Offline Marketing for Your Blog

[Maw Books]

As the book festival season is upon us, I thought it would be fun to discuss how you market your blog offline.

Do you have an elevator pitch?
Business cards? How do you pass them out? What do they say?
Do you post flyers at local bookstores, libraries, etc?
Do you network with your IRL community?
How do you approach authors, publishers, publicists and introduce them to your blog without it sounding like it's "Hey, check out my blog!"

Ideas? Advice?

[David Gutowski]

I do use business cards to promote my blog. They include the blog's name, logo, URL, my name, and my e-mail address. Keeping it uncluttered is important to me, the message should be my blog's web address.

I don't network with local bookstores or even bloggers much, but I am active in helping other bloggers as much as I can. This isn't a marketing tool, I am just returning the help I have been given over the years.

I only approach authors and publicists that I have sincere interest in, and who would be good fits for my blog, and usually do that online via e-mail. If I do contact someone by phone or in person, I always follow up with an e-mail discussing my blog's features.

[Shesten Melder]

I've been thinking about doing bookmarks and leaving them at the local libraries... but I haven't come up with the funds to order them yet... thanks for posting the link about the elevator pitch!!

[Wendy]

I have business cards with my name, blog address, email address and snail mail (I included the snail mail because I like publicists to have it for mailing purposes). I have approached both publicists and authors at book events. For authors it was either to let them know I reviewed their book on my blog; or if I had bought their book and was planning on reviewing it soon. For publicists it was pretty much, I have a blog that gets a fair amount of traffic and I am interested in reviewing books.

I don't network locally.

Most of my traffic has come from visiting other book bloggers, leaving comments, or joining book groups on line where I can use my URL as a tagline.

[Molly Totoro]

This is SUCH a timely discussion post! I am giving a lot of thought to attending the BEA but my biggest concern is that my networking skills leave a lot to be desired. I am such an introvert when it comes to large gatherings, and I am afraid that I will let some great opportunities pass me by.

I have no advice or opinion to give - but will anxiously await the tips of others.

[sheistoofondofbooks]

I have print-at-home business cards with a stock image - they have blog name and URL, my name and email. I don't have my mailing address on them. My son has made a delightful new "logo" for me, I may be playing around with this in the next few weeks.

I definitely need an elevator pitch! I find I falter when explaining my blog to people; many folks understand "website" more than "blog".

I've introduced myself to booksellers at indies I visit, esp. if I'm there for an author event and want to take photos or record Q&Q. I always introduce myself as a blogger to the author at these events too, and email them ahead of time if I've already had some contact with them (in the review process, if we did a book tour, etc.)

My IRL community knows about my blog, but it's funny .. .they're very reluctant to leave comments! I know several people are regular readers of it because they'll mention something they read on the blog.

I think if you make a connection to the author/publisher/publicist (i.e., know which books they rep. that you've reviewed), you're in a much better position to make a positive contact.

Thanks for starting the discussion, I'll check back and see where else it goes!

[Nicola O.]

I posted recently on my blog about a bookmark design I've been working on. I plan on printing them 2-up as 4x6 photos and manually cutting them apart. I figured I'd take them to book signings mostly. I might also leave a pile of them at my favorite used bookstore, but I don't think the library or the local Borders would be into it.

Someone recommended that I check out moo.com. I might try that too, it looks like I might get more professional results for a fairly low cost.

[t. olmsted]

I made up bookmarks too, which I am just starting to get around to passing out. 2-sided, black white and red, they have the same design as the header of my blog (which is also the blog address). I also have the tagline on the back, in black with a white background.

They weren't so expensive. About $30/for 100. Not cheap, but nothing to break the bank.

I do have one question... they don't contain my contact info (i.e. - my email). Do you think that's a problem? I have an email address under contact me on my sidebar - so I was hoping they'd go to my blog first and email me from there. Any ideas?

[Maw Books]

For those who are bloggers & book reviewers, do you put a title on your business cards? Something like Reviewer/Blogger? Suggestions?

[sheistoofondofbooks]

my current print-at-home cards just have my name, blog name, URL and email; with a book graphic and my tag/summary from the blog

I need to tighten it up for new cards I'm ordering, but I don't plan to put a title on them. I think the info on the card is self-explanatory, and "reviewer" might be too limiting (because we'll also interview authors, post guest posts, etc.)

Curious what your thoughts are ....

[Maw Books]

That's kind of what I'm struggling with. The more I think about it, the more I'm thinking no title. Thinking of putting some kind of tag line similar to what I have on my Twitter page. I think I'll put my avatar on it and my twitter profile in the contact as well.

[Maw Books]

What do you think?

[MJMBECKY]

I really like your cards here! I'm not really a networking person (just not savvy that way), but have noticed that if you even mention that you blog about books, that people want to know more? I'm sure you've had lots of people ask you, where you do so much. I think that your cards provide an easy way of passing along that information when asked! I love that you have stuck to much of the same graphics, logo, and icon that you use in all your social networking and blogging. Honestly, I think this is great, and can't wait to hear if you used these at BEA and how it went!