Bookmarks are one of the marketing tools I use to get the word out about my published books. While everyone has the option to have their bookmarks designed, created and printed by someone else, I choose not to. My main reason for creating them myself is cost, it is far cheaper for me to purchase the materials and printer ink and print my bookmarks myself than to have someone else do it for me.
You will need to purchase cardstock and you need to have a printer that prints in color. Now you can of course provide your own cardstock and then take your finished document to Kinkos or any other business that will allow you to use their printers as well, if your printer does not print in color. Personally, I’m glad my little HP all in one does the trick so I don’t have to leave the house to take care of this particular errand! Oh, and if you want to ensure that your bookmarks are kept by those they are given to, and that they look professional, I highly recommend purchasing some plastic covers and tassels which can be purchased from here. Tasselmart has the best prices on vinyl bookmark sleeves and tassels than anywhere on or offline that I’ve found!
Here is how to create your own bookmarks using Microsoft Word.
Step 1: First you need to create a template for your bookmarks. You can measure some bookmarks that you have around the house if you like and design yours to be whatever size you have, or you can use the dimensions I’m about to provide you which I recommend. I personally prefer a smaller bookmark rather than a larger one. The bookmarks I create are measured 1 3/4 x 5 5/8 inches.
Step 2: Open Microsoft Word. Then click on the Table drop down menu. Then click on Insert and then Table. A window will pop up next asking how many columns and rows you would like. I’ve found that if I change the orientation of my document to landscape, (you do this by going to the File drop down menu, Paper Set-up, and then Paper Size, and change the orientation from Portrait to Landscape) that you can get five bookmarks per cardstock sheet. So back to your table, you want five columns and two rows. You’re probably looking at this and going, “huh?” It doesn’t look right does it? Well, that’s because we still have some set-up to do, and that leads me to the next step.
Step 3: Okay, now you have to set up each part of the bookmark. This is not as difficult as it may seem. Make sure your curser is in the first box, top row. We are now going to size this part of the bookmarks. Select the Table drop down menu, then select Table Properties and then Row. Now since this tutorial covers the size of bookmark that I use, you will want to check the Specify Height box, and then make your height 1.75 inches and select at least for the row height. Under the Options section make certain that the Allow Row To Break Across Pages box is selected. Then click okay.
Step 4: Repeat Step 3, except instead of selecting Row, select Column. Check the Preferred Width box, and specify the height to be 1.5 inches. Then click okay.
Step 5: Put your curser in the second row of the first column. Repeat Steps 3 & 4, except for the Row specify height as 3.5 inches at least, and the column will remain the same as the first row of your table with preferred width being 1.5 inches. Make sure to save a blank version of your template.
Step 6: So, you’ve created your bookmark template, what’s next? I suggest using your paint program to reduce the size of your cover art and then copying and pasting it into the first box on all five columns. Once you have it there, center it by selecting the picture and then going to the toolbar at the top of your document and selecting the icon (hint: it’s the one where all the little lines are centered) that will center it. Once you are happy with how your cover art looks on each bookmark, then you will want to make the bottom of your cover art box disappear. First make sure your curser is in the first cover art box. Then select the little drop down menu next to the icon at the top of your page that looks like a small box with dotted lines separating the box into quarters. Okay, the only way that I have found to make that bottom line disappear is to choose the icon from that drop down menu that shows all the lines of the box as invisible. Then you go back in and reselect each side that you want to show by clicking on the appropriate icon for that side. You’ll easily be able to tell because the icon will have the side of the box visible on it to match the side you want visible. Repeat this step until the cover art on all your bookmarks is centered and the line at the bottom of the top box is invisible.
Step 8: For the second row, I suggest centering and coloring your words to match one of the colors on your cover art. I also suggest finding a small positive quote that a reviewer, friend, or fellow author has given you regarding your book and have that in the second part of each bookmark. Also make sure you have your ISBN, and the logo for your publisher. My bookmarks also say something like “Available at all Quality Online Booksellers,” or if your books are only for sale at a few places you can say “Available at Fictionwise and my publisher,” for example. The point is to have the critical selling information about your book on the front of the bookmark so that those who see it and are interested can easily find your book. Finally, make sure you put a small blurb of what your book is about on the back side of your bookmarks. Just use your blank template and then flip over your sheet of bookmarks and print on the back side when you’re ready. Keep in mind you will have to work at getting them to line up properly!
Step 9: Your final step is to cut out your bookmarks and place them in their vinyl holders and add the tassels. Of course you have the option of foregoing the vinyl covers, but I’ve found that the ink will run if one of your book marks gets wet, which is another reason to go with the vinyl covers.
This is just one way to create your own bookmarks. It is my favorite because the bookmarks end up being keepers, and they look professional.
