5 Easy and Cheap Freebie Ideas for Authors

Looking for ways to help market your book but you don’t want to spend 5 million dollars to rent a billboard in Times Square to do that? I’ve got you! Here are some of my favorite ways to create fun and bold marketing assets for an author on a budget.

1. Printable Book Marks
   
   Use a free version of Canva, create fun custom bookmarks that go with your book. Have steamy character art? Put that on the bookmark. That amazing line that makes you go “ooooo”…. make that a book mark. Just make sure that somewhere on there you mention you book title, your name, and if you are feeling crazy- a website/social media handle.

2. Exclusive Short Stories or Chapters
   
   You know that one scene that you wrote that is JUST SO GOOD… maybe write it from the other characters perspective? I know I would love to know what Mr Smolder was thinking about during… Ok lets just move on. Then add this to you blog or as a print out at your book signing.

3. Scene or Character Playlists
   
   On Spotify, you can create public playlists that you can add music that sets the mood of one of your scenes or just relates to a character in your book. All you have to do is add songs to a playlist, copy the playlist link, use a QR code generator ( I like Canva’s free one) to make it scannable, and then add that QR code to a bookmark or just a printable hand out.

4. Phone Wallpapers
   
   Canva is a really great way to create book specific wallpapers for your readers. So, grab your artwork or quote (should be easy since you already have that from step 1) and add it to a canvas size 1170x2532. Some word of advice, I would keep anything important in the middle of the artwork so that anyone with any phone type can use your artowrk.
   
   Once your artwork is created, save it and add it to your social stories. The reason that we use stories is because your reader can hold down the story to pause it and screen shot it to use. If you were to post it, it wouldn’t be the right dimension for the reader.
   

5. Book Club Discussion Guides
   
   Provide free guides for book clubs, including discussion questions, author interviews, and other relevant content. These are easy to put together and are great for engaging readers.

These can be used to market your new book or just a fun added resource for when you are at your next book signing.

And if you need any help with creating some of these things, I can always help! I am just an email away!