Christmas in July: Why Authors Need to Prep Now for Holiday Sales

The holiday season represents a golden opportunity for authors to boost book sales—but only for those who start planning early enough. In this strategic episode, we dig into why "Christmas in July" isn"t just a retail concept but a vital timeframe for authors who want holiday marketing success. We reveal the shocking truth about holiday marketing timelines: if you"re waiting until November to plan your holiday book promotions, you"re already months too late! Media outlets finalize gift guides during summer, promotional spots book up by early fall, and consumers need time to discover your book before making purchase decisions. This episode walks you through the essential preparations you need to make now to position your book effectively for holiday sales. You"ll learn the crucial distinction between marketing a holiday-themed book versus positioning any book as a gift, and why specific messaging matters ("perfect for your adventure-loving niece" resonates more than generic "great gift" language). We cover practical steps including website preparation, scheduling promotional content, booking eBook deals for Black Friday, building up reviews, and how to successfully pitch to holiday gift guides at outlets like Buzzfeed and major online magazines. Whether you"re planning to offer special holiday bundles, signed editions, book-plus-merchandise packages, or simply want more Amazon sales, the groundwork must begin now. Don"t let another holiday season pass with disappointing sales—grab your marketing calendar and start implementing these proven strategies that have helped countless authors transform the holidays from a missed opportunity into their most profitable season. Send us your feedback! Buy Penny"s book The Amazon Author Formula Please leave a review! Locate Ratings & Reviews: Scroll down on our podcast page until you find the "Ratings & Reviews" section. Rate the Podcast: Click on the stars to give the podcast a rating. Write Your Review: Under the star rating there will be the most recent review and just below that click "Write a Review" and compose your review in the text box that appears. Save: Once you"ve written your review, click "Save" to submit it. Be sure you"re following or subscribed to the show first. Can"t leave one on your preferred podcast platform? Email us your review and we"ll put it on our website: info@amarketingexpert.com. Check out our full-service publishing consulting here: https://amarketingexpert.com/publishing-consulting/