who supplied those bottles. So the promo item did not work, even though I enjoyed it.
Anyhow, please keep the comments coming. I am learning a lot!!!:???:
by Gail Barrett
on April 16th, 2006 at 6:54 pm
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I agree with Helen Mac. There are certain authors I will buy automatically and I will try an author that I may not have if I get a free book. Word of mouth or a free book is the best promo as well as reviews on amazon, etc.
by Helen L.
on April 16th, 2006 at 7:00 pm
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Books and promo items have been used often as prizes in chats, blogs and website contests. I participate when I have time and especially if I see an author on the schedule that I have curiosity regarding the books. Have become fan of various authors after reading the book that I have won.
You are perfectly correct that the promo items should be things that will last for quite some time in order to set the name and or cover in mind.
by little lamb lost
on April 16th, 2006 at 7:23 pm
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I think that promotional materials do work sometimes. I admit that there are some authors that are auto-buys for me not what promos they use, but I have bought several books by new-to-me authors after receiving a bookmark or promotional item somewhere and reading more about their books. Word of mouth and free books usually work too. I have bought a couple of books after having someone recommend them to me and have bought backlist books by an author after winning one in a contest or receiving a free book. Free books get you interested in the book and usually make you want to read more.
by Jennifer Y.
on April 16th, 2006 at 7:28 pm
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I love to get promo materials and I believe they work. When others see a bookmark that I am using they see who the author is and perhaps something about her book(s). I put a bm in each book that I have one for.
I love winning or receiving books, bookmarks, book thongs, sticky notes,
memo pads, pens where each item reminds me of that particular author.
by Robyn
on April 16th, 2006 at 8:17 pm
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Wow. I really appreciate all these comments. You have convinced me about the value of free books, for one thing. I didn’t realize how important they were. I think that in the future, I will put more emphasis in that direction. I’ve saved all your comments so I can reread them and rethink what I want to do for promotion. And Kim W., I chose you as my winner this time. Please email me with your address at gail@gailbarrett.com. Thanks everyone!!!!! Oh yeah — I finally got the goody bags stuffed and my dining room table is clear again. Strangely, I sort of miss all that stuff!!!:smile:
by Gail Barrett
on April 17th, 2006 at 6:20 am
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Big congrats Kim!
by Danny
on April 17th, 2006 at 6:40 am
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congrats Kim
by Dena
on April 17th, 2006 at 10:36 am
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wtg kimw
by KIM H
on April 17th, 2006 at 10:39 am
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Congrats KimW!
by little lamb lost
on April 17th, 2006 at 11:25 am
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Woohoo! Thanks, Gail and thank you to everyone for the congrats.
by KimW
on April 17th, 2006 at 8:41 pm
