Healthy Boundaries Save Your Sanity —Use your printed marketing materials wisely

There are many ways to connect with your readers and fans. As a new author, this might be the first time you're being seen as a public figure and while it is vitally important to connect with your fanbase, you need to set the boundaries from the start.

When I published my first book Save the Butter Tubs!: Discover Your Worth in a Disposable World , I created two connection pieces. One is a traditional business card with my personal phone number and email address. I use this for event planners, bookstore managers, or anyone I’m comfortable giving my phone number to.?

The second is a reader/fan card that included the cover of the book and my social media profiles. I shared this card with readers (or those interested in the book) during book promo events or when meeting others out and about. This provided a tangible reminder to look up my book and connect with me on social media.?

You may be saying to yourself, “I want my readers to call me. I want them to email me”. That’s up to you. Just know that you don’t know to whom you’re handing that information. The best of the worst-case scenarios is you’ll end up on email lists you didn’t ask to be on. Worst case scenario, you’ll have a stalker texting you or calling you all hours of the day and night. It happens. Set your boundaries.

It’s important to set boundaries to protect your goals, your family, your time, your resources, your sanity, and so much more. It’s not being rude. It’s being a professional public figure. Think of the public figures you follow. Do you have their phone number? I know some are giving out marketing phone numbers but that is not the same.?

An author business is unlike other brick-and-mortar businesses. A listed phone number isn’t required to be in this type of business. Even if you are a coach, you should set boundaries. If your coaching program doesn’t include one-on-one phone calls, your client doesn’t need your phone number.?

You are the CEO of your business. Not every customer has access to the CEO.?

While this isn’t set in stone, you need to be wise. Business cards are inexpensive and you can easily create different versions for your different needs. There are several other types of printed materials you can create but start simple.?

Readers don’t need three or four pieces of printed materials. If you create bookmarks, skip reader/fan cards.?

Creating printed marketing materials is this month’s bonus content in our Author Business Network . We discuss eight possibilities and provide a checklist to easily decide which is right for you and what to include on each piece. If you haven’t joined ABN yet, now’s the time!?

We go live this month for our Office Hours on January 11 at 1pm Eastern/12pm Central Time. This is an opportunity for our authors can ask anything related to writing, publishing, marketing, and building their author businesses. If your 2023 goal contains any of those four pillars, join now? and we will see you on the 11th!