Author Swag - The 'Swag' in the bag

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OK, so what Swag goes in the bag...

Anything you dang well want is how I see it.

The above picture is from the 2013 Oscars.

Ok, so most of us are not going to give away a bathing suit or velour robe, but as you see in the pic, there's nothing saying you cannot.

For my swag bag, I had very little author 'branding' supplies on hand.

I.E. Bookmarks, one of my books, pens with my website engraved on them, ect.

So what did I do ...

I went shopping. Now I have a budget I have to stay within, so don't let your swag break you. Just like any budget, STAY within it!!

My Swag included - 

* A leather bound journal

* A Yankee Candle Votive with a cute little votive holder

* A Yankee Candle air freshener

* Lindt Lindor Chocolates (3 kinds)

* Dove Chocolates (3 kinds)

* My business card - Autographed, One placed outside the journal held on by the band used to keep it shut and another placed in between one of the pages of the journal. (Just in case the other was misplaced ;-) )

What other authors had in their's:

- Bottle of Wine

- Their book - Autographed

- Chocolate, Mints & other candies

- Bookmarks

- Mug w/author book cover

- Tumbler w/author book cover

- Candle

- Another author's book from their publishing house in w/theirs

- Pens w/author's name

- Post cards w/author books, signed, blurbs, ect

- Gift card (visa & to a coffee house, Starbucks or Dunkin)

So you see it's what ever you would like to put in the bag that makes it special.

The guest who picked my bag told me the reason she did so, was because the 'journal' caught her attention and it was something she'd like.

Just remember to put some author branding in there as well that points would be readers to you ...

Anything with your name and website on it.

So what have I done to make sure I'm not caught off guard again.

I've ordered two of my books from my publisher, 

I've looked around for the best prices on pens, pencils, sticky note pads, ect...anything I can put my name and website on.

I mentioned some sites during my first blog about Author Swag named - Business Cards & Bookmarks.

Here they are again ...

 Remember some of these sites do more than paper, like pens, mugs, ect...

Vistaprint.com

Zazzle.com 

(They also do book marks.)

It took me a bit of searching on zazzle but if you type in...Author business cards, it should bring you to what you're looking for.

Gotprint.net

Plasticprinters.com

(They do plastic business cards and they look pretty dang neat too.)

Uprinting.com

(They do all paper products including booklets, flyers ect)

Printsafari.com

Nationsphotolab.com

Overnightprints.com

Other Swag - 

Forevergifts.com

Trading Cards

Earthly Charms Design

Totally Chocolate

Personalized Tea Bags

Cafepress

The possibilities are endless. If you have an idea of what you want in your bag = Google it. See if it can be 'personalized'

Wedding sites can be helpful as well. I remembered that when I was looking for items to include in the gift bags I made up for the attendees of my wedding, there were a lot of possibilities out there and some sites have items that 'can' be used for other events than weddings. ;-)

Hope this helped!!  

C. A. Salo

Erotic and Spicy Stories of Romance

The Minotaur’s Mate – Now Available

Author Swag Bags - The Bag

The Bag ...

This was the bag I chose my 'swag' to go in for the writers workshop yesterday.

I chose it because I liked the colors. I liked how the black and gray went with the purple and there were little dots of the lime green, now the sides had the lime green as the back color instead of the purple.

And I chose the lime green tissue paper to go with the bag.

There were a lot of great bags there from more ornament to less and a few that had been specially made with the authors name, ect, from paper to fabric.

I LOVED them all!!!!

I think when picking a bag you have to go by what you like.

I was told once the best way to give a gift is to buy something you'd like to get and then give it away. 

Do I use this...sometimes. It depends on the person I'm gifting.

But, I had no idea who would be receiving my bag, so I went with what caught my eye and what I'd like to receive. 

Does it matter where you buy your bag ... I'm not thinking so.

I bought mine from K-Mart.

Yep, I said it, K-Mart.

And you know what ... another author chose the same bag as I (minus the tissue paper).

So I guess I didn't do such a bad job in choosing my bag.

Now what swag did I put in it ... well that's for next week 

But I will show you an update from last weeks blog about business cards and bookmarks.

I didn't have a chance to order bookmarks, so here's 

My business card...

Front ...

 I used my most recent cover, and added a short blurb.

Also, you'll see my web and blog site .com's

along with a tad bit more info.

NOW ... I did leave enough space for me to autograph, which I did before I inserted my 'swag' into the bag.

right under the blurb and above my website.

I know it doesn't look like much of a space, but there is.

I used a fine point permanent marker to sign due to the glossy front.

Back...

And here's the back. I had created the Mercenaries of Neris banner when the last book A Warrior's Longing came out. 

And as you'll also notice, I added some snippets of reviews.

Now, having the 'color back' added a few more bucks onto the overall price of the card, and I opted for the step up card stock.

I am very happy with the weight and overall appearance of the card.

Where did I order them you ask ... Vista Print.

I played with one on Zazzle and it looked awesome! The price was a bit higher for fewer cards and me being me asked my husband's opinion on both.

He liked the one I have now. 

Hope this helped and look for next weeks ...

"The 'swag' in the bag" blog

Have a great weekend all and for those peeps up in the snowy areas ...stay warm my friends!!

C. A. Salo

Erotic and Spicy Stories of Romance

The Minotaur’s Mate – Now Available

Author Swag - Business Cards & Bookmarks...

Ok, so this will be the first blog of Author Swag...

With that said -- 

OMG!! How hard is it to figure out what to put in a swag bag and what 'not' to put in...good grief Charlie Brown!!

I mean seriously!! I've searched until my eyes literally glazed over from looking at the screen on my phone trying to find out what are good ideas and what are not. BUT...BUT...more importantly, WHERE TO FIND THE STUFF!

A lot of authors list what they think people like and don't like--

Example:

Tossing of: the water bottle, key chain, any paper products, coffee mugs and the list can go on...

(I can say that I brought home everyone of these items from a conference - with that...I did drive .. see below)

This is my Wendi Darlin mug I brought home from the 2009 RWA conference in Orlando, FL. and yes, I'm drinking coffee out of it as I sit here blogging :-)

(And yes, that is my son's Gundam he built and another behind it he's working on :-p my desk is apparently the place to do this LOL.)

But other's say, yes, include these items...

What I've found is -- it depends on 'how' people are getting to your event.

If they're flying, yes they probably won't take anything that cannot pack down easily or get through security with no problem.

If they're driving, then a lot more may reach their destination with your items.

More importantly ... Try to give items people may want, things that they'll remember you by, make yourself stand out. 

But don't put yourself in the poor house doing it!

So this blog is going to be about - 
Business cards and Bookmarks.

One author suggested when making up your business cards or bookmarks (Two hot items to always have and give away)

leave an area for you to sign.

So you are in essence giving an autographed item to your 'potential' reader with your book cover on it.

I LOVE this idea!!

I will splurge on my business cards and book marks because they are items I will always have around, they'll have my book cover, blurb and contact info -- all at the ready.

Now when putting contact info down ... do not, list your phone number and address or personal email, readers do not need this information.

What they need is a way to find you on the net and your books.

... your website

... your publisher's website

... your Facebook or Twitter link.

Don't over crowd your design. If it's to busy, readers may not want to look at it, and possibly toss the item.

Here are some online printers I found ...

Vistaprint.com

Zazzle.com 

(They also do book marks.)

It took me a bit of searching on zazzle but if you type in..."writer author promotion book blue gradient" ... it should bring them right up, and then of course you can look through the generous selection of options.

Gotprint.net

Plasticprinters.com

(They do plastic business cards and they look pretty dang neat too.)

Uprinting.com

(They do all paper products including booklets, flyers ect)

Printsafari.com

Nationsphotolab.com

Overnightprints.com

Now, you have to go take a look and find out what is right for you, price wise, print wise, ect. 

Hope this has helped!! And if anyone has a great place to find these items, please comment for everyone!

Thanks!!

C. A. Salo

Erotic and Spicy Stories of Romance

The Minotaur’s Mate – Now Available