The Buzz Caused by a Sign on an Author’s Car

Twenty-five years.

That’s the span of my career as an author. When I left education (as a high school principal) and exited Washington State for the temperate climes of California’s Central Coast, I began to write novels. Soon, I will publish my thirteenth suspense/mystery/romance and start working on number fourteen.

You won’t be surprised that I tried every marketing strategy known to writers. I have drawers full of book markers and novelty items I gave away to promote my books. The stack of bookbags with my website emblazoned on them waits for another book-signing. At one point I scoured my town for places to leave cards promoting my book and begged stores to consider selling my novels. The Covid pandemic robbed lots of us of the will and energy to promote locally, so now many of us are struggling to understand how to market on Amazon and Facebook (and what to do with all the giveaway stuff).

In my experience, only two homegrown tactics are worthy of continuing: First: Up-to-date large postcards showing all my beautiful covers on one side, with one sentence teasers on the back of the card describing the stand-alone or series.   Second: A car magnet, a large one, that again, shows all my stunning covers, my genre, and my website.

Car magnets truly do work! I’m spending two weeks in the desert while my car is busily promoting my books in the parking lots, on El Paseo’s busy shopping street, and in front of stores and restaurants. I see people stopping to read my magnet and taking pictures of it. If folks are standing by the car and I approach, they’re ready to talk about my books. Seriously, the outpouring of support I get from interested readers zaps me with new energy.

VistaPrint.com is where I designed and purchased my car magnet (see the picture). Best investment I’ve ever made as a marketing strategy. Even better, it reminds me how proud I am to be an author every time I look at it!The Buzz Caused by a Sign on an Author’s Car.