Comments on: Promotional Items

By: Chessie Welker

Chessie Welker — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 19:09:21 +0000

I’m a postit junkie. I love postit notes, or even small rip off a page notepads for jotting things down. The ones that stick are better, but I’ll take what I can get. Of all the things I’ve ever gotten in a goodie bag, the only things that have “hung around” in my house are notepads, a nail file, (I really needed one at the conference.) and the occasional pen. I’d probably keep a magnet too, I’ve just never received one.

Bookmarks in a goodybag are one in a million. I’ve only kept bookmarks that authors have put in my book during a booksigning, mostly because as I read the book, hey, it’s right there.

Out of courtesy, I always look through my bookmarks because I know people invest in them, but I hardly remember what I see.

By: mario

mario — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 04:17:46 +0000

please someone, can tell me what this about?????????????????

By: The Pam

The Pam — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 19:51:34 +0000

I think, Gail, that’s what it’s all about – name recognition. You’re right – the bookmarks aren’t going to do much, but maybe a really nicely designed one is going to stick around a bit. And I’ll see that name often.

The same with a pen that I like – the name hits my eye every time I use that pen, even subconciously.

So, while “stuff” isn’t going to make me buy a book, it does build the brand of the author. So maybe when I’m cruising the bookstore aisles and I see that person’s name, I’ll be tempted to read the back cover blurb. And maybe buy it.

You don’t get a return on investment with trinkets, that’s true. So you have to chose wisely.

By: Gail Barrett

Gail Barrett — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:42:58 +0000

I also coordinate the goody bags for my chapter’s conference, and one thing that strikes me is how many bookmarks we always get. I’m sure that’s because they are cheap. Unfortunately, since most writers are on a budget, your fabulous bookmark gets lost in the pile and becomes one of hundreds.

So then you have to ask — is it worthwhile to spend a lot of money on pens and other gimmicks? In my Jan. 19th blog I posted the results of a poll I found online about what influenced people to buy a book. Promotional items were WAY down on the list, with only 3.5% of people who responded citing that as a reason they bought a book. So for the money invested, I can’t see that magnets and pens are very effective. On the other hand, they might increase name recognition, so that is a positive thing. And they do stand out amidst the bookmarks….

By: The Pam

The Pam — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 18:05:02 +0000

In the FWIW department, take a hint from what business trade shows do.

For the masses, there are cheap gimmes – bookmarks, for example. But usually, under the table, are more expensive trinkets for giving out to the “important” people. You could use this same sort of theory – doling out the “good stuff” to reviewers and sending to conference goody baskets or whatever, while being able to hand out bookmarks without mentally tallying out how much money is going to waste.