Authors – Have Your Marketing Materials Ready

I’m pretty sure just about everyone is familiar with VistaPrint. It’s an affordable online printing company for business cards and/or marketing materials for small business owners. I would highly suggest getting an account, if you don’t already have one. There are many marketing materials to choose from, as well as designs. You can even upload your own design. Be sure to include your website or blog site, email, phone number, your title as an author, and if you write in a specific genre.

Once you’ve received your marketing materials, especially business cards, then distribute, distribute, distribute. I was given advice to drop a card “everywhere” I went, and at first I thought, how can I do that? I had to work through the thought that I was forcing myself on others, when really it’s just another unique way of marketing.

Here are some unique ways to leave your author business cards:

– Place them in correspondence you mail out (i.e. bill payments);

– In books at the library or on the counter;

– Any tack boards found in your post office, grocery store, banks;

– Check with other businesses to see if they’ll allow you to leave your business card on  their counter;

– Leave one on your table in a restaurant;

– If you travel, leave it in your hotel room;

– Use them in a book giveaway;

– If at an author signing/selling event, slip it in your book, they’ll have a place to go to when they wish to purchase all of your books;

– Last, but not least, friends and family.