Holiday Insights Archives - Build Book Buzz

Odd October occasions offer book promotion opportunities

Sandra Beckwith — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 12:00:58 +0000

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Associate links, which means if you click on them and make a purchase, I will receive a couple of pennies (at no extra charge to you).

There’s already a chill in the air here in Western New York as fall approaches. As we say goodbye to summer and look ahead to cooler months, let’s think about how you can banish the weather blues by having a little fun with your book promotion.

October offers more than a few quirky, unexpected, and downright wacky holidays and occasions that you can take advantage of to bring attention to your book. (Looking for something with gravitas? You won’t find it here.)

It’s also National Popcorn Popping Month and National Sarcastic Awareness Month. A bounty of riches! (Hmm . . . was that sarcasm?)

How to leverage odd October occasions

Not sure how to go about pairing your book with any of the fun holidays below? Here are a few examples to get you started.

October 5, Do Something Nice Day, works well for the children’s book How to Be Nice. Does one of your novel’s characters have a reputation for being “nice?” Have you written a self-help book that includes wisdom on the importance of being nice or advice on how to be a better person? Or, do you just want to help a very chaotic world become a nicer place? Then this holiday is for you.
Cookbook Launch Day on October 12 is a no-brainer for anyone about to introduce a cookbook, but what about those of us who love cookbooks? Write a blog post that shares those you own, or post about one of your favorites on social media. This is a good opportunity to support other authors, especially those who help you create menus!
October 21, Count Your Buttons Day, is perfect for my talented cousin, Sylvia Liszka Durell. Sylvia’s the author of Haiku for Button Lovers, an Amazon category best-seller when first published. Sylvia can post a photo of a jar full of buttons on Facebook and offer her book as a prize for anyone who can guess how many buttons it holds.

Which can you add to your book promotion calendar?

Here’s a partial list of the odd October occasions you can add to next month’s book promotion calendar. Get the full list on the Holiday Insights site.

October 1 International Day for the Elderly
October 2 National Custodial Worker Day
October 3 Techies Day
October 5 Do Something Nice Day
October 7 Bald and Free Day
October 9 Fire Prevention Day
October 10 National Motorcycle Ride Day
October 11 It’s My Party Day
October 12 Cookbook Launch Day
October 13 International Skeptics Day
October 14 National Take Your Parents to Lunch Day
October 16 Dictionary Day
October 17 Wear Something Gaudy Day
October 18 National Meatloaf Appreciation Day
October 19 Evaluate Your Life Day
October 20 Brandied Fruit Day
October 21 Count Your Buttons Day
October 22 National Nut Day
October 23 TV Talk Show Host Day
October 25 Mother-In-Law Day
October 27 Black Cat Day
October 29 National Frankenstein Day
October 30 National Candy Corn Day
October 31 Increase Your Psychic Powers Day

Which of these holidays can you use next month to help spark conversation and call attention to your book in a fun way?

Quirky October holidays offer book promotion possibilities

Sandra Beckwith — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 12:00:53 +0000

One of the easiest ways to promote your book is to link it to events, seasonal occasions, and holidays.

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.

October book promotion possibilities

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.

October 1 National Homemade Cookies Day
October 1 World Vegetarian Day
October 2 National Custodial Worker Day
October 3 Techies Day
October 5 Do Something Nice Day
October 5 World Teacher’s Day
October 7 International Frugal Fun Day
October 9 Leif Erikson Day
October 9 Moldy Cheese Day
October 12 Cookbook Launch Day
October 13 International Skeptics Day
October 16 Dictionary Day
October 17 Wear Something Gaudy Day
October 19 Evaluate Your Life Day
October 22 Mother-In-Law Day – fourth Sunday in October
October 24 United Nations Day
October 27 National Tell a Story Day in the U.K.
October 28 Make a Difference Day
October 29 Hermit Day

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!

Indie Author Day is October 14 this year

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.

Use quirky September holidays for book promotion

Sandra Beckwith — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 12:00:43 +0000

Persistence — and a little creativity — go a long way with book promotion.

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.

September’s book promotion occasions

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.

September 2 International Bacon Day
September 5 Be Late for Something Day
September 5 Cheese Pizza Day
September 6 Fight Procrastination Day
September 6 Read a Book Day
September 8 International Literacy Day
September 9 Teddy Bear Day
September 10 Sewing Machine Day
September 11 Make Your Bed Day
September 13 Defy Superstition Day
September 13 Fortune Cookie Day
September 13 Positive Thinking Day
September 16 Step Family Day
September 18 National Women’s Friendship Day
September 18 Wife Appreciation Day
September 19 International Talk Like A Pirate Day
September 25 National Comic Book Day
September 28 National Good Neighbor Day
September 29 Confucius Day

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.