3 Ways to Market Your Children’s Book
In my research on Ways to Market Your Children’s Book, I found some interesting ways to market outside of the confines of online platforms like Amazon. In this blog post, I am going to mention them in depth, starting with handouts, then I will cover selling locally, book signings, and possibly something that maybe you haven’t considered — hospitals, libraries, and school book readings. It’s so easy to get caught up in one way of selling our books or following what others are doing.
You need to find what works for you and go with it. As we approach the end of this year, this is a great time to look at your marketing plans for your book and analyze what is working and what is not. This makes me think of an aloe plant, which carries a beneficial ointment for burns, but you have to tend to it; water it periodically, or it will die and be of no use to you.
The same goes for marketing; if the book marketing strategy you are using is not producing fruit, though you are putting energy into it, maybe it’s time to cut it loose. I suggest, of course, praying about it and asking God what you should do. I hope this blog post will give you some fresh new ideas for marketing your children’s book.
Handouts
Handouts? Who doesn’t love free handouts? Here are some ideas I came across: coloring pages and bookmarks, or you could venture out a little. For example, create some collectible cards of the characters. During the 1980s, you could buy this stick of gum, nasty gum. However, the prize was a Star Wars collectible action card that came with it. For a couple of years, I would toss out the gum and add the card to my collection. There was a kid on the school bus who collected them as well, so we would swap out our duplicates.
Honestly, I think collectible cards of the characters could be a fun product to sell alongside your book or give away. For example, with my book My ABCs & God, included at the back of the book are sheets of the characters for parents to cut out. Their child won’t only get a character on that card, but the letter, the characteristic, the definition, and a verse. I’m hoping it will be a great learning tool for five-year-olds, especially parents who are homeschooling their children.
I think the bookmark is a great idea for marketing. Heather Cash recommends it being double-sided and glossy. I’ve included a link in this post to her YouTube video on creating a bookmark. Bookmarks are a great marketing tool. You can display a character on one side and your contact information on the other so that parents know where to buy your book. Bookmarks are a fun, effective, and inexpensive way to market your book at book signings and other events.
Sell Local
I think this is a great market tip: sell locally. There are many who prefer supporting local businesses. If you do your research right, you may find a quaint little gift shop that meets the theme of your book. I would suggest talking to the owner about selling your book. If the owner is not available, leave a one-sheet for the owner. Another thing to consider is book signings at a local bookstore, a library, or maybe even a gift shop. A great opportunity to give out their coloring pages or bookmarks.
Hospitals, Libraries, Schools
Here are some places that maybe you haven’t considered. Is your book something that would fit nicely in a hospital gift shop? Perhaps selling your book or donating it to a local library. Another idea is to contact your local school to do a book reading and afterwards give out your bookmarks to introduce them and their parents to your books. Is your book geared toward small children? Contact your local library and see if it would be interested in your book for story time. These are great ways to get your name out as an author in your area. Many people are most likely to buy from someone they know. Put a face to your book, sell locally.
Let’s Wrap it Up
There you have it — some different ways to market your children’s book outside of online stores. Get outside of your comfort zone and mingle with the people in your community. Think about how you would like to market your books. You could go with the norm, coloring pages and bookmarks, or do something different. Do some research on small gift shops that you could introduce your book to.
Contact your local library or local school for book readings. Don’t forget places like hospital gift shops or perhaps pediatric doctor practices, or dental offices. I know an author who had a children’s book that was geared toward learning the Chinese language. She presented her book at a local Chinese restaurant. As with any of my advice, take it to the Lord in prayer.
About the Author
EO Writes is the Author of A Case of Mistaken Identity, Penned with Purpose, Getting Unstuck, and Deep Calleth to Deep. You can reach her at https://www.eowrites.com. While there, you can sign up for her monthly newsletter, The Pen of a Ready Writer, for updates on new releases and her weekly musings. You can purchase her books on Amazon. She has been married for 27 years. When she is not writing, she and her husband enjoy traveling throughout the United States on their Harley.
“Never judge a book by its cover. What you find inside the pages might surprise you.”