Most authors give away some swag. Pens, notepads, mugs, water bottles, mouse pads, and more. Giving away that stuff is just money tossed down a hole, and you often never know if it’s doing you any good.
Then I discovered Zazzle, where you can design your own swag, post it for sale, and other people can buy it. So if I design some Ann Aguirre mousepads and order 50 of them for a convention, I earn a commission on that, even on my own purchase. How cool is that? It’s sort of like a cashback rebate, I guess, and the more you order, the more the price drops, which is also awesome. I’ve decided I’m not going to order ordinary swag anymore. From this point on, it’s Zazzle only.
That way, any money I spend on promo, I get a little of it back, and I’m going to take that saved money and donate it to First Book. They’re a nonprofit organization who get kids hooked on reading. Since my childhood would’ve been immeasurably impoverished without my love for books, I think this is a very worthy mission. Obviously, anyone who takes a liking to something I have up on Zazzle is welcome to buy it, and the proceeds from each sale will go to First Book in entirety. I won’t be profiting from any of these things, but I wanted to do my promo in a different way, as I had been growing discontent with giving my money to various imprint companies. This is better for me. It makes me happy.
Not all of this stuff will have my name or website info on it. Sometimes I just get a funny idea for a product and I want to implement it. For instance, I’ve ordered 50 “recovering death girl poet” buttons for RWA, and they don’t have anything about me at all on them. I’m sure I’ll be adding stuff as we go along because I love designing stuff on Zazzle. I’m toying with the idea of making some kind of gamer geek button, but I did enough designing yesterday (I am so happy with how the Team Chance & Team Jesse shirts turned out! Spent ages finding good pictures for them.) And I need to work on Hell Fire today.
This post is mainly to explain the new widget in the sidebar. That’s why it’s there. Don’t feel pressured to click but if you do happen to find something you want, it will make some kids very happy.
If this is madness, I wish we’d all become as raving loony as you. This is a great way to do promo. I’m always impressed at the ways you do things like this. Plus, I love the buttons. I’m reserving judgment till the next book to see what “team” I’ll be on, but I’m looking forward to it. :)
by KMont July 9th, 2009 at 9:46 amWow, thank you! I had a lot of fun with this. (I probably should’ve been finishing the revisions, but I enjoyed myself, and it was work related, right?)
Cool idea!
by Victoria Janssen July 9th, 2009 at 9:46 amThanks. :)
Ann, you never cease to amaze me with your sparkly amazing smartness! seriously, you are one smart ass woman.
by Juliana Stone July 9th, 2009 at 9:55 amI don’t think I deserve those accolades, but I’m happy to hear you think so.
This is a great idea! Win-Win idea. Love that the proceeds are going help little ones get some good reads. Plan on browsing it tonight!
by Fantasy Dreamer (Donna) July 9th, 2009 at 9:55 amI thought so, which is why it makes me so happy. I’ll be happier about giving away promo stuff when I know it means I’m accomplishing a better goal than just pimping myself.
Now if I give away a 100 of something, I can tell myself, it’s for the kids! And not feel like a self-serving, lookatme douchebag.
What a great idea! I support RIF for the same reasons, but will check out First Book. Thanks!
by Terri Q July 9th, 2009 at 10:26 amcute things :)
by blodeuedd July 9th, 2009 at 10:34 amloving that team chance shirt
Okay Anne, I’ve got to buy something because once again I’ll be stealing another idea from you.
by Roslyn Holcomb July 9th, 2009 at 11:44 amTo use Zazzle or donate the proceeds?
Hi :)
by Rob Charron July 9th, 2009 at 1:24 pmWhat an excellent idea. I love the shirts. It’s amazing when you put the mouse over the picture it zooms in automatically. Terrific stuff.
:)
Love From Canada
twitter.com/RKCharron
xoxo
Thanks, Rob! I have a fanboy pin there too, so as not to leave the guys out.
Hm, maybe I should maybe I should make a team Corine shirt for the dudes? Whatcha think?
Are you going to make Grimspace stuff too?
by Moth July 9th, 2009 at 1:38 pmI might make some Jax stuff, yep.
We’ve donated to First Book for years. You’re awesome to support today’s young readers.
by Susan Helene Gottfried July 9th, 2009 at 9:39 pmI love it!! I think more authors should do this. I am definitely a team Chance girl :)
by Mandi July 10th, 2009 at 7:16 am