Inkshares Community discussion
Promotional Strategy Discussion
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Real-life promo idea (plus execution details) - 2 hours, $20
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I've done this to great effect, though the site -- friendsonpolitics.com -- is more a soft landing spot than a redirect to the preorder page. That lets me give a little more info to folks who might find it jarring to go straight to the preorder page. (I also have shop.friendsonpolitics.com, which DOES redirect directly to Inkshares.) I have both URLs printed on 4x6 postcards that are good for both passing out and posting/leaving here and there. I can't speak for the cards I've posted so far doing a ton of good, but the ones I've handed out individually have brought in more than enough sales already to validate the low investment. So I think you're right on with this idea.
Another bright point: I just learned about referral codes, so I just went into my redirect and changed the URL. The cards stay the same, the URL that the prospective reader types stays the same, but I can point it anywhere I want.
I gots a new landing page:livedieavalon.blogspot.com
A URL that redirects to my Inkshares project page:
livedieavalon.com
and here's what my business cards will look like (also getting postcards made that I can post all over the place) The front has the cover art, this is what the back looks like:
www.peterkin-investigates.com is live.Well, sort of. I'm far from a professional web designer, and this was all made with html technology from the 1990s. There are writers here who are younger than the code.
Right now, it's as Billy says, a "soft landing spot" that can redirect to the Inkshares project page. Eventually, I should like to put more links ... like, character bios, war poetry, that sort of thing. Also, better cover art.
It's wreaked havoc with my original site, but enh. Eggs, omelettes, you know the drill.
Do we think this could have an impact on those of us competing in the Nerdist contest? If so, I'll get my backside off the couch and over to Staples first thing tomorrow morning.
I definitely think so RH. Absolutely nothing has worked better for me than talking directly to people and leaving them with a physical souvenir that continually reminds them to order the book. I've tried a lot of things but the humble card has been the best return on investment by far.
Thanks, Billy! Now all I have to do is remember how to make business cards. :-/
Thanks, Billy! Now all I have to do is remember how to make business cards. :-/
Mod
I did a little breakdown of my different strategies and the actual literal number of orders I got through each of them during the last contest. I don't remember what thread it was on, but it's out there somewhere.
I didn't use this exact card+simple URL+website redirect strategy, so it will be cool to hear exactly how many real orders it results in. These things are really hard to calculate, because it's usually a combination of five or more things that need to work right for a reader to convert from interest to order. The strategy that absolutely WILL NOT work to any meaningful extent is just leaving your card posted on cork boards of coffee shops. Nobody will pay attention to those. You have to talk to people, one by one!
Or do a reading in a coffee shop and then have a computer open where you can walk 10 people through ordering your book right then and there :) :) :).
Dear Zack.Dear, dear, dear, darling Zack.
I took your advice and yesterday I had a bunch of business cards done with my website and book title on them. I put about ten or so in my jacket pocket.
Today I had a meeting with my bank financial advisor. I explained my current situation and we shuffled some cash around. Then she asked me what I was writing and I was SO GLAD to have a card on hand to give her.
Then she asked for more cards (!!!) to give out to other clients because apparently it's in her best interests if I succeed. Her words, not mine.
Thank you so much for the business card idea. And to think I thought I'd be too shy to hand even one of them out ... I'm going to make sure I have a bunch on hand wherever I go from here on.
Carry those cards everywhere Christopher! Cannot oversell it enough. That scenario will come up countless times during your campaign. And people will pleasantly surprise you constantly.
I laughed out loud when I read that, Christopher. Great! Even if you get one sale from $10 worth of cards, it's worth it. Glad I could help!
I made QR Codes for mine, Cards also work. They won't get you anything immediate, but it's nice to have on hand.
When you tell people in real life about your Inkshares book, what are the chances that they are going to go straight to a computer/phone and back you? Probably pretty slim. They're going to do it later. Even if they're interested, your instructions would have to be something like:
You: "Oh, just go to inkshares.com/books/my-title-with-das...."
Them: "Uh, okay."
OR
You: "Oh, just go to http://bit.ly/blahBlahBlahNumberNumbe...."
Them: "Uh..."
The absolute best case is that you actually walk them through the process on their own phone. This is going to be a very rare occurrence. The realistic best case scenario is probably this: they go to go to inkshares.com (if they somehow remember the name of the site) and search for your name (because they're not going to remember the name of your book).
So! To combat this, here's a strategy I'm currently putting into practice.
Step 1 - Buy a memorable URL (~$9). No slashes, no bit.ly addresses that are hard to type. It needs to be your own URL. (Tip: you don't need the hosting add-on they will try to sell you).
Step 2 - Once you have this URL, redirect it straight to your Inkshares project. You can do this in the administration section of the site you bought it from.
Step 3 - Design a business card with the URL on it. You've got 3.5" x 1.5" of space on there, so try to pitch your book on it too.
Step 4 - Order 500 of them from Staples for $11, same-day pickup. (OR you can get nicer ones elsewhere with front-and-back printing).
Step 5 - When people say "So what do you do?" you pitch them and give them your awesome-looking card.
Total cost: $20.
Total time: 2 hours
My example:
In my opinion, this is not a business card; it doesn't represent you. It's meant to cross the divide between the real world and the Internet, so it has to represent the book. The idea is that they get home, they empty out their pockets, they find your card, and it's just as easy to find your book as it was when you were standing right there. They don't have to remember the name of your book, or even your name. Plus, who knows, if the card looks really nifty maybe it could sell the book better than you could.
Also, if you do this, I would like to see it. Share your results!