Promo thingamies

[rflong]

I'm a big fan of promo thingamies. You know, free pens, postcards, bookmarks etc. A sucker for them. I've been playing around on Vistaprint to make my own as well. Great is the excitement and mighty too the fiddling. Because it is fiddly. And a bit of pot-luck. How will they turn out? Haven't a clue. Not even when I ordered a printable pdf proof which I couldn't get to print (grrrrr..........)

With the various free offers (Remember, this offer may NEVER be repeated... until tomorrow) a bit of patience means all you pay for is the postage. (And maybe the unprintable printable proof).  And somewhere in my business cards I have a discount on that, I'm sure.

So, I am at play, effectively, in the world of graphic design, something for which I am totally unqualified. No different from book trailer design of course. And yes, it does serve as a distraction from writing, from working, and from all sorts of other things. But its fun and we all deserve a little fun.

Until I do bite the bullet, order them, wait for them and discover the great big GLARINGLY obvious typo in the middle of the blurb or something just as delightful!

So what this ramble is saying, is that I will soon have postcards, bookmarks and related promotional thingamies for The Wolf's Sister. And when I do, if you want one, I will send it to you. I may even have a draw for the free pen! :D Wanna play?

What's your favorite promo thingamy?

eta: Ordered the bookmarks last night. So now we just wait for the snail to bring them to my door... :D When they come I will post again and gather addresses etc. Talk soon
R

Comments

[enticing-thorn.livejournal.com]

Oh i want one!! I loooove Postcards and bookmarks as promos. i have loads lol

[rflong.livejournal.com]

Cool. As soon as I get them, one is yours. :D

[kara-gnome.livejournal.com]

How fun! They're going to be fine, no doubt :) And in a way, you do have experience, just being a big fan of them. I bet that's helped, as you at least know what you like regarding them. I bet they'll come out perfectly!

I'd go for a pen, if I won the drawing, myself *g*

[rflong.livejournal.com]

Free pens are fun. I have an astounding collection! :D

I'm going to order the bookmarks tonight, when I find my discount. The postcards are already on the way (I hope).

[gabriel-writes.livejournal.com]

I'd love a bookmark, can never have too many of them, plus they'd be cheap to mail. Another good promo in my opinion. Refridgerator magnets...sorta like a buisness card you can stick to the fridge, but with a picture of your book cover on it...

[rflong.livejournal.com]

I like the magnets, but they arent free at the moment. And I'm tight fisted.

[rob-haines.livejournal.com]

I used Vistaprint for the first time a few weeks back to order some business cards for Jenny's birthday, and I must say that I wasn't too impressed. What had seemed like a good deal (and no, I didn't go for one of their 'free' offers) rapidly doubled in price once they'd added on tax, shipping, miscellaneous fees for having the temerity to provide my own design rather than one of theirs, duck reassignment and an exorbitant pigeon tariff. I probably wouldn't have felt so hard done by if they had: a) mentioned any of these additional costs clearly at the frontend of the website (I expect to pay shipping, and accept that tax is usually not going to be included for business items like this, but some of the charges just seemed silly); and b) not congratulated me for my purchase with a raft of 'free pen' offers which I now knew were about as free as a kick in the teeth followed by considerable dental reconstruction.

[rflong.livejournal.com]

Ew. I am now glad that I am tightfisted and will only get things when they're available free of charge.

I don't think they've ever charged me tax. Just shipping.

The raft of "offers" when you place your order is not the most conducive...

[rob-haines.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a good idea ;)

I just read my comment back; came out a bit more ranty than intended. Oops! :D

[rflong.livejournal.com]

I was wrong about the tax btw. Saw it last night.

And we all deserve a bit of rant occasionally. :D

[theladywolf.livejournal.com]

Bookmarks. I love bookmarks almost obsessively. One of my students once promised to make me one in a throwaway frivolous moment. Never was she so hounded by a teacher to produce the art and crafts. :)
So, yeah,a bookmark. Will there be a big man chest on it, by the way? :)

[rflong.livejournal.com]

But of course.

Are there other types? ;)

[irishkate.livejournal.com]

you know I want and I will collect...

[rflong.livejournal.com]

Definitely. But postage (or even hand delivery) could be arranged. :D