Holiday Season Advice for Authors Seeking Christmas Book Publication

Every holiday season sees a spike in book sales, with December being the prime month for authors to make a profit. To survive and thrive during this time, it's crucial for writers of all genres to sharpen their digital marketing strategies.

Take some time for self-care; cook yummy meals, unwind, and spend quality time with loved ones. But if you're aiming to launch a book during the busiest season, there are some essential steps to follow.

Set your release date in December
Launch your pre-order campaign as soon as possible
Learn the operations of bookstores during December
Automate your marketing tactics
Run price promotions
Evaluate your results post-holidays

Set Realistic Expectations for Christmas Book Publishing

Before diving into the tips, consider your expectations. If you're still working on your manuscript, remember that preparations can take time, including formatting your book for digital platforms, having a marketing plan, and more, even for short story writers [1]. Rushing your prepping and packaging to meet a December launch isn't ideal.

However, if you plan to publish your book in early 2023, that's still feasible. Online sales have taken precedence since the pandemic. In 2020, indie authors made 69% more digital book sales via websites [2]. Also, authors and publishers increasingly prioritize ebooks and print-on-demand options, both of which continue to deliver profitable growth.

Publishing your 1st ebook is free on our platform. Or try out our premium plan and get a refund if you're not satisfied.

1. Set Your Release Date for December

Timing is crucial when publishing. After the autumn flood of books from traditional publishers, November and December provide indie publishers a chance to shine. Launching your book during these months means you’ll have a more visible marketing campaign and will be spending your marketing budget more wisely in a less crowded market [3].

2. Launch Your Pre-Order Campaign as Early as Possible

Set up your book for pre-order early on. This strategy helps test market interest and start building your discoverability. Pre-order sales contribute to your book ranking, possibly even earning a spot on the bestseller list [1]. Our platform allows you to set pre-orders for up to a year. You needn't have your final book cover or content ready for launch yet [4].

3. Understand Store Operations in December

Be aware that stores might face limited resources during December. For instance, Apple might not guarantee your book's publication past December 7 for a Christmas Eve release [4]. Research the holiday operations of the stores you wish to distribute in.

4. Automate Your Marketing Efforts

To maximize sales during the best month for book sales, automate your marketing activities. This optimizes your publishing and offers more personal time during the holiday season [4].

Email

Schedule email newsletters to subscribers, promoting your book, sharing snippets, or providing behind-the-scenes content. Organize contests or promotions to generate interest [1].

Plan and schedule social media posts ahead of time using tools like Buffer or Hootsuite. Frequently share updates, book descriptions, and teasers with your audience [1].

Assess whether it's feasible to be completely offline during the holidays, as readers might send messages or comments on your posts. If needed, delegate social media management to virtual assistants or allocate time daily to handle requests.

Amazon Ads

Prioritize Amazon ads during this period, as they help boost your book's visibility on the platform [4]. Let our platform's AI-powered tool handle ad creation and management for easy and improved performance.

5. Run Price Promotions

Special price promotions on Christmas Eve can be effective selling tactics. Utilize paid advertising platforms like Bookbub or Bargain Booksy for wider outreach [4].

Optimize your price promotions by scheduling multiple deals across stores through our platform [4].

6. Measure Your Results after the Holidays

Avoid constantly monitoring your campaign results, as making decisions based on limited information can lead to unnecessary actions. Instead, wait for at least one to two weeks before analyzing. This allows for better-informed decisions and ensures a relaxed holiday break [4].

Partnering with our platform grants you access to a one-stop-shop for distributing and promoting your book to thousands of stores worldwide. ↓

Get Started for Free

Sources: [1] Barnes and Noble (2020): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/writersblock/how-to-promote-book-launches-on-barnes-noblecom/[2] The Bookseller (2020): https://thebookseller.com/news/indie-ebook-sales-soar-69-due-pandemic-boost-543718[3] Reedsy (2020): https://reedsy.com/blog/how-to-promote-a-book-publish-book-during-holidays/[4] Gumroad (2020): https://help.gumroad.com/hc/en-us/articles/115003066908-When-should-I-publish-my-product-[5] Forbes (2019): https://www.forbes.com/sites/larrylight/2019/10/20/holiday-retail-author-promotions-deal-of-the-day-ridiculously-cheap-books/?sh=13a9f8a77755

To maximize book sales during the holiday season, it's essential to automate marketing activities, freeing up your time for self-care and family.
For instance, schedule email newsletters in advance to share updates about your book and create contests or promotions to generate interest.
Leveraging social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter can help you expand your reach and build a community around your brand, even offering short articles, fashion-and-beauty tips, food-and-drink recipes, home-and-garden DIY ideas, or entertainment news.
To attract readers and boost visibility, consider partnering with platforms that offer book promotions, such as Bookbub or Bargain Booksy—these platforms cater to fiction, non-fiction, and every niche, including lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, relationships, travel, books, education-and-self-development, and shopping.
After the holidays, evaluate your results and measures of success, like book sales or new relationships with readers, authors, and industry professionals. Use this data to refine your marketing strategy for future initiatives, keeping your finger on the pulse of the ever-evolving publishing industry.