Freebies Rock!

If you're trying to figure out a great way to kick off a really great promotion, you should at least debate some sort of freebie. I don't care if it's an eraser, a key chain, even bookmark, you need something that allows people to not only to have a physical reminder of you, but will also carry your contact information on it. The freebie gives you a chance to have a little fun with your marketing, and that alone is worth looking into. Just remember to have something that's practical but looks cool and you should be good to go.

Sometimes you want to give people something that reminds them to check out some more information on your book that you're trying to promote. A freebie acts as a physical reminder to check out the book; it's hard to ignore something that always seems to be in your pocket. Make sure you have your logo and some basic contact information on it, even just an URL, and you should be golden.

My personal suggestion is to go to 4imprint.com and checking out what they have; while there are some other sites that you want to track down, but 4imprint is a great starting point.  However, have a general idea what you are looking for; if you're doing a fantasy comic you might want to look for something like a sword or wizard's cap or if you're doing a horror comic a monster pencil-topper could work. Also, some of these make great tiers for a Kickstarter, such as a USB drive.

Obviously, not all freebies are free, so decide on what you are willing to spend and go for it. However, keep in mind that if you're looking for something that sets you apart but is still cheap enough that it won't hurt your bank account too much. You're looking for something that will work with your comic, that you can toss in with your comic when it ships, or that you can disburse at a convention, and if you can put your logo or URL on it so much the better. 

Straight up: Fan love free swag and little touches, and that's where freebies come in: They're just something a little fun that you can include that will make your fans happy, and anything you can do to make fans happy is worth it when you're trying to sell your comics.

When it comes down to it, freebies act as both a physical reminder to check out your book as well as something fun for your fans. It doesn't matter if its bookmarks, pencil-toppers, or notebooks; freebies can help sell you. They create a certain amount of goodwill towards you, especially if your freebies are actually decent (we all have our memories of horrible little freebies, like printed out bookmarks). So have some fun, find something that works for you, and include them as part of your marketing plan if you really want to kick your promotions up a notch.