Marketing Tips From Cheri Cowell

It may sound like an oxymoron, but donating your book can make new fans and drive up your sales. Here are a few tips to make this work and some ideas of where to make those book donations.

The first thing you want to do is create a name plate for your donated books. Use large labels and then say something like, “I hope you enjoy this donated book. To order your own copy visit (enter the website where you want the reader to go to get their own copy). Happy Reading!”

Next, make a list of places where you can leave or donate a copy. Here are some ideas:

1. Women’s shelters
2. VA hospitals
3. Homeless shelters
4. Children’s hospitals
5. Retirement homes
6. The five closest libraries to your house
7. The library in your hometown
8. Summer camp
9. Community libraries at coffee shops
10. The local community college library (and the libraries in the town where the book was set)
11. Local B&B’s
12. Local motels
13. Prisons
14. Church libraries
15. Rehab centers
16. Cruise ship libraries
17. Doctor’s offices
18. Community centers
19. Senior Centers
20. Coffee shops

If you can, offer a coupon on a bookmark slipped inside the book. This way you can track the number of coupons used and thus the effectiveness of your Donation Campaign.

Cheri Cowell is the author of a new devotional book, 365 Devotions for Peace, released from Zondervan. Her Bible study  Parables and Word Pictures in the AMG Following God Bible study series is a favorite in bookstores everywhere. Her new Bible study One Story, One Mission, One God released last year. Check out her website to learn more www.CheriCowell.com

Connect with Cheri Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and you can read her blogs on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month Cheri’s Blog