I’ve noticed pens are a very popular promotional item with both readers and writers. I certainly like to replenish my pen supply when I go to a conference. Of course, like many promotional items, pens don’t make me want to run out and purchase the relevant author’s book. I haven’t personally ordered pens for myself (mainly because I haven’t found a reasonably priced source in New Zealand) but I look upon pens as an additional tool to help gain name recognition amongst the buying public.
Pens are a good promo item because they’re relatively cheap. Everyone likes pens and uses them on a daily basis, no matter a person’s age, sex or locality. They’re a universal item and appeal to everyone. That’s a big plus.
Pens come in all shapes, sizes and colors. These days you can often purchase pens to match books – a specific color or design. For example: you can buy pens with puppies, in a leopard print, a sea theme or even a holiday theme. If you have a book with a builder hero, how about a builder’s pencil? If you have a book with a magical theme, how about a pencil that changes color with the heat of your hand? The possibilities are endless and limited only by your imagination.
As I’ve just mentioned as well as pens you can order pencils, coloring pencils, Sharpies or highlighter pens to fit your needs. Writers LOVE highlighter pens or this writer does. Most pens I pick up have black ink. I’m not sure why that is but I have a decided preference for blue ink. Most people won’t care but I’m a blue girl all the way!
Jane Porter is an author who does lots of promotions with pens. I have several of her pens.
What Do You Put On a Pen?
Maria Zannini has an excellent post about author signatures at her blog. The taglines you put in your author signatures are great for pens as well. The thing is to keep the info to two, maybe three or four lines maximum. Too much information is confusing and the writing is too small. You should definitely include your name and website and either a tagline or a book title on your pen.
Here’s a few examples from pens I have:
Jane Porter’s pen has three lines of writing.
Line 1 – Jane Porter
Line 2 – (slightly smaller) Harlequin Presents
Line 3 – janeporter.com
Terri Brisbin’s pen has four lines of writing.
Line 1 – Looking for love?
Line 2 – Find it in a Romance by
Line 3 – (large writing) Terri Brisbin
Line 4 – www.terribrisbin.com
Tielle St. Clare’s highlighter has three lines of writing
Line 1 – Exotic & Erotic – Books by
Line 2 – (larger writing) Tielle St. Clare
Line 3 – www.ellorascave.com
Pens are good promo at conferences. They’re excellent for goodie bags. Give them out to friends and family, your hairdresser, vet or librarian. Leave them in restaurants after you’ve signed the check. Add them to Christmas or birthday presents because everyone likes pens!
There are lots of places to purchase pens, especially if you live in the US. The best way is to ask other authors for recommendations. Here are a few websites for you to start with:
National Pens
Pens Xpress
Pens4all
InkHead
Vista Print does do pens as well, but they’re quite expensive compared to some of the alternatives.
Do you like pens for promotional items? Do you favor a particular pen style more than others? Have you purchased pens for promo items? Which company did you use and what was your experience during the ordering process? Do you have any other ideas of places to use your promo pens once you’ve purchased them?
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February 24th, 2009 at 6:51 am · Link
I love pens! And particularly the two-sided ones with a point at one end and a highlighter on the other. I haven’t ordered pens myself, but I always check out the websites of every author pen I pick up – and I have bought a book or two when introduced to a new author via this route. (But I’m also the oddball that has bought a book because of a trailer…)
I think I might have to start thinking about pens!
February 24th, 2009 at 7:08 am · Link
I am a profound pen kleptomaniac, so free pens keep me from inadvertently walking away with my friends’ writing tools. But free is not really free, at least not to the author. I haven’t found a cheap distributor of custom pens yet, so I’ll be anxious to hear if anyone has any recommendations.
Pens are some of my favorite promo items because I am forever digging for a pen in my purse. I would also like to give up my life of crime.
PS Thanks for the shout-out, Shelley!
February 24th, 2009 at 7:38 am · Link
I did pens for the Enchantress Series.
I love Pens!! And paper, like notebooks, I don’t know why.
And yes, I’m a blue ink girl too.
February 24th, 2009 at 7:48 am · Link
I’ve never ordered promo pens–or book marks for that matter. I guess I’m a rebel that way. LOL!
But I do like both.
Leaving pens at your local library or bookstore is always a good option.
February 24th, 2009 at 9:05 am · Link
Well it sounds like pens are most likely a good idea to get your name out. I do love pens too. But I don’t always buy a book because of the info on an author’s pen.
Marketing is usually never easy or cheap, is it?
February 24th, 2009 at 10:21 am · Link
I’m ALWAYS looking for pens that work around here. I picked up a Christina Dodd pen at the Ottawa Romance Writers convention that has become my favorite pen on my desk. It’s got that softer part where you hold it, and is a retractable (with blue ink, Shelley!) and I now think of that style as a ‘Christina Dodd pen’ when I’m in a store.
But while I was at the ORW there was a pile of cheaper straight pens provided by several other writers in the middle of the table – we went through at least six each before we’d find one that would write. I often wondered if I should email the authors and say “did you know you wasted your money on those pens?” If they’d worked, I’d have taken some home, handed some out. I’d rather use a pen as a marketing tool than a magnet – much more usable.
February 24th, 2009 at 11:14 pm · Link
Maria – you’re welcome. I thought your post was excellent. Several writers on a list I’m on have mentioned successful orders at National Pen.
Debora – It’s great to hear that the advertising via pens has led you to checking out websites!
Amy – oh, tell us more about your pens…
February 24th, 2009 at 11:17 pm · Link
Jennifer – no, I haven’t either. Not pens, although I’ve done the bookmark thing. I actually use bookmarks and quite like them.
Kaye – no. It’s hard to know what to do because a lot of the time it’s trial and error. I’m always interested to see what other authors have done in the way of promo at conferences etc. The problem is that what works for one author doesn’t necessarily work for another. This makes it tricky!
February 24th, 2009 at 11:18 pm · Link
Leah – I have a Christina Dodd pen I picked up at Nationals. I like the pens with the comfort grip. My pen has black ink though.
Apart from that it’s a great pen.