While the online media loves talking about the rise of eBooks, hundreds of millions of printed books are still sold around the world annually.  This means that a countless number of people across the US and the rest of the world are still picking up physical copies of books when they sit down to read.

If you're looking for a creative way to market your business, bookmark marketing can be a very effective choice.  With bookmark marketing, every time someone picks up their book and opens it to resume reading, they will be reminded of your business.

As with any type of marketing, there are several factors that will determine how successful your bookmark marketing is at reaching your desired audience.  Because we love seeing our customers succeed, we want to share some strategies for making your bookmark marketing as effective as possible:

Know What You Want to Accomplish

Before you can be successful, you have to know what you want to accomplish.  While it's easy to order a thousand bookmarks to promote your business, your marketing efforts are going to be much more successful if you clearly identify the goal you want to accomplish through bookmark marketing.

Because bookmarks are something that people see repeatedly, they are a very good tool for helping to create a strong brand for your business.  If you establish your bookmark marketing goal around branding, you will be on track for a successful effort.

Less is More!

People want to read their book, not your bookmark!  While bookmarks give you a lot of space, this doesn't mean you should fill it from top to bottom with text about your business.  Instead, focus on how you can design the bookmark to visually convey the message of your business's brand.

Distribution is Key

If you show up and pass out your bookmarks at a conference for video game enthusiasts, do you think the bookmarks will be very effective?  While this is an extreme example, it demonstrates the importance of thinking about who you want to distribute your bookmarks to, as well as how you plan on distributing them.

While there are multiple ways to successfully distribute bookmarks to your target audience, one very effective method is including your bookmarks with any direct mail material you send out.

Don't Forget About Your Existing Customers

Even though bookmarks are a great way to attract new customers, this doesn't mean that you should ignore your existing customers.  By giving your existing customers one of your bookmarks, not only will it help reinforce your brand to them, but if they pass along one of their books to a friend, your bookmark will be passed along as well!

If you're looking for a way to give bookmarks to your existing customers, you can hand it to them when you interact with them in person, or include it in the envelope when you mail them a bill or other correspondence.