Marketing

What to Bring to An Event

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  1. You
  2. Your product(s) or info about your services
  3. Demonstration, if applicable
  4. Something for visitors to take away with them

What could that be? It could be a variety of things from the simplicity of a business card, a bookmark, a sample, to a “goody bag” filled with samples or giveaways.

Those choices may depend on what you’re presenting and your budget. What’s the one thing you should bring no matter how big your budget? Yes, a business card.

My client had a unique opportunity to meet all the attendees at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards and tell them about her book. Dr. Silverstein also wanted to share with them one of the unique services she provides, and that is how to optimize the healing process involved in medical procedures.

A new business card was born! With the perfect surgery image which tells the story immediately, essential text, plus contact information, the celebrities knew instantly that Dr. Silverstein had something unique to offer.

Never underestimate the power of a business card! And please let me know if I can design one for you.

Good Things Come in Small Packages

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In fundraising pieces, that is. A unique and effective mailing program I created for a humane society, was much smaller than our previous mailings. Laid out flat, it looked like this:

The tri-fold piece folded down to just 6.5″ x 5.25″, and inside the mailing envelope was a BRE. The front of the piece featured a beautiful, healthy dog – Ringo – with an inset of how he looked when he arrived at the humane society. The back showed two Scottish Highland cows, Sadie and Evie, a mother and daughter, accepted into our wildlife sanctuary, Popcorn Park Refuge.

To the left was a coupon, whose reverse side offered donation options, plus basic information about the organization.

The text side was the actual appeal, as this was the organizations annual spring fundraising appeal.

Also included in the mailing was a bookmark featuring a shelter pup and cat on one side, and one of the sanctuary’s resident tigers on the reverse, 6″ x 2″.

With this mailing, I tried something new, and that was to send an envelope with no return address on the front and very subtly and small on the back flap, so the recipient would be encouraged to follow their curiosity and open the envelope. It was a risk, but as it went to our own donor list, it was a calculated risk. We also lost the opportunity of having the undeliverable pieces returned for address correction, but that was a small loss, as our bi-monthly magazine already took care of that. What we gained? A great savings in the cost of the components and postage, even factoring in the bookmark.

The result? The piece not only did well, but literally doubled the income from the previous year – earned $60,000 more than the year before. Was it the intrigue of a small, unmarked envelope? The inclusion of a bookmark? There’s no way of knowing for sure, but trying new ideas is worthwhile. In this case, it demonstrated that good things can come in small packages.

Why Use A Postcard?

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Postcards have many uses. Once upon a time, their sole use was to send to friends and family when you went on vacation.

Today? They can serve you/your organization in several ways. One great way is to acknowledge your donors if you are a non-profit. What is the biggest demographic that gives to charity? Baby Boomers. Yes, the generation that still knows cursive and still writes letters.

Thank-you postcards have meaning to a generation who is still engaged with the written word. A note that appreciates the giver is appreciated by the giver. This is not to say that those more digitally inclined would not like a well-crafted thank you, but consider your donor base or your customers – everyone likes to be appreciated.

You can also use postcards as reminders, to announce new services, your business’s presence in the neighborhood, your availability to do presentations, and more.

Postcard printing and postage are both less expensive than a complete mailing package, can be created in a variety of sizes, and one side might even be a small piece of frameable art.

Please feel free to contact me if I can help get your good news out into the world.

Fundraising – Premiums

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Fundraising is a critical part of any non-profit’s functioning. Without it, all the dedication and inspiration in the world can come to naught if the funds to back your efforts are not there.

One tool in the fundraiser’s toolbox is premiums. They can be included in a donor or cold mailing, or a simple mailing can be designed around them.

Pictured is a fridge magnet I created for a humane organization I worked for, included in both a donor and cold mailing. While pet parents likely have this information in their phones, others such as pet sitters, firefighters, and neighbors may not. In case of emergency, having this information easily accessible could save a pet’s life.

A magnet is just one possibility for a premium; other possibilities include bookmarks, seed packets, key chains, etc. What are your fundraising needs? As a graphic designer who has fund-raised in the non-profit field for 30+ years, I’d be happy to help you come up with premiums or entire programs to support your wonderful efforts.

Questions? Please contact me.

Traditional Publishing vs. Self-Publishing — Which Way to Go?

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There are often two schools of thought on this, and there are two very different processes. In the end, there is the same product, a book that you have invested a great deal of time in writing, possibly illustrating, and a significant part of your heart. So how do you know which way to go?

In my talk, “Self-Publishing Children’s Books 101”, I introduce the numerous concepts and responsibilities involved in producing your own picture book. This gives you a solid starting point for further investigation.

I also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of going the traditional or self-publishing route. Here are a few questions you may want to ask yourself before embarking on your publishing journey.

  • Why are you writing your book? Do you want to reach a very broad audience or perhaps a smaller niche group of readers? Traditional publishers will reach the broadest audience, but also look for more mainstream subjects.
  • Is it important for your book to be in bookstores and libraries, as well as online? If yes, a traditional route may serve you better.
  • How much control would you like? If you have a strong vision of exactly how you want the illustrations, cover, and design, etc. to appear, self-publishing may be for you.
  • How much responsibility do you want to take for every aspect of the book’s journey – from writing, editing, design, illustration, marketing, and finding the people who will help you with these skills or learning them yourself? This speaks self-publishing; a traditional publisher will take care of all these for you.
  • How much financial investment do you wish to make? This is simply reality. If you self-publish, you will be paying for illustrators and designers to help you as well as the cost of printing the book. In today’s market, this will run several thousand dollars or more. There are no real out-of-pocket expenses involved in traditional publishing.
  • How patient are you? Querying agents and those publishers that are still open to submissions involves both research and generally, long waits to hear back. Want your book out there right away? Self-publishing is the way to go.

These are just some of the points you may want to consider. Hopefully, I’ve got you thinking about options for your upcoming children’s book. Do your homework, and read and research thoroughly!

If I can give a presentation on “Self-Publishing Children’s Books 101” at your library, school, or other venue, please contact me.

New Self-Publishing Workshop

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Self-publishing one’s own children’s book has great appeal, but it’s not quite as simple as it seems. A most important question — what is your purpose in self-publishing?

If you wish to have a lovely book to read to the kids, grandkids, or your students, the journey may be fairly simple, and not terribly expensive. But if your goal is to compete with traditionally published books, and you truly want your book to sell, then your investment in both time and money may be more than you suspect.

I cover all this in my upcoming in-person workshop – Self-Publishing Children’s Books 101 – at the Stewartsville Public Library on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, 6-7:30 pm. Registration opens October 4.

I’ll be covering the following topics:

  • Why Publish?
  • Your idea – coming up with what will sell
  • Your story
  • Dummy
  • Illustration
  • Book design
  • Traditional vs. Self-Publishing
  • Q and A

If you’re in the neighborhood, please come and learn about self-publishing! For information about how I help people self-publish, please check out the tab on Self-Publishing above, or do a Search for the many articles I’ve written on this subject.

If I can help you self-publish, please contact me.

Be Remembered

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We are often in a situation when you want to give the person you’re speaking with something to remember you by. Even in our digital age, print has a place.

Above you see three projects I recently completed for a client. Dr. Silverstein is expanding the promotion of her business and needed a new business card, but first she needed something else … a new logo. The new logo I created is now incorporated nicely into her new business card and other promotional avenues.

My client’s first book is being published this September. I was happy to research just the right images and design a bookmark that lets potential readers/purchasers know all about it.

A bookmark should always be tucked into your book at every possible opportunity, but also given out freely to anyone with whom you discuss your book. It easily becomes your best and simplest advertising promotion. You are, after all, talking to readers! Use a business card when you discuss the nature of your business for something that easily tucks into a pocket.

Good design is how they’ll remember you. If I can help you be remembered, please contact me.

Much More than Just Being Printed

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To be realistic, self-publishing a children’s book is a lot of work. Depending upon what talents you bring to the table yourself, it also involves a lot of coordination of other people – an editor, if needed, an illustrator, and a graphic designer, at the least.

But getting the book finished and to press is only one part of the work. You still have to market your book! This is something you want to do for a traditionally published book as well, in addition to the publisher promoting you.

Some of the promotion needs to be ahead of the book’s release, and some after, but the bottom line is if you want your book to sell, be prepared to market it.

There’s plenty of in-depth information online about how to market, so here, I’m, going to offer you a few ideas that you might want to look into.

  • Reviews – if you want reviews, send your book in whatever format is required to reviewers in advance of the release. For some, like Kirkus, you will need to pay for a review. But you can also research bloggers who specialize in the genre, age-group and/or subject matter of your book and request online reviews.
  • Bookmarks – have these designed, printed, and ready to use in any of your promotions/mailings and to share with people you meet.You’ll also want to tuck a bookmark into each book you sell.
  • Press releases – these can be sent to local or national publications, aligned with your book’s subject matter, if appropriate. Be prepared to send PDFs by email or hard copies, whatever they require.
  • Events – look for events coming up where you and your book will be a good fit – book fairs, author events, or aligned fields of interest.
  • School visits – research and approach the schools in your area and further afield where you’re willing to travel to see if you might do school visits, and prepare to do presentations.
  • Book launch/book signings – ask your local bookstore or other similar venue if they would host you and a book signing.
  • Special mailings – reach out to organizations aligned with your subject matter and who might be willing to carry your book.

Keep in mind that, while self-published books have gained in both popularity and recognition, they are still not always accepted as the equivalent of a traditionally published book. Marketing is essential to sell books, so be prepared to learn and take the steps necessary to see your books in children’s hands!

Above, you see numerous ways I have been promoting my own picture book, Where Do Butterflies Go at Night?. I’ve sent a postcard mailing to butterfly gardens, a letter to local schools, am attending a crafts fair (again) with my book, making school visits, and very importantly, I designed my bookmarks which I give out every chance I get!

How can I help you? Please contact me, and let me know!

p.s. Where Do Butterflies Go at Night? is available at select book stores and everywhere books are sold online.

Promoting Your Children’s Book

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There are many ways to promote a book, but some are a little more spectacular than others.

Pictured here is my debut picture book, “Where Do Butterflies Go at Night?” The artwork by illustrator Stella Maris-Mongodi is so rich, and truly magical.

I wanted to capitalize on that and get the book’s image, plus information about it, into the hands of those who would want to sell it – butterfly gardens and conservatories. And what better way than to send it to them?

I created a postcard for a mailing – a perfect 5 x 7″ size that won’t get lost in the incoming mail; have done some research; and have a list of these organizations to send to. The plus with this book is that it also has back matter addressing the importance of butterflies as pollinators. Something a butterfly conservatory may want to share with its patrons by way of education.

Digital promotion is very important, of course, but it’s much easier to ignore and delete an email than it is to toss away a gorgeous piece of art in your hands. A piece of art that may also bring an organization more money.

If I can help you promote your book, please let me know.

Self-Publishing VII – More on Illustration

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Let’s take a moment to talk about the importance of illustration – good illustration – when self-publishing your book.

Here is an example of spectacular illustration, and I can proudly say that this – Where Do Butterflies Go at Night? – is my own debut picture book, and yes, it is traditionally published. But …

… this illustrator provides amazing art to both publishers and individuals alike. In fact, she, Stella Mongodi, has illustrated more picture books for self-publishing individuals than anything else.

One of the things I often see in self-published picture books is less-than-spectacular art. Why is that? Many first-time authors are excited about being published and appearing on Amazon, but when it comes to the art, they want to save money. I have come across this numerous times. The result? Not the best looking book!

The question is, do you want to sell your book? If you do, you will need to be prepared to pay a good illustrator and a good designer. You are competing with many, many other titles whose artwork is both eye-catching and professional. And those are the books that sell!

Next, you ideally want an illustrator who has some experience in picture books, or who can render illustrations to the size you require. If you’re doing an 8 x 8″ book, they should understand how a 2-page spread will lay out, how the art will fit in that format, and know what a bleed and a gutter is. As a children’s book designer, I spend a lot of time, which must be charged to the client, fixing and adjusting artwork that could have been done correctly initially. A good illustrator is so important, and It also helps greatly when you work with a good designer from the beginning.

The takeaway here? Do things in the proper order if you’re new to all this – a designer first to help with a dummy, book size, etc., and illustrator next. When the artwork is done, the designer will pull it all together for you. And be willing to invest what it takes to make your book shine and stand out in a crowd!!

Pictured here are the bookmarks I designed for my book. If interested, Butterflies is currently available for pre-order on bookshop.org, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.