Comments on: Promotion….A Necessary Evil?

By: Doreen Knight

Doreen Knight — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 16:47:20 +0000

The best swag is a free book. There are several authors whose work I've become acquainted with as a result of a freebie e-book on Amazon. I've been so impressed by that one book that I've gone out and bought, for real money, other books by that author. The rest of it - nah. The only swag I've ever had was from the Discworld Convention - which I attend because I already love the books, and that nice Mr P.

By: Juli D. Revezzo

Juli D. Revezzo — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 17:11:41 +0000

Do the promotional items work? Who knows really? I remember handing out a bookmark to a waitress, only to find a sale the next day in Amazon. :) Did it come from her? I'm not really sure, but I hope it wasn't wasted! And then I've given out many others that only sometimes result in a spike. Giveaways, however, I know stop my sales. I've seen it happen. But we could really ask the same about blogging (does blogging sell books?). I have to say no, as I've seen that result myself.

By: Glenda

Glenda — Sun, 23 Feb 2014 03:08:41 +0000

As a reader who has never attended a conference, I really don't care about swag. I have gotten some in the mail and I do use the bookmarks, but not so much the other things like magnets.

Not that I don't appreciate looking at them. I do. I lust after a magnificent cover model along with all the other ladies. But when family and 3 year old nieces arre over all the time, half dressed men are not appropriate on the fridge. 😀

I buy books based on authors I know; reviews from trusted reviewers; and excerpts of the book. A good blog tour can provide all of these. I've discovered many authors from blogs.

I don't do authors on Facebook - I do have author friends who are my friends on FB, but they are the exception. FB is for my social and work friends only. Not virtual friends I will likely never meet. A great author webpage and an occasional newsletter works great for me. 🙂

Write a kick a$$ book and get some blogger reviews, send a newsletter, post excerpts, maybe give away a few copies, but don't spend tons of money on swag destined for a drawer or the circular file. 😀 IMHO anyway.

By: mdaviswrites

mdaviswrites — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 16:52:10 +0000

By asking this, I reveal how far I am from 'real life.' I work in Asia, so that's some excuse: but OK: What's SWAG? Thank you, btw, for all these great comments. Martine Davis

By: Sharlene Wegner

Sharlene Wegner — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 14:38:44 +0000

I have only been to one RWA conference, but I highly recommend the experience. I went to authors that I already knew because I wanted signed books by them. Everyone was kind & friendly. The book marks are a great memory. The 2 things that were different that I remember were an English Tea & cookie bag from Kieran Kramer, that she gave specially to her FB fans, and little containers of hand sanitizer in different scents from Robyn Carr. Neither of these had the author's information on them, but I remember them because I had my 11 year old daughter with me, who was very bored, and these kept her busy on the train ride home. I find new authors & books by several method:. recommendations by authors I already know on FB & blogs, book blogs with or without giveaways, and from being drawn to the cover art in Target of B&N.

By: ellaquinnauthor

ellaquinnauthor — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 13:51:03 +0000

Reblogged this on Ella Quinn ~ Author and commented: What do you think is the most effective promotion for an author?

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Top Picks Thursday 02-20-2014 | The Author Chronicles — Thu, 20 Feb 2014 18:03:16 +0000

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By: writersideup

writersideup — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 06:18:36 +0000

I've spent countless hours reading about promotion and the many things we aspiring authors need to be doing. All of it creates a LOT of pressure, and I often fear it will get me nowhere. I'd much rather be writing, of course, as would we all, but it seems we don't have a choice. Life is short and promoting isn't really how I want to spend it, BUT----I also hope to be read once I'm published. Oh, well...we must accept...

By: Sharla Rae

Sharla Rae — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 19:57:03 +0000

I don't know if it still holds true but years ago at RT conferences, readers loved getting their hands on great book cover posters --mostly because of the models. It's not what I'd hang up in my home but . . . hey. Anyway, perhaps offering to do a give-a-way at a signing table to those who purchased your book and had it signed might be good. I think it really might work for the YA fans. Teens love posters. And it might beef up the signing. They can be very boring to say the least.