Unique Author Branding and Content Ideas Using December Observances

by | Nov 23, 2021 | Monthly Observances & Content Ideas, Social Media for Authors

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It’s time to run through our December observances and unique author brand enhancements and content ideas for your monthly book marketing plan!

Without a regular connection to readers, you’re just another book on the shelf.

Take the time to make yourself stand out by using our monthly observances and tips to create interesting content with your own unique twist.

This is part of really refining your author brand!

Timely content that uses popular and trending search terms and hashtags is a great way to enhance your visibility and improve SEO in a very simple way.

And what’s really key: content ideas don’t always have to stem from your genre or topic.

When it comes to author marketing and building an author brand, ensuring that your fans and followers have ways to connect with you on a more personal level is as powerful as speaking about your genre and topic.

How to Use My Content Ideas

Below are holidays and just plain wacky and fun December observances for 2021.

I’ve also included a few content ideas and angles to help spark your creativity and help you wrap your mind around how to work them into your author branding.

Not all of these are worth an entire blog post or article, but nearly all of them can be turned into a fun or thought-provoking social media post or blurb in your newsletter – so it’s like getting triple the ideas!

There are always a lot of holidays around food, drink, and cooking, so get ready to share recipes or tag local fave establishments and ask followers to share theirs. The same goes for activities: this is a great chance to take selfies and/or to share a bit about yourself outside of being a writer.

These also open up opportunities for you to make recommendations for products – no, not official ads, but again, people love to follow someone who’s a great resource. Think outside the box to come up with ways you can help people out and make their lives easier or more exciting.

Keep in mind: ALL of your posts should encourage your fans and followers to respond, chime in, share their feedback, insight, stories, etc. Don’t forget to work that angle: let them know you want to hear from them!

Also remember: Your goal is to encourage engagement – never post flat content; be creative with how you pull others into the conversation and offer ways for them to easily engage.

Giving yourself a bar to reach is the first step to upping your author branding game.

Do polls, giveaways, fan art contests: remember to make it about your readers – not about you – and you’re guaranteed to see better engagement.

If you need some additional support on how to translate these ideas into actual content and posts, consider signing up for email coaching with me and we’ll get personal!

And don’t forget to grab our Monthly Book Marketing Planner from the Free Resources and Downloads section at the end of this post.

Getting Started with December Observances

Start with these month-long ideas! Several offer opportunities to support a cause close to your heart by sharing stories, raising awareness, and/or giving your followers ways to donate money, time, and love to your favorite issues.

Bingo Month

Safe Toys and Gifts Month

World Food Service Safety Month

Write a Friend Month

Read a New Book Month- I think you know what to do here!

December Observances by the Day

December 1

Eat a Red Apple Day

World Aids Awareness Day

December 2

National Fritters Day

December 3

National Roof over Your Head Day

December 4

Santa’s’ List Day – we hope you are on the “Nice” list!

Wear Brown Shoes Day- This is an opportunity for you to show off your personal style. Take it as seriously (or not so seriously) as you want and encourage your readers to share their favorite pair of brown shoes too!

December 5

Bathtub Party Day

Repeal Day – The 21st Amendment ends Prohibition. I’ll drink to that! Share your favorite cocktail recipe.

December 6

Bartender Appreciation Day – in Europe

St. Nicholas Day

Mitten Tree Day

Put on your own Shoes Day

December 7

International Civil Aviation Day

Letter Writing Day- We all want to feel connected during the holidays, and writing letters is a beautiful way to tell someone you’re thinking of them. Encourage your readers to send a letter to an old friend, family member, or anyone else in need of some holiday cheer.

National Cotton Candy Day

Pearl Harbor Day

December 8

National Brownie Day

Take it in the Ear Day- No one really knows where this holiday came from, but let’s use it as an excuse to communicate with each other! What’s something you’ve been wanting to tell your readers? Maybe ask if there’s anything they would like to say to you. Open up your ears and get the conversation flowing!

December 9

Christmas Card Day

National Pastry Day

December 10

Human Rights Day

Nobel Prize Day

Dewey Decimal System Day (Melville Dewey’s birthday)

December 11

National Noodle Ring Day

December 12

International Children’s Day

National Ding-a-Ling Day

Poinsettia Day

December 13

Ice Cream Day

Violin Day

December 14

International Monkey Day

National Bouillabaisse Day

Roast Chestnuts Day

U.K. National Postal Worker Day

December 15

Bill of Rights Day

National Lemon Cupcake Day

December 16

National Chocolate Covered Anything Day- Get creative with a poll asking what item is best covered in chocolate! Or what items should never be…

Jane Austen’s Birthday

December 17

National Maple Syrup Day

December 18

Bake Cookies Day

National Roast Suckling Pig Day

December 19

Look for an Evergreen Day

Oatmeal Muffin Day

December 20

Go Caroling Day

December 21

Crossword Puzzle Day- Create a fun crossword of your own to share with your readers! Make the answers about you, or about your book for a creative way to share information. Perhaps create a giveaway for the first few people to send you the completed puzzle!

Forefather’s Day

Humbug Day

Look on the Bright Side Day

National Flashlight Day

Winter Solstice – the shortest day of the year, date varies.

Celebrate Short Fiction Day – The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year. Why not celebrate with some of your favorite short stories?

December 23

Roots Day

December 24

National Chocolate Day

National Egg Nog Day

December 25

Christmas Day

National Pumpkin Pie Day

December 26

National Candy Cane Day

December 27

Make Cut Out Snowflakes Day

National Fruitcake Day- The debate about fruitcake will never be over! Have your readers weigh-in with their opinion on this controversial dessert.

December 28

Boxing Day – date can vary

Card Playing Day

December 29

Pepper Pot Day

December 30

Bacon Day

National Bicarbonate of Soda Day

December 31

Make Up Your Mind Day

New Year’s Eve- Setting goals for the new year is a wonderful way to stay real with your audience. Also take a moment to reflect back on 2021, and celebrate! There are no goals too small to be recognized and it’s nice to start a new year off on a positive note.

Unlucky Day

The Takeaway

Remember, being an author demands creativity, and it also demands authenticity when developing a marketing plan to support your author brand.

Coming up with unique content ideas for authors as part of your marketing plan is a great way to take your success seriously, without taking yourself too seriously! And these December observances should really help.

Resources and Free Downloads

Monthly Book Marketing Planner

Bonus Holiday Sales Strategies

5 Surprisingly Simple Book Marketing Tips to Help You Stand Out From the Competition

How to Market Your Book with Reviews to Get Stronger Engagement

Check out our Podcast

Check out Jane Friedman’s site, she’s an excellent resource

3 Comments

  1. Becke

    This article stimulated some fun ideas for me and my sleepy private FB group.
    Thanks,
    b

    Reply
  2. Joy Held

    What resources do you get these dates from? Would you share the links?

    Reply
  3. Anne

    Great ideas to get that drowsy/reluctant marketing side of my brain into action! Many thanks!

    Reply

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