How to Advertise Your Book With Index Cards

Self-Publishing your book -- or publishing with a small press can lead you into an uphill battle. Your publisher and others may try to lure you into spending a lot of money advertising your book, but there are a lot of things you can do for little or no cost. Distributing index cards in your community is one of them.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• index cards
• computer with printer
• a book you've written and want to advertise

1. Buy Index Cards. These do not need to be of especially high quality. I was able to find packs of 100 unruled cards for less than $1. They are usually readily available in 3x5 and 4x6 sizes. I recommend the 4x6 size, it may be difficult to get your printer to print on the 3x5 cards

2. Set up your page in your word processor program. Choose 4x6 as the paper size, and set your margins very small; .3-.4 should be enough, and set the orientation to landscape. Set your paragraphs to include 2 columns.

3. Copy a picture of your book cover on one side of the index card, resize until it fits nicely on the card, but leave plenty of room for information on your book as well.

4. Decide if you want the card to be one or two sided. This may be based on a number of factors, including the limitations of your printer and whether or not you want to include an excerpt from your book, summary or other information on your card.

5. At the very least, include the following information: Book cover image, title, ISBN (if applicable), where it can be bought, your name and general area where you live and your website.

6. If you choose to do a second side, be sure to insert a page break in the proper place.

7. Adjust your printer to print on 4x6 paper. For many printers you can choose a photo print option. If you are printing on both sides choose manual duplex and follow your printer's instructions.

8. Print a few copies of your card one at a time until you know that it will look the way your want, and you know that your printer will be able to handle printing multiple copies.

9. Distribute the cards in places where readers go, coffee houses, community bulletin boards, etc. Ask friends to take a few and "forget" them at public places in order to widen your reach.

Tips & Warnings

• The post office has specific requirements for mailing, be aware that index cards are not the same as postcards. If you want to mail your cards check for specific requirements.

[sbarry77]

on 10/23/2009 great idea! 5*

[jull14]

on 4/23/2009 Very important information about How to Advertise Your Book With Index Cards. Thanks for sharing with me. Julia