Marketing Plan for Holiday Season Book Selling

 

Vivian's post about attending book fairs, festivals, and craft shows reminded me that fall is coming, and before we know it, the holidays will be here. It is estimated that one in four books is sold during the holiday season. 

Have you started your holiday season marketing plan? If not, here are some ideas to get you started. 

• Make sure all your book descriptions are current 
• Update your author bio
• Verify links to purchase your books are operational (broken links disappoint potential readers)
• Schedule your social media posts in weekly or monthly blocks
• Plan emails to your readers with giveaways for their loyal readership
• Check your local paper for selling opportunities like craft fairs 
• Prepare a budget for paid advertising
• Order your book supply for events early so that you have them in time 
• Create or order promotional materials for events ahead of time

Making sure you have a plan and ordering books and supplies early will help you have a successful holiday book selling season.  

Cheryl C. Malandrinos is a freelance writer and editor. She is the author of four children’s books including, A Christmas Kindness, released by 4RV Publishing. A blogger and book reviewer, she lives in Massachusetts with her husband and three adult children. Visit Cheryl's website at https://ccmalandrinos.com or her children’s book blog at https://childrensandteensbookconnection.wordpress.com

Are You Ready for the 2020 Holiday Book Buying Season?

 

Fall bookselling season is here. Known as the best time of the year for book sales, everything in 2020 looks a little different because of the pandemic's impact on book clubs, local author events, and school book fairs. 

The silver lining is an August report from NPD that states the U.S. print book market is up 5.5% over the same time period in 2019. The same report predicts the book market is on track to have one of its best years since NPD Bookscan began tracking data in 2004. 

Are you ready?

Go Virtual

Some organizers of cancelled events are opting for virtual events. Debut authors are experiencing varied levels of success with virtual events when combined with more traditional methods. Consider getting together with a few author friends and holding a live virtual event.

Get Social

Social media helps you reach people via your ability to engage others on sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Using holidays, big and small, as a way to promote your books can be helpful. World Kindness Day takes place on November 13 each year. The purpose of that holiday is “to highlight good deeds in the community focusing on the positive power and the common thread of kindness which binds us.” If your book involves an act of kindness, you could highlight it on November 13 or on Random Acts of Kindness Day, which is February 17. 

Social media ads are also a way to promote your book. The social media site you choose will depend upon who is your target market and where they socialize. This article from BigCommerce discusses social media advertising.

Don't Forget the Locals

Despite the pandemic, local newspapers still need human interest stories, independent book stores still hold author events (even if they are virtual), and local schools may need workshop ideas that tie into their curriculum. Reach out to your local contacts and let them know you are there to help.

Order Early

Printers may experience production delays, so be sure to order your books early. 

Using these tips, you can prepare yourself to sell during the holiday book buying season.

Cheryl C. Malandrinos is a freelance writer and editor. She is the author of four children’s books including, A Christmas Kindness, released by 4RV Publishing. A blogger and book reviewer, she lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two daughters. She also has a son who is married. Visit Cheryl online at http://ccmalandrinos.com and her children’s book blog at https://childrensandteensbookconnection.wordpress.com

Holiday Book Marketing Tips

It's hard to believe the holiday season is almost upon us. That means book buyers will be busy soon. At BookExpo 2017, Sourcebooks CEO Dominique Raccah reported that 25% of trade books are bought as gifts. Even if you're not one of the lucky authors who has a holiday-themed story, you can still take advantage of the gift-giving season. Here are a few ideas:

Send Holiday-themed Newsletters

You're an author, so you have a newsletter...right? If not, you can find a list of newsletter builders and their features here. Share a special holiday memory or family recipe. Offer a special holiday sale for your newsletter subscribers.

Holiday Blog Hop/Scavenger Hunts

If you have a solid network of authors or blogging buddies, coordinate a holiday blog hop or scavenger hunt. Offer small prizes along the way and a grand prize at the end for a reader who has followed the entire event.

Create Holiday-themed Posts on Social Media

Place your books under the tree and snap a shot for your social media sites. How about your book propped up against your dining room centerpiece. Take a picture of yourself dressed for the season. Visuals are so important when engaging readers.

Create a Holiday Gift Guide

Penny Sansevieri, CEO and founder of Author Marketing Experts, Inc. suggests creating a gift guide where you recommend books for everyone on your shopping list. Not up to creating a gift guide, some bloggers feature holiday shopping gift guides annually where the author may pay a fee to participate or need to offer a free copy of a book.

If you haven't started thinking about how to market your book this holiday season, you best get started.

Cheryl C. Malandrinos is a freelance writer and editor. She is the author of Little Shepherd, A Christmas Kindness, Macaroni and Cheese for Thanksgiving and the recently released, Amos Faces His Bully. A blogger and book reviewer, she lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two daughters. She also has a son who is married. Visit Cheryl online at http://ccmalandrinos.com and her children’s book blog at https://childrensandteensbookconnection.wordpress.com