Unboxed Business Cards
By Guest | August 14, 2011 |
Therese here. One of the best parts of being a writer is getting out from behind the computer to meet other writers, as I did earlier this year at Boston’s Muse and the Marketplace conference. There I had the opportunity to meet author Liz Michalski. Not only did I thoroughly enjoy meeting Liz, I was impressed by her versatile and slightly quirky business cards. Very. I ordered a set for myself as soon as I arrived back home. I asked Liz to swing by today to tell us a little more about them–and a trick she’s been using to make them even more valuable to her as an author. Enjoy!
Unboxed Business Cards
Before EVENFALL was released, I spent a lot of time thinking about ways to thank the people who would read it. There are so many books out there these days, in so many different formats, I’m really appreciative whenever anyone takes the time to purchase mine, and I wanted to find a way to express that.
I considered making up bookmarks, bracelets, or stickers, but I wanted something more personal — something that would have meaning for those who had read the book, that would make them feel special, and that would allow me to connect with them on an individual level.
The solution came to me one day when I was standing in the grocery line idly reading the tabloid headlines. “Secrets of the Stars!” one magazine trumpeted. Everybody wants to know the hidden story, right? The stuff that’s not out there for the public? The stories that not everyone knows?
And so the secret pages were born. With my web designer, I worked up several pages that have content about the book or characters, and asked her to ‘hide’ them. Go to my web site and you won’t see them. But they’re there.
Getting the word out to readers was the next step. To do that, I wanted something fun and different as well — something that seemed like a little secret all on its own. I scouted around and came up with Moo cards. They’re tiny little cards — about half the size of a traditional business card — but they’re gorgeous, and you can print 100 different images in a single pack of cards. People really seem to love them because they are so different.
I put the cover of EVENFALL on the front of each card. On the back, I printed different sentences from the book, with one word pulled out in a different color on each card. That word is the password to a secret page.
At signings, I place a sticker inside each book that has the URL for a secret page. I then hand out the card and explain what it is to each person who purchases a book. It is a great conversation starter, and it is so much fun to see readers get excited about the idea — I’ve had people realize that their cards and stickers say different things, and come back and demand the cards and codes for additional pages! Sometimes I even punch a hole in the cards, string ribbons and beads through them, and hand them out as mini-bookmarks.
For readers who can’t make it to a signing, I’ve put info about the secret pages on my GoodReads page and will be adding it to my author bio page on Amazon. And whenever anyone writes to me, either electronically or through ‘snail’ mail, I pass along the codes as well.
In the grand scheme of things, the extra pages didn’t add that much to the cost of my web site, but I like to think they earned me a sense of community and some good will from readers. Plus, they are fun — and when publishing and writing can be so serious, it’s nice to have a way to lighten life up.
What’s your secret for connecting with readers?
Readers, you can learn more about Liz and her debut novel, Evenfall, on her website and her blog, and by following her on Facebook. Write on!
Many thanks to today’s guest.
You can read more WU guest posts by visiting this link.
Very cool idea! I can totally see why something like that would be popular. I’ll have to check out Moo cards.
My business-minded boyfriend convinced me to print up “leave behinds” for myself once, with my writing creds and online info, as well as a sample of my writing. (Since I am unagented I am marketing myself and not a book.) So I designed a little “booklet” — just half of an 8.5×11 sheet folded in half to make 4 pages — and carry a few copies in my purse. I’ve not had much occasion to hand it out, lol, but a couple authors asked me about it so I gave them one.
awesome! like the way you thinking! my way to connect with readers is by comments, I can’t say it’s a secret… :)
I love that idea, Kristan – a great way to leave behind sample pages. I can totally see making up booklets with excerpts and leaving them at high traffic sites. Thanks for posting this.
Although I never got an Evenfall Moo card, I’ve been lucky enough to see Nina’s (the dog in the book) secret page, and loved it. Such a great behind-the-scenes story and photos. I LOVE the whole concept. Must contact my web-designer. I like Kristan’s idea too.
Great ways to differentiate your book in a wild and wooley marketplace. Thanks for sharing ‘the rest of the story,’ Liz!
Vaughn,
I’ve been out of touch the last few days — no internet — but would be happy to send you a card — just let me know!
That is a great, clever idea! I got all excited just reading about it. I want a sticker! And the moo card is beautiful. What a fun way to connect to others and create traffic to your website – two birds with one stone!
Thanks, Lara. Moo actually makes very nice stickers, too, and I’ve been mulling over printing them there instead of at home. (I’ve been using mailing labels.)
Brilliant! Clever! Adventuresome! Best thinking I have heard for breaking, dare I say?, out of the box. Bravo!
Thank you, Alex. And I swear I’m not a rep for the company in disguise. : )
This is fantastic! We need to try new things, and I love the creativity. Plus, the business cards are gorgeous!
Thank you, Cathy. The cards definitely hold an image well.
I love the innovative idea of creative business cards as a way to ‘Connecting with readers.’ It’s something all the writers should do for increase their audience and be successful.
I think ‘responding to readers’ by replying to emails and responding to comments also could be a tremendous help to build a good rapport with them. It’ll enhance the reader base by making the author a ‘known person’ or a ‘friend’ to the reader and definitely his or her next pick will be a work of that ‘friendly’ author. Ultimately that’s what all the writers are expecting from ‘Connecting With Readers’.
Thanks for the wonderful post.
Hi Mudboard,
I have to say, one of the best things about the cards is that they’ve given me a way to interact with people. I tend toward the shy side, so having a natural talking point at signings has been a boon!
Wonderful way of connecting to your readers. The card looks great too. Very different, very cool. A treasure hunt of sorts. Keeping this in mind when it’s marketing time. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Joelle,
I love the analogy of a treasure hunt — that’s exactly what I was going for!
That is a fantastic way to gain loyalty from your readers. You went above and beyond their expectations and that will keep them coming back time and time again. Love this idea!
Thank you, Hallie — I hope it works exactly that way!
Awesome idea! I’ve added this idea to my writing arsenal. A great way to promote the book and connect with reads on a personal level. As a big reader, I know I love having the opportunity to drop the writer a line to tell them how much I appreciate their work.
Thank you, Krissy!
What a great idea. I’ve seen cards of this size used to advertise photography and art exhibitions. They are very tactile and they feel as if you want to collect them. When you get one in your hand you don’t discard it like a flyer becaue they feel so cool, it is as if the cards have some value in themselves.
Christopher, I totally agree. Their tactile appeal was what drew me to them. Whenever I find someone who uses them too, we wind up trading cards, as if we were kids in a schoolyard. (My local wine shop owner has a beautiful set of them that she uses to advertise her business.)
Wow, Liz — this is a fabulous idea, a meeting of new technology with old-fashioned personal touch. Thanks for helping us to think outside the usual box of standard book promotion, and sharing your ideas. All the best to you with your book, and congrats!
What a fantastic idea. Very innovative and creative.
Wow! I love this! Such a creative idea and the cards are beautiful. Thanks for stopping by to share with us. :)
What a great idea! Thank you for this truly original post.
Thanks very much, everyone. And thank you Therese for inviting me to stop by!
What a cool and original idea!
Thank you, Julie!
I loved this idea when you told me about it, Liz, and I enjoyed those secret pages. Clever, fiscally wise, and engaging.
I’m so glad you liked the pages, Jan!
That is such a great idea! Visually pretty and unlocks secret content, making the reader feel they have access to something secret and are thus cool. I love it.
(Heck, the cards would stand out even if they only had normal business card info on the other side, since your cover is so pretty.)
Thanks, Kristin — I love the cover too! (I can say that bc I had nothing to do with it …)
what a wonderful idea- and I must check out those MOO cards – I’m almost out of my cards and have wanted to do something different!
Kat,
It’s worth signing up for the free newsletter on their site — they frequently run promotions that way that can save you a bit of money.
What a fantastic idea! I love how it takes several promo standards and adds an extra oomph to all of them. People always feel special when they get the inside scoop on something and readers especially love that extra something something. Really, totally love this whole promo track. Congrats on thinking up something so original.
[…] (Cousins, if you are reading this, help the crazy spinster writer out.) I did a guest post at Writer Unboxed about the secret pages on my website. We tried to rescue a baby bird, whom the children […]
That is brilliant! I’d always considered Moo cards for my artwork but never for my writing. I’ll have to remember this for when I get that elusive book deal.
Such a great, creative idea!
Thanks for sharing it!