A Novel Idea How to Market Your Book

A definition of marketing I found on the internet is: To make your product visible to everyone. Now, my novel marketing idea does not make your book visible to everyone. However, this one simple idea how to market your book does make potential buyers AND the staff of one bookstore very happy.

My novel idea is to bring a cake to your book launch party. Not just any cake, mind you. Bring a large flat cake displaying the cover of your new book. I’ve done this at every one of my book launch party at bookstores and have always had a terrific response.

Arrange ahead of time for one of the bookstore staff to cut the cake at the end of the book talk and question and answer period, leaving the cover the book intact for as long as possible. Why? So everyone sees the cover again as they snatch themselves a piece. Also, I always leave whatever cake is leftover for the staff to devour in the morning. That way, if the cover is still visible, the staff that can help sell your book will have the book cover in their mind associated with a yummy treat.

Simply take a colored copy of your book cover to your local bakery or grocery and ask them to transfer the cover with food coloring to rice paper (eatable). I prefer chocolate cake with raspberry filling and either whipped cream or buttercream icing. Is a cake as a marketing tool a novel idea? I believe it is and I’ve found several large chain stores that are willing and able to make the cake. A grand and sweeping marketing plan? Not so much. However, your book cover is likely to stay imprinted in the public’s eye and the bookstore staff thanks to the idea.