I’ve used this blog to teach or share with others how I taught myself a project, such as the genealogy posts with “how to” and “step-by-step” instructions. In the realm of family history writing, I’ve shared a lot of my research tips. So today, this post will be about book publishing and marketing.

Stop reading here if you are not interested in publishing or marketing a book.

I just completed a Marketing Plan for my books. It has seven sections, from ‘Planning My Promotion on Amazon to Begin in October’ to ‘A List of Blurbs to Use in Ads.’ I’ll begin with the latter.

I’ve collected possible blurbs to add to my advertisements. For example, “Ebooks are great for last-minute gifts because no shipping is involved and delivery is instant!” Here are more:

• Give the Gift of a Good Book
• Escape Reality. Travel Back in Time
• The Perfect Gift for Bookshelf Browsers
• A Gift for Your Older Florida Teenagers
• A Love Story for the Ladies and a War for the Men
• Give a book instead of a box of biscuits
• Finished Your Shopping List? Don’t forget yourself!
• Packed with fascinating stories from Old Florida!
• A Unique Insight into Our Past
• Books Make Great Gifts
• For That Hard to Buy for Person
• For the Person who has Everything!
• Twas’ the night before Christmas, and all through Florida, Not a cocktail stirred, not even a colada; The flipflops hung on the palm tree with care. In hope that Santa brought books this year!
• A Book is a Christmas Gift you can Open Again and Again
• Local Ad – Give a Signed Copy of Palmetto Pioneers this Christmas!
• Black Friday Ad — On Sale Palmetto Pioneers: The Emigrants Ebook or Kindle Edition $1.99 TODAY ONLY!

In the first section, I set up promos for each book. My graphic designer made me one ad, which I duplicated in different sizes for different platforms. One is for Facebook, Instagram, Bookbub, Amazon, etc.” The one below was done for Facebook. For example, detail iii says, “Send teasers to inform everyone there’s a price promotion coming (Black Friday). “Detail v. says, “Set up a KDP discount of Book 1 for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.”

I entitled the second section “Timeline of Times to Sell.” For example, detail c says, “Thanksgiving Weekend—For those traveling, suggest an ebook for their family holiday.” Another is detail e, which says, “Two Days Before Christmas means last-minute gift and a suggestion that an ebook makes a perfect last-minute gift because no shipping is needed and the gift is instant.”

The third section is for Kindle Gifts. I directed myself to optimize my book’s final pages. It directs the reader to purchase either Book 1 or Book 2, as either the prequel or sequel to what they just finished. Amazon will allow you to make a small change to the book, even after it is published.

Section four tells me to “Start Early on Social Media.” For example, detail a) directs me to get set up for advertising on Facebook. Whereas detail b) directs me to be creative and not depend on paid advertising. For example, I need to brainstorm about all the right reasons for buying my books. Detail f) gives me a boost by directing me to make sure all my visuals are eye-catching. Some of these are simply items on a checklist, to make sure my ad or creative is checking all the boxes needed.

Section five is to write a blog post on Christmas gift ideas and include my books. It also reminds me to include a direct link to purchase my book.

Section six simply asks me a question. Are my ads from last year and the year before last usable/ Can they be reused? How successful were they? Did I even measure their success?

So that is an explanation of my Christmas Marketing Plan. If you would like a copy, subscribe and leave a comment below asking for it. I’ll look up your subscriber’s email address and send you an email with my plan attached.

Happy Marketing!