I need good swag. I hadn't thought about general swag too much before last weekend. Sure I had fun stuff for my launch party and I always have bookmarks at each event. But I need some cute, fun swag. Let me tell you why I suddenly feel like this. Last weekend I went to an author fair in a nearby town. SO much fun! It was in a big library and there were tons of authors there. Each author had their own table to set up their display.
PANIC.
What display? I have one book out, I have a galley of the next, and bookmarks. Oh, and I had a few fliers on me too. But that's it. Uh-oh. I looked around and other authors had fancy matching table cloths and props and games and stickers and lots of general cute fun stuff to giveaway. Kristin Walker and I sized up the table and begged to sit together. Maybe our stuff together would look full enough.
And it turned out ok-- the fair was a blast and lots and lots of teens came through and stopped to chat. A number of them bought books but everyone wanted swag. So now I'm on a mission for next time. I need good swag! Does anyone have ideas? I want to get My Fake Boyfriend is Better Than Yours stuff. Aside from literally giving out fake boyfriends (could you imagine pulling that off?) I'm not sure what to do. What kind of swag have you picked up at author events that you liked? Remembered? Used?
Kristina, Miss See Me on the Shelves
I don't have any awesome swag suggestions. I can say from having done my fair share of trade shows for the day job that sweets of some sort always go over big. You could also try doing a giveaway of some sort, this way you only have to buy one nice item to give away, but can get everyone stopping by your table to sign up to win.
ReplyDeleteDo any of your characters have interesting hobbies? One of the members of my debut author group teamed up with bullying prevention (one aspect of her book) and got swag from them.
ReplyDeleteI'll be interested to see what experienced authors have to say on this. I'm currently debating purchasing a pile of stuffed sled dogs (My book, Dogsled Dreams)But I'm wondering how much an author normally pays for swag to give away?
I like the signing up to win the giveaway idea! Thanks Alissa
btw - your table looks great! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteI've seen stickers used and temporary tattoos. A "fake boyfriend material" sticker might be funny!
ReplyDeleteI like the temp tattoo idea! Or a mini Ken doll for the fake bf? :)
ReplyDeleteI give out temp tattoos for my ancient Egypt books and even teenagers will take one even though the books are for younger readers. What about giving away shirt pins that say, "My fake boyfriend is better than your real one" (or something like that.) You can have mini pins made up on Cafe Press fairly inexpensively. Bumper stickers might be fun for this age, too. Even if kids don't drive, they like to stick them on dressers or on bulletin boards etc.
ReplyDeleteI'm a huge fan of mini-buttons (the pins that are 1" wide). I'd get some made with a crop of your cover image.
ReplyDeleteI also like the fake tatoo idea.
Thanks guys! Taking notes...
ReplyDeleteI've never gotten anything besides bookmarks and postcards. First of all, I"m cheap. And second of all, I'm always worried I'll get something no one wants and then it'd be a waste of money. And I hate wasting money!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like tattoos and mini-buttons might be the way to go??