Sometimes You Just Have to Laugh

Last month I wrote an article entitled “Putting the ‘Motion’ in Promotion.” This month’s article is the sequel.

I decided to enter another local parade and advertise my books. My wife and I put 900 pom-poms on our truck, and I mounted a mock up of my two book covers on the back. I wanted to let people know that my books were available at The Cardston Book Shop, a local bookstore, so I had a sign made up to that effect. Remember, I wanted to advertise MY books and let people know that THEY were available.

As the parade got underway, imagine my surprise when people ignored the mock up of my books and focused on the sign. “Oh,” I hard many say, “it’s a sign advertising the Cardston Book Shop.” To them my book covers were merely examples of what the store carried: books! As I passed in front of the bookstore itself, the owner was sitting outside with his family, watching the parade. He called out, “Nice of you to put a float in the parade for us.”

All that work and my books were hardly noticed! But in the end, I just decided to laugh about it and hope the other authors whose works are featured in the bookstore appreciated my efforts. So you never know just how your promotional efforts are going to be received. Or perceived.

Well, one good thing. The bookstore owner is more than willing to continue carrying my books. I mean, after all, I’m his chief promoter.

Putting the "Motion" in Promotion

As authors, we are faced with the ongoing challenge of promoting our books. Publishers do a lot to help out, true, but the lion's share is left to us. There are a number of methods that can be used in this process, such as blog sites, reviews, interviews, book signings, and social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

 A method I have used, in addition to the ones mentioned above, is making a float (that features my latest book) and entering it in local parades. With the help of family members, we decorate our truck with hundreds of pom-poms. A large mock up of the front cover is mounted on the back, and signs are placed on the vehicle's doors, advertising the book signing I hold after the parade.

Throwing candy to the crowd is a local tradition. So as my wife and I drive along the parade route and wave to the cheering crowds, we toss candy to the anxious children, who have come prepared with plastic shopping bags. Invariably, the shopping bags fill to rival the bounty collected on Halloween night.

Making the float is a lot of work, and not that many people see it in comparison to the numbers that can be reached through social media. But it is a lot of fun to drive along the parade route and have people shout and applaud in encouragement. Sometimes I'll hear, "I read your book. Loved it!"

 Putting the "motion" in promotion has been a rewarding experience. But I am always looking for more ways to promote my books. Any suggestions?