by Connie Cox

Handing out bookmarks (or bookmarkers, as my mother calls them) are in the top five of all the promotional ideas I've tried.(See my article, Do Bookmarks Work)  In the article, you'll see that I use promotional bookmarks by the handfulls.

Make Bookmarks Yourself

At first, I tried making bookmarks on my home computer using my non-commercial grade printer.  I was trying to make my paper bookmarks cheaply, but I ended up making cheap bookmarks.  They were cheesy and unprofessional, not an image I want associated with my work.  On top of that, they weren't that cheap.  Ink was outrageous, card stock was hard to find and I know I took off years of my little printer's life as it chugged, hour after hour, trying to lay down layers and layers of ink.  My home-made bookmarks would have hurt my promotional efforts more than helped them.  So I got out of the home-made bookmark making business and tried professional printers. (Psst.  If you really really want to make them yourself, Microsoft Word has free downloadable templates.  Just Google for it.)

Professional Printers for Bookmarks

Using professional printers for paper bookmarks are expensive and you have to order in bulk.  Not every bookmark design fits every event I needed to promote.  Sometimes I need to put emphasis on my books, sometimes on my writing classes--you get the picture.  I wanted fifty promotional bookmarks for one event, maybe two dozen personalized bookmarks for another event and two hundred customized bookmarks for a third event.  But with professional printers, you have to order at least a hundred bookmarks at a time.  And they were always a bit off.  I had major problems lining up the printer's marks in my graphics programs' bookmark templates with their bookmark templates.  So after the event has passed, you have to throw away all the leftovers. 

Perfect Promotional Bookmarks

Then I found iPrints.  They seem to be most consistent in quality.  The price is reasonable.  And you don't have to have any graphics program at all.  Be sure to take advantage of all the available backgrounds.  (Save often, as it doesn't keep your design unless you save it--you can always edit it later.) Last time I checked, you could order as few as 25 for $12.99. even lower now!  Click the Buy button for more info and updated price.

Bookmarks - Custom Printed (25 qty) Full color, double sided, design online yourself! Now you can design full color custom bookmarks without having to break the bank. Single or double-sided, vertical or horizontal. Printed on quality 14pt. glossy stock or choose matte or linen paper upgrades. Promote your business, club, school or commemorate any event with custom bookmarks. Size: 2in x 7in. Quantities start as low as 25

I start with the blank "Add your design here" ones and pick from their graphics library for background designs.  I can upload my own photos and pictures if I want to, but they have many to choose from.  I can order as few as 25, so I can customize bookmarks for each event and booksigning.  I can also personalize bookmarks, i.e. adding Author!Author!Shreveport Book Festival or Romance Writers of America 2009 Annual Booksigning so readers have keepsakes of events as well as bookmarks for books. 

My personalized bookmarks are coated, high-gloss paper bookmarks, just like the ones in the bookstores. Making bookmarks though iPrints easily fits in my promo budget. They are bookmarks I can hand out proudly.   

I like to give at least two source, but haven't yet found another bookmark place I like.  If you have a favorite, drop me a line and I'll check them outl