Last week, I asked you all what you thought of bookmarks. The post was called The Care and Feeding of Books. The response was wonderful, everyone had an opinion to offer. Thanks so much to every single one of you. I found it fascinating, and it definitely helped to crystallise my thoughts.
So here’s a short summary, which I hope is helpful to writers thinking about promotion. Mind you, I’m not saying it’s particularly conclusive, but there was some interesting stuff…
First off, there was some correlation between using bookmarks and being careful with books. People seemed to split into two broad groups - the book trashers (raises a sheepish hand) who basically love their books to death and the sister-carers of the book who take such exquisite care of their books that one reader divorced a husband because he creased her Asimov collection and another buys a second copy if she intends to lend it out.
Beyond that, those who enjoyed bookmarks far outnumbered those who were indifferent - by a factor of 3 to 1, in fact. Okay, most of you like pretty bookmarks, but whether you use them - or whether they’re effective for name recognition is a different matter entirely. A few of readers are amazingly particular, displaying bookmarks on cork boards, or matching them to the book itself, but for the majority, it’s just a thing you grab to mark your place - anything would do as well, even an old credit card, a tissue or a receipt.
A couple of readers said they would notice a bookmark if it was from an author they already knew, which is good, but not so much the purpose of the exercise. Others wanted the bookmark to say something meaningful, to stand for something. Then there were suggestions for different types - magnetised, book thongs, with cut-out “lips” to slide over the page. One idea, which I thought was brilliant, was a “lending” bookmark, with a place to write your name and a stub you could detach and keep. Sadly, they sound expensive.
Here were the sites recommended. In the USA, http://www.westsky.com In Australia, http://www.stuckonyou.biz and http://www.worldwide.com.au Vistaprint don’t do bookmarks, but some folks put two on a standard postcard and cut it down the middle. Clever.
My conclusion?
It’s horses for courses - that is, whether you use or like or notice bookmarks is a completely personal matter. What? Did you think it was going to be easy? 
But if you are going to use a bookmark, it needs to be both sturdy and glossy - hard, laminated card.
However, I do believe a bookmark can be another effective way of getting a writer’s name in front of readers. It boils down to expense and design smarts and whether you can be bothered, really. I don’t think they’re obligatory by any means. I know I like something a little wider. I tend to lose skinny things (which is why I still have My Beloved). A number of us agreed flight boarding passes are great. So, for the time being, I might stick to postcards of my covers. At least I know how to do them. 
And they’re cheap!
We did say during the discussion that marketing lore says you need to get the brand name in front of a consumer 8 to 10 times to make a connection, let alone a sale. Every way you can find to do that has got to help, right?
So, folks, there you have it! Any further wisdom to add? And once again, thanks for your input. It really did help!
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Interesting discussion.
I’m one of those who loves to match the bookmark to the book. *g*
NJ
Thanks for your informative article! Since my first book, Gatekeeper, was recently released from Ellora’s Cave, I was wondering about the efficacy of bookmarks, especially for E-authors.
I love bookmarks - especially the ones that lead me to a new writer. It doesn’t matter to me if the bookmark is from an e-book - as long as the read is a good one, I’ll take it either in paper or e-reader. But I’ve found some really good writers through bookmarks alone.
Vicky B
I have each type of bookmark. I like the bookmarks with sayings but when in my purse (I have a big purse), it can be pulled out easily. My favorite overall is the bookthong. My daughter and I made many of them as gifts for Christmas a couple years ago. We gave them to the readers I know. Bookthongs do not move from that page in a closed book.
I am one of the people who always use a bookmark and I have a lovely collection from different authors love em
Have Fun
Helen
I love bookmarks. But I am shallow. I only keep and use the prettiest. If the book cover it’s advertising has nice eye candy, I’ll use it. If the bookmark is dull and info dumping all the release dates I don’t.
Now a bookmark featuring Mirry would be a keeper…
I love bookmarks! I have all kinds of bookmarks and quite a few that I’ve used recently have been ones that I’ve been sent (or have gotten personally) from authors. I have to say that they’ve gotten notice from people that see me take them out of the books, so they start asking about them (and the authors).
I have to say that I agree with Shona about the Mirry bookmark. Of course one of Mr. Gorgeous would be awesome too!
I am a devout book-mark user, even for a magazine.(god love me!)
)
and I’ll do something nice for you to do with the bookmarks.
I also agree with Shona, I grade them, They come in 3’s. The precious ones are for my favourite books and authors, then reference material, dictionary, thesaurus’ etc, the cheaper variety, from the Library or local fish shop with opening hours etc, well they ‘re for putting in the address book magazine, holidat travel page. (or lend to someone - who doesn’t return things….OCD again
You said you send out postcards, that in itself is a lovely thing. And lets face it, that’s the thing with promotion. Do you have a contact address (PO box or ?) that you could recieve a letter at? I like you Denise, (no not like that…)
You have my e-mail address, contact me there if you like.
I have to agree with the Mirry Fan-club though… or Brin…
Hi D! I never use bookmarks–put me in the love ‘em to death category, but I do have JQ’s new bookmark on my fridge because it’s so pretty. I’m ordering bookmarks, but they are expensive. I do find they’re good to give booksellers for their clients–that serves the purpose of getting your book in the forefront of the bookseller’s mind as well as to their clients. As long as they bother to give them out. And they’re great to slip into packages as advertising. Something small. People also tend to pick them up and put them in their bags when they’re displayed, which I found they didn’t with the oversized postcards, but it might be different for the small PCs.
Hey, a great blog and market research, too! Thanks for collating your results. Snorked about not losing your beloved. That’s so sweet.
I like book marks. However, I can never seem to find one when I need it. Sadly, I’ve never felt compelled to go out and buy a book because of a book mark. However, it’s tricky to measure whether noticing the book mark compelled me to buy book(s) from the author at a later date. A book mark was how I first noticed Nora Roberts. After that, her name seemed to appear wherever I looked. I might have noticed Nora without the book mark - not sure if this was because of sudden publicity campaign or whether the book mark brought my attention to it. It’s true we tend to notice things once we are aware of it and start focusing on it (that’s where the marketing lore comes from - just make others ware of you enough times and it keeps you in their focus). I didn’t rush out and buy her books right away, but I did get there eventually.
The last year or so I’m finding I’ll buy the digital version of a book over a print version - can you get digital bookmarks? I don’t think they’d be as much fun. The last time I bought a print book was, funnily enough, at an author signing. Otherwise I’ll only buy it in print if it’s a keeper or can’t find it in digital form.
But, I still like collecting book marks(Post cards too!).
Hi there, NJ! I bet your books feel so well loved and cared for. Unlike mine, the poor things. *sigh*
Welcome, Debra, thanks for dropping by. Glad the post was useful.
Enjoyed the comments. I keep bookmarks I get from authors and have a big box of them. However, I find myself using book thongs to keep my books nicer.
Welcome to you, Vicky! Ah, your comment gives me hope.
Bookmarks actually work. But then, I read the ads on the back ends of buses too… *sigh*
A warm welcome to you, Dee! Hmm, someone else who keeps her life in her purse.
As for the bookthongs, we’ve had quite a few enthusiasts here, generally the crafty types. My main problem with them (apart from the making up, which I guess I could do) is that they might look gorgeous, but they don’t have my name, website or logo-thingie on them. I know if someone gave me a bookthong with say, a card attached, I’d remove the card, use the thong and promptly forget where I got it. *sigh*
Hey there, Helen! Yep, I have you down as a bookmark afficiando! Is that how you spell it?
Put Mr Gorgeous on a book mark and I’m there baby! LOL Yes. Some nice sexy guys on a few book marks and I’d be a happy camper. Hmmm … Miry. Yummy
Hi Shona, funny you should mention Mirry. Strangely enough, you’re not the first…
Hey there, Dani. You’re a wonderful support to authors, so not surprised you talk to people about bookmarks. I really must try to work out a design…
Interesting discussion. I’ll pretty much use anything handy for a bookmark rather than dog-ear a page or leave the book lying open and spine up on a desk. If people give me nice bookmarks, I’ll use them, but then they get lost for years at a time. (I know that’s not good news for unknown authors trying to use bookmarks as a sales piece.)
Malcolm
LOL! Denise I’m actually using a swarovsky crystal bracelet as a bookmark atm
Very pretty and sparkly if not a bit bulky 
Hi Shona, shallow works for me.
Another vote for Mirry - got it. heh heh
Mary, grading? You’re a hoot! I love my postcards. I think they work really well.
Hey Christine, my friend! Thanks for the input. You’re so organised, unlike me. The oversized postcards can be quite stunning, but I think the standard sized ones are more useful. And yeah, My Beloved’s definitely a bit difficult to misplace!
Hi there, Susan M. - and welcome! Yep, that’s the problem with trying to develop “name recognition” - what is it that tips it over so the reader actually notices the author? Let alone buys their books. It’s funny though, that noticing thing. When I was writing TAILSPIN, I seemed to see feathers all over the place. It was weird.
Joye, good to see you here! About the bookthongs, you’re in good company, we’ve had loads of people totally in love with bookthongs. Thanks for joining in!
While I am definitely the ‘Love them To Death’ kind of ready, much to my sweeties disgust, I still enjoy a good bookmark. Perhaps then I would stop leaving my books open all over the house!
The trouble is finding a perfectly sized bookmark as well as one attractive enough to make me want to keep using it. Taller ones tend to be nudged out of my books, and once I bought an utterly gorgeous brass bookmark who’s weight alone caused it to slide right out! Not very useful at all. But if I had a Mirry bookmark, I would find a way to keep it!
Yep, Lyn, there’s definitely a fan club for beefcake bookmarks.
And a crystal bracelet? Oooh, classy!
Hey there, Malcolm, thanks for dropping by.
You belong to the camp of the book-carers, clearly. And yep, they’re slippery little devils, bookmarks.
Hi Kori! You’re right about the fancy bookmarks, they’re actually not very practical, gorgeous though they may be. And another vote for a Mirry bookmark. Right.
[…] Denise Rossetti discusses the responses to her question about what her readers thought about bookmarks - Link […]
Thanks for sharing the results
Very interesting.
Have followed this discussion through and I will say there have been
a good debate. I am a BOOKMARK collector as such, but I leave them
in the original authors books. That way I can look back at that book
and see what that author wrote or has written.
Now a postcard also could be used as a bookmak, telling of the authors
achievements and future aims.
All the best with your challenge between bookmarks and postcards.
My pleasure, Michelle.
Thanks for dropping by.
Robhap, I think you have a Great Idea here. I need a postcard with all my books on it, a testament to my great success. Hmmm. I’ll work on it.
Personally, I love bookmarks but almost never use them because I collect them and want to keep them looking nice. I have a box of bookmarks which I pull out to look at occasionally, and a bulletin board where I display some of my favorites I’ve collected over the last 30 years. I also have some cover flats and signed postcards which I hope to frame some day.
As a bookseller I can say that the right bookmark can be quite effective. Some of the best I’ve seen have the author’s name, website and current cover with release date on one side, with any upcoming or previous releases on the back (in publication order and/or grouped by series if applicable) sometimes with mini pictures of the previous covers if there’s room. Lori Handeland has had excellent bookmarks, and Bianca D’Arc and Shelly Laurenston also have nice ones. Bianca also sent me some signed postcards and some business card sized promos for each of her different series that I can keep in my pocket and hand out to customers, who are thrilled to get them.
Sometimes the bookmarks include cover blurbs, review quotes or a reference to another author from the same publisher or who writes in a similar style. They can be glossy, but I’ve seen some printed in color on heavy cardstock that were very nice looking and would certainly be better than no bookmarks at all.
One small ebook publisher sent me some business cards that each had a code for a free download of one of their books. It wasn’t fancy, but when I found out a customer read sensual or erotic ebooks I’d offer them a card which would direct them to the website to choose an ebook. The customers were thrilled and the publisher got a solid chance to show off their books and gain a customer.
Anyway, just my thoughts based on my experience with customers.
Beth, this is terrific information from someone who knows. There couldn’t be anything more valuable and I’m taking notes! Great to hear about what works, as I’m currently considering about designs. Thank you so much and welcome to Under and Over!
Great article, and thank so much. Answered a lot of my questions. Jean
Whoops. Will try again.No confirmation my comment got through. WOnderful article and it answered a lot of my questions
My pleasure, Jean.
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