newspaper ads?

[Marti Talbott]

Has anyone tried running newspaper ads for your books? Since mine has a local tie-in,I'm wondering if that might work for me. But...do those ads actually pay off?

[LilyBLily]

Many times, I've seen a newspaper ad in the local rag for an obviously self-published book. Lousy cover, the works. Someone is wasting money and being pathetic--that's what I've thought. BUT, a wise old man once told me that if I see an ad twice, it means the ad is making money. I've seen that ad a lot. Either the author got sold a multi-ad set and is bleeding cash, or she's making money.

So I think a well-constructed, well-designed ad visual with a local tag might do well. Test it, and you might get yourself a feature article ("Local Author Writes...") if the newspaper is small enough and desperate enough for local news. You also need to take it to your local library chief and point out the local connection and offer to do some kind of public reading or give copies to their book club, or whatever. The head librarian may also know of other local media tie-ins. Even out in the boondocks where I live, there is a lively arts community tied in with the nearest state college--another possible place to promote.

[Paul Gr]

It might be possible to get free, yes free, publicity.
My local newspaper sometimes has features about local authors.
Maybe they'll be interested if you've published a new book, or been inspired by a local setting or event.
But newspaper advertising, I'm not sure about.

[Post-Crisis D]

What kind of newspaper do you have?

Is it one that people subscribe to?

Or, is it one that is distributed for free?

On the former, that means people pay to receive the newspaper, which means it is more likely to be read, which increases the odds of your ad being seen.  At that point, it's a matter of how well that newspaper audience aligns with your book's audience.

If the newspaper is the latter, drive around town a day or two after delivery day to see how many copies are still in driveways.  That can give you an indication of how many people might actually be picking it up and reading it.  I know in my community, we have a free newspaper (they ask for voluntary subscription payments) and, often, you'll see them sitting in driveways until trash day, when people finally pick them up to toss them in the bin.  If that's the kind of newspaper you have, the ad is probably only going to be seen by politicians checking to see what has been said about them, business owners checking to see where their ads were placed and senior citizens checking the obituaries to keep score on whom they've outlived.  If any of those are your potential audience, you might be golden.

[Marti Talbott]

Newspapers everywhere are failing. The one I'm thinking of has an online presence and is a daily paper that's been in circulation for at least 80 years. That doesn't mean people are reading it, lol. I would probably do better with Facebook neighborhood groups. If it wasn't a local story, I probably wouldn't consider spending the money.

Ah, decisions, decisions...

[Post-Crisis D]

In some cases, newspapers are failing because they're simply not that good.

For example, our local free newspaper.  Since before the Internet, it lined driveways where people waited until trash day to pick it up and throw it out.  And it was probably read more back then than it is now.  It has an online presence as well as weekly delivery (on some random day of the week).  But, it's owned by a larger company that's within the region but not in our community.  And a lot of what they label local news isn't actually local to us.  Sometimes actual local news doesn't even get a mention.  For example, a couple weeks ago, there was a vehicle fire.  We're about thirty miles away from the nearest big city where all the TV news stations are based, yet some of them came out here to cover the fire.  Or rather the after-the-fire because I think it was already put out before the news arrived.  So, this made the local TV news.  But, the "local" paper?  Not even a mention.

[TimothyEllis]

For example, our local free newspaper.

What I call 'The weekly Rupert'.

Ours stays on the driveway until it's mush, and then is shoveled into the bin on collection day.

[Paul Gr]

Here's an idea, that might or might not work.
But hey, is that any different to paying for advertisements that might or
might not work?
Take a photo. of yourself, maybe with a scene from your local area in the
background, to give it that local flavour.
Write a news story about your new book, maybe 500 words long.
Send them to your local newspaper.
This will involve you spending some of your time.
But is this any different to spending some of your time creating ads?
The newspaper might or might not publish it.
But from what I can gather, some advertisers might or might not publish your
ads.
This scenario is based on the two local newspapers, both paid, not free, in my
small town in the UK, it might be a different scenario in the US, Australia,
Canada etc.
They will happily use free content, in fact I've heard that they will only
consider relatively unimportant news stories if you supply a photo. and at
least a couple of paragraphs.

[LilyBLily]

Where we lived before, there was a local free newspaper that was part of a chain and did local editions for multiple areas in the county. Which meant that spelling bees at the nearest middle school were covered, and local kids I recognized would get their photos in the paper, and kids who got on the honor roll were listed. It was nice. That has collapsed.

Where we live now, there's a local newspaper, not a particularly good one, but there apparently are enough people subscribing and reading it. That's where I saw the ad. Everybody's locale is probably different these days.

People willing to read a local newspaper might be willing to buy and read a book with a local tie-in. I don't think that has changed.

[Marti Talbott]

Here's an idea, that might or might not work.
But hey, is that any different to paying for advertisements that might or
might not work?
Take a photo. of yourself, maybe with a scene from your local area in the
background, to give it that local flavour.
Write a news story about your new book, maybe 500 words long.
Send them to your local newspaper.
This will involve you spending some of your time.
But is this any different to spending some of your time creating ads?
The newspaper might or might not publish it.
But from what I can gather, some advertisers might or might not publish your
ads.
This scenario is based on the two local newspapers, both paid, not free, in my
small town in the UK, it might be a different scenario in the US, Australia,
Canada etc.
They will happily use free content, in fact I've heard that they will only
consider relatively unimportant news stories if you supply a photo. and at
least a couple of paragraphs.

Like a press release. Good idea!

[Marti Talbott]

Where we lived before, there was a local free newspaper that was part of a chain and did local editions for multiple areas in the county. Which meant that spelling bees at the nearest middle school were covered, and local kids I recognized would get their photos in the paper, and kids who got on the honor roll were listed. It was nice. That has collapsed.

Where we live now, there's a local newspaper, not a particularly good one, but there apparently are enough people subscribing and reading it. That's where I saw the ad. Everybody's locale is probably different these days.

People willing to read a local newspaper might be willing to buy and read a book with a local tie-in. I don't think that has changed.

Thanks LilyBlily and everyone else. I think I'll try the Facebook neighborhood groups first and see if there is any interest. That might tell me if it's worth placing an ad in the paper.

[notthatamanda]

Where we lived before, there was a local free newspaper that was part of a chain and did local editions for multiple areas in the county. Which meant that spelling bees at the nearest middle school were covered, and local kids I recognized would get their photos in the paper, and kids who got on the honor roll were listed. It was nice. That has collapsed.

Where we live now, there's a local newspaper, not a particularly good one, but there apparently are enough people subscribing and reading it. That's where I saw the ad. Everybody's locale is probably different these days.

People willing to read a local newspaper might be willing to buy and read a book with a local tie-in. I don't think that has changed.

Thanks LilyBlily and everyone else. I think I'll try the Facebook neighborhood groups first and see if there is any interest. That might tell me if it's worth placing an ad in the paper.

You could also offer to write a piece for the paper, human experience type thing and have a by-line at the end - Marti Talbott is the offer of 50 books, website, find her books on Amazon, etc, etc and so forth.

[Marti Talbott]

Where we lived before, there was a local free newspaper that was part of a chain and did local editions for multiple areas in the county. Which meant that spelling bees at the nearest middle school were covered, and local kids I recognized would get their photos in the paper, and kids who got on the honor roll were listed. It was nice. That has collapsed.

Where we live now, there's a local newspaper, not a particularly good one, but there apparently are enough people subscribing and reading it. That's where I saw the ad. Everybody's locale is probably different these days.

People willing to read a local newspaper might be willing to buy and read a book with a local tie-in. I don't think that has changed.

Thanks LilyBlily and everyone else. I think I'll try the Facebook neighborhood groups first and see if there is any interest. That might tell me if it's worth placing an ad in the paper.

You could also offer to write a piece for the paper, human experience type thing and have a by-line at the end - Marti Talbott is the offer of 50 books, website, find her books on Amazon, etc, etc and so forth.

That's a good idea too.

[Marti Talbott]

So I went with posting on a Facebook neighborhood group instead of the newspaper idea, because this is based on a true story with tie-ins to several Colorado towns. Sold six more pre-orders already so I'm excited about that. They asked about other books, so I was able to promote my website where I have a list of  free and KU books. I sure hope I'm not in for a big let down. Oh well, it's a fun ride so far.

Thanks for all your advice.

[idontknowyet]

I wouldn't put it in a big newspaper. They would want too much money for the return. What I might try is one of those little free papers you find in doctors offices and mom and pop restaurants around town. Where I live lots of people read them and take coupons out of them to save on things they use around town. That would be a great way to be seen by some locals and those things are usually pretty cheap to advertise in.