As the holiday season kicks into high gear, I can’t think of a better time to help create a little extra magic for our books. Right now, people are on the lookout for meaningful gifts, inspiring stories, and cozy reads—so let’s make sure your book catches their eye. I’ll walk you through how to create buzz that not only shines this season but carries you into the new year–2025! (Can you believe it?)
1. Create Holiday-Themed Hooks That Will Grab Them
If you’re a regular reader here, then you know to tie your book into the season, but this is a reminder for you to sit down and come up with ways to weave your book’s themes or message into holiday-related topics. Here’s how:
- Family & Connection: For books about personal growth, relationships, or memoirs, pitch angles around family traditions, end-of-year reflections, or resolutions.
- Self-Improvement for the New Year: For wellness, finance, or personal development books, highlight tips for “starting fresh” or “preparing for a better 2025.” You can go full out in January, but for now you’re planting seeds.
- Gift-Ready Stories: Book lovers love book-related stories, so pitch angles like “Why Books Are the Ultimate Holiday Gift” and tailor this to their genre.
2. Pitching for Gift Guides: Last-Minute Yet Effective Approaches
Even late in the season, gift guides can be an opportunity, especially for online publications or local blogs.
- Contact Local Outlets: There still may be time to reach out to local news, blogs, and influencers who might still be accepting holiday book recommendations for a quick turnaround.
- Highlight Unique Aspects: Identify what makes your book an “unmissable gift.” For example, a meditation guide for the wellness seeker, a cookbook for food lovers, a travel memoir for adventurers, or biography or historical account for the history buff.
- Amazon and Retail Round-Ups: Many outlets do “Best of Amazon” or “Best-Sellers” lists. Pitch your book to them and be sure to leverage any positive reviews or trending topics related to your book.
3. Timing Tips and Quick Wins
- Pitch Midweek: Editors are often more receptive Tuesday through Thursday, and with the holiday rush, it’s worth being strategic with timing. (I have occasionally found exceptions to this and one day soon I will write a piece on busting those myths.)
- Follow-Up: There is power in a polite follow-up as editors’ inboxes are often flooded. A well-timed reminder can work wonders. Considerably more effective if you include some new piece of information!
- Holiday-Themed Soundbites: Take some time and prepare brief, holiday-themed soundbites for media use. This gives journalists an “easy-to-use” snippet they can plug into stories. This is just smart to do. (I have a whole chapter on how to create sound bites in my own book, Media Darling, FYI.)
4. Utilizing Social Media: Building Buzz Through Seasonal Hashtags
Join holiday book conversations on social media:
- Create Visuals: Create seasonal graphics with quotes, holiday scenes, or your book in a cozy setting to catch the eye. You can do this very simply. It doesn’t have to be a big production; just take some nice photos of you or others reading your book.
- Holiday Hashtags: Popular tags like #HolidayReadingList, #ChristmasBooks, or #NewYearNewReads can help you reach new readers looking for seasonal recommendations. Don’t stress about it though. Make it fun.
Bottom line:
It’s been a challenging year in a number of ways, which makes this season an even more wonderful opportunity to bring warmth, inspiration, and joy to others. With a few thoughtful touches and creative strategies, you can position your book as the perfect holiday gift, one that resonates well beyond the season. So embrace the holiday spirit, share the unique magic of your work, and let’s make this a festive season of unforgettable book buzz. What’s better for a community of authors? We support each other!
P.S. Happy Holidays!
#Bookbuzz
#Mediatips
#Holidaybooks
#Bookmarketing
#Bookpublicity
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