Eight simple book marketing tasks. Less than 15 minutes each. One chance to win a FREE 1-hour book marketing strategy session!
You know what I love almost as much as a good book? A cheesy Hallmark Christmas movie.
Give me the small-town bakery owner, the big-city executive who forgot the meaning of Christmas, the conveniently timed snowstorm, and the inevitable kiss under the mistletoe.
Bonus points if there’s a Christmas tree farm involved.
And if you’ve ever played Hallmark Christmas movie bingo, you know exactly what I’m talking about. You check off the predictable plot points as they happen, and before you know it, BINGO!
(Thanks for the inspo fellow bookish wizard, AJ Harper.)
Well, I figured we could borrow a little of that holiday magic and put it toward something that authors actually need. A little momentum in their book marketing before the year ends.
Because here’s the thing: You don’t need to launch an elaborate marketing campaign, post every single day, or spend hours creating content to remind people that your book exists.
Sometimes, you just need to take a few small, intentional actions.
So, in the spirit of the season, I’m introducing…
Book Marketing Bingo: The End-of-Year Edition!
Eight easy tasks. Each one takes less than 15 minutes. All designed to help you finish 2026 strong and set your book (and your business) up for success in 2027.
And because I love a little friendly competition, I’m throwing in a prize! WE LOVE PRIZES!
Complete the entire bingo card by December 1, 2026, and you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a FREE 1-hour book marketing strategy session with me!
The winner will be drawn on December 2, 2026 and announced on social media, so make sure you’re following here and here.
But first, let’s talk about why these eight little squares matter.
Why Small Book Marketing Actions Can Make a Big Difference
One of the biggest challenges I see nonfiction authors face isn’t a lack of ideas.
It’s the feeling that book marketing has to be this massive undertaking.
You spent months (maybe years!) writing, editing, publishing, and launching your book. Then the initial excitement settles down, and suddenly you’re staring at your social media accounts wondering what the heck you’re supposed to post next.
Or maybe you’ve been so busy running your business, serving clients, and speaking at events that your book marketing has quietly slipped to the bottom of your to-do list.
Sound familiar?
Here’s something I want you to remember:
Your book isn’t the finish line. It’s an asset that can continue creating opportunities for you long after publication.
And keeping that asset working doesn’t always require a major time commitment.
A quick email to a reader, a refreshed LinkedIn profile, or a thoughtful connection with someone in your network might seem small.
But those little actions add up. BIG TIME.
That’s what this bingo challenge is all about.
Your 8 Book Marketing Bingo Challenges
Grab your bingo card and get ready to check off some squares!
1. The Review Request
Your task: Ask one reader to leave an honest review of your book.
Reviews help potential readers decide whether your book is right for them. They also provide valuable social proof that you can reference in your future marketing.
Think about someone who’s already told you they enjoyed your book but hasn’t left a review yet.
Send them a quick message!
You don’t need a fancy email campaign. A personal note asking for an honest review is a great place to start.
Time commitment: 5 minutes.
2. The Book Throwback
Your task: Reshare an older book-related social media post with a fresh perspective.
Remember that great post you shared during your book launch?
Chances are, a good portion of your audience never saw it.
And even if they did, they might appreciate it differently today.
Find an older post about your book, update the caption with a new takeaway or reflection, and share it again.
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time you show up online.
Time commitment: 10 minutes.
3. The Podcast Pitch
Your task: Find one podcast you’d love to be a guest on and save the host’s contact information.
Podcasts are a fantastic way for authors to introduce their expertise to new audiences.
But you don’t have to pitch 25 shows before the holidays.
Start with one.
Find a podcast whose audience aligns with your book’s message. Listen to a little of an episode, check out their guest application process, and save the information for future outreach.
Bonus points if you actually send the pitch!
Time commitment: 10–15 minutes.
4. The Connection Spark
Your task: Reconnect with someone who supported your book launch.
Think about the people who helped you get your book into the world.
The friend who shared your launch announcement. The podcast host who interviewed you. The colleague who recommended your book to their network.
When was the last time you checked in with them?
Send a quick message to say hello, thank them again, or ask how they’re doing.
Not every marketing activity needs to include a sales pitch.
In fact, some of the best opportunities come from relationships you’ve already built.
Time commitment: 5 minutes.
5. The Email Nudge
Your task: Add your book title and a link to your email signature.
This might be one of the easiest book marketing opportunities you’re overlooking.
Think about how many emails you send in a typical week.
Now imagine if every person receiving those emails had a simple way to learn about your book.
Add your book title and a link to learn more or purchase it.
That’s it!
A tiny update that can continue working for you well beyond the holidays.
Time commitment: 5 minutes.
6. The Quote Drop
Your task: Share one favorite quote or takeaway from your book.
You already wrote the content.
Seriously. It’s sitting right there in your book.
Find a sentence, paragraph, or idea that represents something you want your audience to understand.
Turn it into a simple social media post.
You could share the quote directly, explain why it matters, or connect it to a challenge your ideal reader is experiencing right now.
One page. One line. One post.
Time commitment: 10 minutes.
7. The Profile Polish
Your task: Make sure your social media bio mentions your book and includes a way to find it.
When someone discovers you on LinkedIn or Instagram, can they immediately tell that you’re an author?
More importantly, can they figure out where to find your book?
Take a few minutes to review your profile.
Does your bio mention your book? Is your link working? Does your profile reflect the expertise and opportunities you want to be known for in 2027?
A few small changes can make your online presence much more intentional.
Time commitment: 10 minutes.
8. The 2027 Seed
Your task: Write down three ways your book could create opportunities for you in 2027.
This one might be my favorite.
Because your book has the potential to do so much more than sell copies.
Could it help you land speaking engagements?
Open doors to podcast interviews?
Introduce your consulting services to a new audience?
Become the foundation for a workshop, course, or training program?
Set a timer for 10 minutes and brainstorm three ways you’d love to see your book work for you next year.
Don’t overthink it.
Just start planting the seeds.
Time commitment: 10 minutes.
How to Play Book Marketing Bingo (and Win!)
Now for the fun part!
I’m giving one author the chance to win a FREE 1-hour book marketing strategy session with me, where we’ll talk about how to make your book work harder for you in 2027.
Here’s how to enter:
Step 1: Complete ALL 8 Squares
Yes, all eight.
We’re playing with a 3×3 bingo card, and the center square is FREE because, well, you wrote a whole dang book. That deserves some recognition!
But unlike traditional bingo, three in a row won’t cut it.
You need to complete the entire card to qualify.
Each task takes less than 15 minutes, so you can tackle them over a few days or spread them out over several weeks.
Step 2: Keep Your Receipts!
I’ll be asking to see proof that you’ve completed the tasks.
That might mean screenshots of your updated profile, a copy of the message you sent requesting a review, or a photo of your 2027 brainstorming notes.
Keep those receipts handy!
Step 3: Share Your Completed Card
Once you’ve checked off all eight squares, share your completed bingo card on social media.
Tag @ohsnapsocialkarlyn on IG or simply tag Karlyn Ankrom on LinkedIn and tell me which action you found most helpful and why.
I’d love to hear what surprised you, what felt easier than expected, or what you’re excited to build on in 2027.
Step 4: Enter by December 1, 2026
You must complete all eight actions, share your finished card, and tag @ohsnapsocialkarlyn on IG or simply tag Karlyn Ankrom on LinkedIn by December 1, 2026, to be eligible for the drawing.
The winner will be randomly drawn on December 2, 2026 and announced on social media!
One eligible participant will receive a complimentary 60-minute strategy session with me.
During our call, we’ll look at your book, your goals, and the opportunities you want to create, then identify practical ways to connect your book to your visibility, authority, and business growth.
Your Book Deserves More Than a Holiday on the Shelf
Whether your book launched last month or three years ago, it’s not too late to give it some attention before the year ends.
And no, I’m not suggesting you spend the holidays glued to your laptop creating a 47-step marketing funnel. You’ve got cookies to bake, presents to wrap, and cheesy Christmas movies to watch. What I am suggesting is that you give yourself permission to start small because book marketing isn’t always about doing more; it’s about being intentional with our time, who we’re trying to reach and leveraging the content and connections we already have in motion.
Eight small actions might not seem like much. But it’s a starting spark that could lead to big ol’ opportunities now and heading into 2027.
Ready to Play?
Download or save your Book Marketing Bingo card, complete all eight challenges, and share your finished card by December 1!
Don’t forget to tag @ohsnapsocialkarlyn on IG or simply tag Karlyn Ankrom on LinkedIn.
I’ll draw the winner of the FREE 1-hour book marketing strategy session on December 2, 2026 and announce it on social media. Now go give that book of yours a little end-of-year love.
And may your holiday season be filled with five-star reviews, podcast invitations, and absolutely zero unexpected small-town snowstorms.
Unless, of course, you’re into that sort of thing.
Happy BINGO-ing!