What’s your EPB? Estimated Publicity Budget

What’s your EPB?
Estimated Publicity Budget

As I hit year 3 of working with authors by way of “Simply Said” reading accessories; my company doing custom “Gift Marks” aka bookmarks, book thongs, book plates, and note cards, A few common denominators keep reoccurring, such as
How much should I spend?
What should I invest in?
What will give me repeat customers?
What will keep me on there mind even after the book is finished?
What can I do to stand out from the rest?
What will give me more bang for the BOOK?


Well, I have been dealing with many authors in the last few years and these issues reappear almost every time.
YOU CAN”T SPEND MONEY TWICE!!!
OR CAN YOU???
Any promo material should be designed for REPEAT BUSINESS
You want and need to BE REMEMBERED
You Do Not Want To use the same promo materials that others have use and disgared
Please watch the slide show I created about where your bookmarks end up at the end of a festival
It clearly shows, flyers and your average bookmarks littering the streets, in huge numbers, after the festival. This happens at every festival I have attended, there is no value to them, they are common and considered disposable. Same stuff different festival.

Hmmmm, pause and think.



If you are a seasoned author or up coming with several books coming soon,
YOU WANT YOUR INFORMATION TO BE RETAINED
YOU WANT TO STAND OUT FROM THE REST
But.. How do you do this?????
OK
First you figure out how much you want to spend on publicizing your book.
Do you want to spend your entire advance?
Do you want to spend $100.00 or $1000.00 dollars?
Who is your target audience?
What are you trying to achieve?
Who are you trying to reach?
Break it down…
Book signings
Festivals
Contests from your site
How much do you estimate to spend per event?
It’s really difficult to really guess how many people will turn out to these events so estimate and then add 20%, at least
Well known events such as the B.E.A or Romance Slam Jam will pick up any overage from other events that did not have good turn outs.
Do you have a press packet?
You want to add a creative addition to your packet to stand out.
At you more intimate book club signings.
You want to give a gift for the invite and the hospitality.
What about the reader who adores you and comes to you with EVERY book you have written?
You want to THANK them for being loyal.
What about the FAN who lives in ALASKA, where your not doing any signings???
Do you disregard them? Just send them an email?
Don’t you want to stay in contact with your fan base?
How do you work you EPB ??
On a limited budget?
I started this business quite by accident. I give me clients ( I AM A HAIR STYLIST) gifts every year for Christmas and a few years ago I noticed we all have reading in common and made the BOOKMARKS for the years Christmas. Years later ( I GUESS I’m SLOW) I noticed they were still using the bookmarks and they encouraged me to do more and sell to stores which I did and do.
I also do author Marcia King – Gambles hair and she commissioned me to do custom bookmarks for her, and other authors began to contact me from seeing hers thus the custom work began
The way I see it is, it’s like a tree
a seed, a tree, limbs, branches, leaves.
It’s as simple as that.
One thing leads to another
You will never know where you may end up
So your information is pertinent on everything you put out into the universe
Your SIGNATURE
As metioned earlier
I create, design, and hand make

“Gift-marks”
(Bookmarks)
That are so unique and durable they can with stand years of use and also retain your information
They are large 2 x 8 inches
Heavy laminated
Or
“half-marks”
2 x 41/2
which can fit in any wallet again after your book is finished being read

Hand cut with torn paper edges and a satin ribbon
Creating a concept for your “gift-mark”. Is always up to you, what you want to say and what image you want to get across to your readers.
You can have your photo, your book covers, listings of past and up coming releases, or use picture I have to design your “gift-mark”.
Some authors even want more such as pearls or rose petals added, whatever you can think of can be done
The “gift-marks can also be autographed with a sharpie


The Book Thong
Are also bookmarks , but they are jewelry for the book lovers.
They are sexy, (just the name alone) swinging, eye catching, which will bring peoples eyes to your book… colorful and very unique.
We can coordinate the colors with your book cover or theme.
The book thongs are wonderful gifts to book clubs, your more intimate signings as well as contests on your site. They come in many colors and variations.

Book Plates
Do you have readers in Alaska???
Planning on going to do a signing there?
Well hopefully you do have readers there and you do want to autograph and acknowledge them…
So send the an Autographed Book Plate !!!
If can have your picture book cover or a phase from your book, just sign and mail along with a “Giftmark” only .41 cent to mail.
Is that customer in Alaska worth .41 cent to you?

Note Cards
Can be sent to different people as a invitation, a thank you note, just a hello, I’m trying to stay on your mind. Birthday, Book club anniversary, Christmas, the choice is yours

I have had many authors order a package of all of the above. They strategically, mailed to Book groups, had them for release parties,
Had many contests, mailed them to publicists and book stores and created quite a buzz.
The attraction was they were different and retained your information. It also showed that you went the extra mile to be noticed,
you the author did not want to be disposable.
Now I am not saying not to use flyers and other bookmarks they can be effective in some venues.
My product line is truly your”A” game your Sunday best
When you want to make a real impression that you are
Investing in yourself

It’s really All About You
Debra Owsley
odebdeb@aol.com
Myspace.com/odebsimplysaid
954 562-5709