Ahhhhh, September! You can almost feel fall in the air already, can’t you?
The ninth month of the year brings more than a change in seasons and apple cider. It also offers authors a host of fun September holidays to use for book promotion.
You might have already worked annual events and themes such as “back to school” or the start of the NFL’s regular season into your book marketing calendar. Are there ways you can use this list of quirky and crazy occasions to call attention to your book (and your personality!), too?
You can do so much with these quirky occasions. Think in terms of social media images and graphics, blog posts, tip sheets, and conversation-starting social media posts and commentary.
Here are a few ideas.
September 6, Fight Procrastination Day, has lots of potential for the author of a nonfiction time management book such as Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. It can work for a novelist whose characters include someone who just can’t seem to get things done, too. Share tips for avoiding procrastination, ask people what makes them procrastinate, or write about how you overcame this curse.
The author and illustrator of the popular children’s book Giraffes Can’t Dance could waltz ahead on September 19, National Dance Day,with so many possibilities. They include a YouTube conversation hosted by a children’s librarian, downloadable dancing giraffe coloring pages, or a Facebook Live story time for the little ones.
Jodi Picoult’s Leaving Time, a novel that’s “redolent with elephant lore that explores the animals’ behavior when faced with death and grief,” is perfect for Elephant Appreciation Day on September 22. Add brief facts about elephants to social media graphics, tweet links to informative articles, or blog about what makes elephants different from other large creatures.
Here’s a short list of some of the fun occasions coming up next month. Get the full list at HolidayInsights.com.
There are also several book-related holidays in September to consider, including Library Card Sign Up Month. You’ll find them in the 2021 Literary Calendar on this site.
Which of these holidays is a good fit for you and your book, and why? How will you use it? Please tell us in a comment.
]]>I pulled out a few of my favorites (below), but before scanning these and the full list at HolidayInsights, consider how you might leverage one of the many special days coming up next month.
Here are just a couple of ideas:
I’m sure you can think of many, many more things you can do with any of these quirky holidays next month.
Here are a few of the whackiest special days, but be sure to check out the full list on HolidayInsights.com.
Which of these can you have fun with? Tell us about it in a comment.
]]>You’ve probably noticed how many businesses use some sort of “back to school” advertising and promotion angle in August and September. You’ll see many doing the same thing with Halloween next month.
You can do this with your book just as easily as they can with their products. It just takes a little imagination.
A long list of fun, quirky holidays helps, too. That’s why I’ve listed what’s coming up for October here.
If you can link your book to any of them, write and send a press release or tip sheet, write a blog post, create an image to share on social media, or pitch a story idea. All you need is a logical and appropriate link to one of these fun holidays listed below.
For example, if you’re a cookbook author, use October 1, “National Homemade Cookies Day,” as a reason to share cookie recipes from your book. Does your book address the evils of bullying? October 5, “Do Something Nice Day,” provides an opportunity to offer advice on how to prevent or stop bullying. Scan the list for a good fit for your book and have fun with it.
Here are some special days in October to get you thinking. Get more daily, weekly, and monthly holidays for October at Holiday Insights.
Don’t be discouraged if none of these or the other October special days are a good fit for your book. You can still look ahead to November and December for inspiration.
You can always create your own holiday, too. Think about the potential with that!
Also, while it doesn’t fit in with the “quirky holiday” list, you’ll want to consider participating in Indie Author Day at libraries nationwide on October 14, 2017. Get information on how to get involved locally at the Indie Author Day website.
Have you been able to connect your book to any kind of holiday or special day and use it to get more exposure for your book? Tell us about it in a comment.
]]>One way to add some creativity to your book promotion is to link your book to seasonal activities, events, or holidays. “Back to school” is an obvious occasion for this time of the year, but there are lots of others coming up next month, too.
Can you link your book to any of these fun or quirky September holidays and special occasions? If you can, you’ve got a promotional hook that you can run with.
Write a blog post, pitch a story idea, send a press release, create an image to share on your Facebook page or Twitter. Imagine all you can do with this! You just need a credible connection to the “holiday” of your choice.
Here are just a few of the fun offerings at Holiday Insights, where you’ll find a longer list that might offer an even better fit for your book in September.
And . . . note that three special days below have a connection to books! What author can’t make the most of “Read a Book Day?”
Click through on each link for the details.
Naturally, not every author will find a good fit on September’s list of occasions, but you can look ahead to October and November for more inspiration.
Have you ever used this tactic to promote your book? Let us know in a comment.
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