How To Sell Your Books During the Holidays and Beyond
The best ways to share your book with readers throughout the holiday season and throughout the year!
We all know that books make amazing gifts, right? Seriously, when someone gives me a book—especially if it's a book that they've read and think I'll like—it makes me happy every time. Likewise, I love giving people books as gifts because I love getting to share my favorite books with important people in my life!
As an author, the holidays can be a really interesting time, however, because you're up against a lot of big-name and holiday-themed books. There are people who would likely want to give your book as a gift, but
Make sure you know who your ideal readers are and go to them!
This advice applies beyond the holidays, but if you want to market and sell your book, it's essential to know who your ideal readers are! Though your first instinct may be to say that you want everyone to read your book, it's actually important to know the specifics. Think about your ideal reader's age, where they live, their hobbies, their problems, where they shop, what issues matter to them, etc.
If you're not sure where to start, then take a look at books in your genre. Look at reviews and see which communities or groups of people are leaving reviews. You can also check out keywords that you see being used consistently in book descriptions as this can clue you in on your reader demographics.
Once you know who your readers are, you don't want to wait for the readers to find you—you want to go to them! If you know your readers frequent certain websites, use certain forms of social media, or attend particular events, make sure your book is present in those places! That can mean creating content on social media, attending events, and interacting with other readers and authors.
Create special links, discounts, and codes for readers.
Since there are so many books available during the holiday season, one way to make your book stand out is to create a special link, discount, or code for readers. Everyone loves a good deal, and being able to purchase your book at a lower price can entice readers to buy your book.
Making specific codes or links or sharing a discount for those who are part of a specific community can also help readers feel seen and valued. Consider sharing an exclusive link for newsletter subscribers or hosting a giveaway for those who follow you on social media.
You can also add extra perks for readers who purchase your book within a certain period of time, such as sharing the first chapter of your next book or offering autographed copies of your book. This added value can encourage readers to purchase your book now rather than wait until after the perk has expired.
Remember that there are holidays year-round, and people can purchase books for birthdays, special events, and relevant campaigns!
Authors often focus on selling their books around the holiday season for good reason—everyone is looking for a gift to give! However, though it's worthwhile to spend time marketing your book for the holidays, it's just as important to remember that there are other times throughout the year when you should focus on marketing and selling your book.
Authors can choose meaningful dates, such as their own birthdays, and offer discount codes to celebrate special occasions. Offering discounts and focusing on selling your book throughout the year gives people the opportunity to recover from the holiday season, and it also keeps your book fresh in people's minds.
There are also certain events or campaigns around which you might want to increase your marketing. If you're writing a book about autism acceptance and awareness, for example, you might want to partner with local organizations that help the autistic community. You would also want to promote your book during April, which is Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month.
No matter what your book is about, there's likely a relevant day that relates to your book somehow. Take the time to do a bit of research and figure out when you could strategically promote your book.
While selling your book during the holidays can be exciting, remember that you can use these techniques to share your book with others all year long!
Are there any specific tactics you've found helpful for selling your book(s) during the holidays?
If you are writing a book and want a hand, let us know! Our team—Kim, Emily, and Jean—would love to help you with creating your book. If you'd like to talk about your idea or want advice, we are here for you. Even if we don't work together, I'm happy to share what I know. Book a 30-minute complimentary consultation by clicking here:
https://www.kwepub.com/consultation
We look forward to hearing about your incredible book project.
Write on!
Kim Eley
KWE Publishing
“It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it.”
–Oscar Wilde
Check Out Our Latest Behind the Publisher’s Pen Post About Book Events!
We know that book events can be fantastic opportunities to reach out to your community, share your story, and make some wonderful connections—but we also know that doing any type of book event can feel a little overwhelming. That’s why we talk all about how to have a book event that is successful and enjoyable in this week’s Behind the Publisher’s Pen post! Click the button below to read a preview of our in-depth article!
Coming January 2025—Ask Us Anything!
Have you ever had unique or detailed questions about the publishing process but haven’t found answers? We’re here to help! This January, the KWE Publishing team is going to have an Ask Us Anything post on our paid newsletter, Behind the Publisher’s Pen, but you don’t have to be a paid subscriber to ask questions! This means you can ask me (Kim Eley), Editor and Book Coach Emily Deaton, and VIP Marketing Concierge Jean Sime anything related to publishing, editing, writing, and marketing! Don’t be afraid to get specific with your questions; just make sure the questions you ask are ones you’d be okay with us answering on Substack. We’re happy to get in-depth with our answers, and if we don’t know the answer to a question, we’ll point you in the right direction and provide you with some resources.
How can you ask questions?
You can ask a question in the comment section of Substack, message KWE Publishing, or send us a question via email at kwe@kwepub.com!
If you’d like your question to remain anonymous, let us know, and we’ll post your question without your name.
We look forward to hearing from you and can’t wait to answer your questions!
Resources:
Here at KWE Publishing, we want to share a few of our favorite resources with our newsletter readers. Check back weekly to see what resources we recommend!
I believe there’s a time for every book, and sometimes, when the world feels a little scary or sad, an uplifting book can change your outlook on the world. However, it can be surprisingly tricky to find those inspiring books that fit the specific niche you’re looking for. Fortunately, Books Uplift can help you find just what you’re looking for!
Created by author Kimberly Charleston, Books Uplift features a wide variety of compelling, inspiring books from authors across the globe. Books Uplift showcases a variety of books from different genres, so you’re likely to find something you’ll enjoy no matter what genre you’re searching through. The site also spotlights indie bookstores, highlighting the value these shops bring to different communities, and has numerous blog posts about the craft of writing. Overall, Books Uplift feels a bit like a warm hug from a book-loving friend, and it’s a great place to find your next read!
