Last updated on September 13th, 2024 at 06:30 pm

Authors often face fierce competition, limited budgets, and difficulty reaching their target
audience. But the right print products can help them break through the noise, build a loyal
readership, and boost book sales.

Find out how these authors from the UPrinting community use custom prints to their
advantage.

Functional Freebies

Commonly given away as events or purchase freebies, these practical promotional items
are something your readers can use regularly and will put your brand in view as they flip through the pages.

Bookmarks are versatile and you can customize their design to fit different purposes.

Independent contemporary romance author Mary Belle uses hers as order freebies.

With bookmarks as customer appreciation gifts, Mary’s titles get constant exposure to her
readers, keeping her books fresh in their minds.

Another advantage of bookmarks is they can be easily shared with family, friends, and
fellow book lovers. This helps Mary spread the word about her brand and increase
audience reach, which could lead to more recommendations and sales!

Check out Mary Belle’s Italia Series book collection at www.marybellebooks.com. She also
offers promo courses and one-on-one consultations for indie authors.
 
A fun tool to boost promotions, stickers as freebies reinforce brand recognition over time.
Readers who stick them on their personal and public-facing items can even amplify book
exposure.

Mary Boone has written over 70 nonfiction books for young readers.For her new picture book, School of Fish, she ordered custom stickers as part of her promotional items.

Mary also goes on school visits with interactive learning programs and hosts events at libraries, bookstores, and community organizations. By giving away stickers to attendees,
she creates numerous opportunities for engagement and connection.

Browse Mary’s books and learn more about her school programs, virtual workshops, and editing services at www.boonewrites.com.

In-Person Engagement

Custom signs can be a powerful tool for authors to market their books. When strategically
placed at events, they can lead attendees to their location. This is particularly useful at larger gatherings like book fairs and literary fests where visibility can be challenging.

Fantasy and steampunk author, Liz Delton rites about fierce heroines and fantastic worlds. To stand out, she captures fantasy fans by sprucing up her booth with a custom table runner that will grab the attention of her target readers.

Creating consistent branding on her signage reinforces the author’s identity. This visual
consistency helps Liz boost brand recognition and makes it easier for eventgoers to
remember her after the initial interaction.

She also customized the design to include both sides, making sure her setup gets noticed
even in a crowded event space.

Liz Delton has published over 20 books including the Four Cities of Arcera Series and the
Everturn Chronicles. Browse her collection at www.lizdelton.com.

 
Budget can be tight for new authors. Signs and banners, with their portability and
reusability, offer a cost-effective and sustainable marketing solution to get noticed and
open engagement opportunities.

Former Marine Corps sergeant and author of Miracles on a Rooftop, Mark Dean is on a mission to establish a non-profit organization that will provide inspiring books to prisoners across the globe.

At author engagements, Mark brings his custom retractable banner to add branding to his
setup. He used the book cover for the banner’s design, promoting familiarity with the brand’s visual elements.

This boosts the frequency of exposure which can strengthen brand association.

Professional-looking signs can convey a sense of credibility and can persuade new readers to take a chance on an unfamiliar name.

Mark is currently writing books about battling, surviving, and overcoming PTSD, addiction, and homelessness. Learn more at www.miraclesonarooftop.com.

Reach and Recall

Flyers and bookmarks can help authors enhance their marketing efforts, and each plays an
important role.

Flyers can effectively broaden an author’s reach by connecting with a diverse audience
through easily distributable content.

An educator with years of experience, author RaQia Lowo goes on school visits not just to promote her book, Weekend and Zay, but also to motivate reluctant readers to discover the joy of reading and learning.

With new custom flyers to help her promote, RaQia makes sure they are created to showcase her services and communicate the benefits of her engaging and educational sessions.

Weekend and Zay is a story about friendship and conflict resolution. The book is geared towards reluctant readers and older students reading below their grade level. For more information, visit www.raqialowo.com.

 
Flyers offer a brief introduction, and bookmarks can provide a lasting impression. Combined, they create a comprehensive strategy for book promotion.

Author, teacher, and spoken word artist J.R. Rice tailor his bookmarks’ design for a specific action — to direct readers to his website.
 

The Broken Pencils author added a digital twist to the classic print by incorporating a QR code that conveniently links readers to his bio and book information. His bookmarks combine the best of both worlds: in-person and online interactions, making them the perfect souvenirs at book signings and readings.

J.R. Rice’s Broken Pencils is a winner at the Pencraft 2024 Seasonal Best Book Awards (Summer’s Best Books), in the Best Book for Young Adult, Coming-of-Age category. Visit www.jrrice.com for more details.

 
There are several ways to promote your stories! In every opportunity to do so, show up with your custom author prints and be ready to connect, engage, and make every interaction count.

 
What print products have helped you promote your books? Share it with the community today!

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