{"id":305,"date":"2012-02-21T15:59:17","date_gmt":"2012-02-21T22:59:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/martymartins.com\/martysblog\/?p=305"},"modified":"2012-02-24T09:28:43","modified_gmt":"2012-02-24T16:28:43","slug":"promoting-your-book-with-postcards-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/martymartins.com\/martysblog\/?p=305","title":{"rendered":"Promoting Your Book with Postcards"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Believe it or not, color postcards are considerably cheaper than bookmarks.\u00a0 This is because the paper for postcards (I suggest the 4×6 size) is a standard size and doesn\u2019t have to be trimmed out from larger cardstock like the bookmarks.<\/p>\n

Of course, one side of the postcard will be your cover photo in four-color process.\u00a0 The backside is black and white but limited to the left half of the paper.\u00a0 Postal regulations (why have postcard if you aren\u2019t going to mail some of them) require a full 50% of the right-hand backside be reserved for the USPS.<\/p>\n

On the left side, you should include a synopsis of your story and maybe a little something about you (that\u2019s optional), and then maybe some info\u00a0about where people can buy the book.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s assume you want to, and may actually get, some of your postcards into bookstores.\u00a0 Bookstore managers do want to advertise their internet competitors, so omit any mention of Amazon or Barnes & Noble and limit it\u00a0to generic \u201cinternet sellers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Likewise, every good author should support libraries.\u00a0 Libraries, also, may put out your postcards.\u00a0 Of course, this is more likely if your book is in their collection.\u00a0 So,\u00a0you might also consider a plug for libraries on your postcard. \u00a0(I didn’t have room but did do so on my bookmarks.)<\/p>\n

Postcards are easy to carry in a jacket pocket or purse and easy to have with you at all kinds of events.\u00a0 If you\u00a0run into someone you know, somewhere during the conversation, ask them, \u201cHave you read my book?\u201d\u00a0 After they get over the shock and\u00a0admit they haven\u2019t, whip out a postcard.\u00a0 Of course, seeing the photo of the cover with your name on it will prove you weren\u2019t fooling them.\u00a0 Whether they buy the book or not (and you hope they do), they may at least pass the postcard on to someone else.<\/p>\n

Bookmarks are nice to have at book signings or any other event where you might have a table or display.\u00a0 Unless you have some sponsor who has purchased books for you to sign and give away to their employees, for example, always remember you are not in business to give books away (as one author taught me, \u201cthere is writing and then there is the business <\/em>of writing\u201d).\u00a0 That\u2019s when postcards some in handy.<\/p>\n

I also include one or two postcards in every book I mail out.\u00a0 Having faith in my novel, I expect people to like it and if they like it, they might want to tell others about it and give a postcard.\u00a0 Or, even better, if they are reading the book somewhere and another person sees them, or the cover, and asks, \u201cWhat book is that you\u2019re reading?\u2019\u2019\u00a0 \u201cOh,\u201d they respond, \u201cit\u2019s The Blizzard<\/em>, that new, award-winning novel by Marty Martins.\u00a0 I\u2019m really enjoying it!\u00a0 Here let me give you a postcard.\u201d\u00a0 (Us authors are eternal optimists, right?)<\/p>\n

Obviously, postcards are for \u201cposting.\u201d\u00a0 Especially when your book is brand new, that\u2019s the time to mail out postcards to every friend, relative, and acquaintance you know.\u00a0 Use the proper postage for postcards!\u00a0 Don\u2019t waste your Forever stamps or other first-class postage.<\/p>\n

When The Blizzard<\/em> made its debut and I sent out complimentary copies to special friends and families, I sent along four postcards with stamps already on them and asked those people if they would be kind enough to address the cards to someone they knew and pop them in the mail.<\/p>\n

Postcards are a very handy, and inexpensive, way to promote your book and something you should definitely consider.\u00a0 If you have any questions, you can always reach me through the Contact page on my website.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Believe it or not, color postcards are considerably cheaper than bookmarks.\u00a0 This is because the paper for postcards (I suggest the 4×6 size) is a standard size and doesn\u2019t have to be trimmed out from larger cardstock like the bookmarks. … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,21,22,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-305","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-promotion-publicity","category-libraries","category-postcards","category-self-publishing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/martymartins.com\/martysblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/305","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/martymartins.com\/martysblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/martymartins.com\/martysblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martymartins.com\/martysblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martymartins.com\/martysblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=305"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/martymartins.com\/martysblog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/305\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/martymartins.com\/martysblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=305"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martymartins.com\/martysblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=305"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martymartins.com\/martysblog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=305"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}