Process 5 & 6: Marketing & Promotion Archives

How to Market Your Book When It’s Between Genres

If Colleen Hoover’s chart-topping It Ends with Us had been released in 2010, booksellers would have shelved it as a romance and moved on. But ask an industry pro today where that book belongs and you might be in for a monologue on the complexity of trauma narratives, feminist reclamations of the “problem novel,” BookTok’s taste for ugly-cry catharsis, and more. For authors wondering how to market their book when it’s between genres, Hoover’s success raises both hope and questions.

Never Miss Your Chance: Why Great Books Win Awards Any Month of the Year

In this Alliance of Independent Authors post, Book Award Adviser Hannah Jacobson explains why there’s no single “award season” for books and how authors can take advantage of year-round opportunities to gain recognition.

The Untold Truth: Award Recognition for Children’s Books, Picture Books, and Low Content Books

In this Alliance of Independent Authors post, Book Award Adviser Hannah Jacobson explains how children’s books, picture books, and low content books are eligible for a wide range of awards, despite common myths to the contrary.

Erotica Authors Confront Platform Restrictions and Market Limits

Erotica authors have always worked on the margins—pushing boundaries of taste, acceptability, and publishing norms. For many, the genre offers a space for freedom, identity, and creative expression. But that space is shrinking. Algorithms quietly bury books. Platforms impose vague restrictions. Advertising is nearly impossible. Authors are left guessing what word, image, or plot line might trigger a shadow ban or a takedown.

Are Book Awards Only for Fiction? Dispelling Award Myths for Indie Authors

In this Alliance of Independent Authors post, Book Award Adviser Hannah Jacobson dispels the myth that book awards are only for fiction and explains how independent authors can find recognition for both fiction and nonfiction works.

Beyond Book Sales: How Authors Are Expanding into Physical Products

Authors aren’t just selling books anymore—they’re selling an experience. Whether it’s special edition hardcovers, themed merchandise, or full-scale print businesses, more are turning to physical products to supplement their income and engage readers in new ways.

The Coming Year in Self-Publishing: Ricardo Fayet on Marketing

Each year, ALLi Campaigns Manager Matty Dalrymple meets with each of our advisers to discuss what they see on the horizon in their advisory area that indie authors should be aware of. In this installment, Matty sits down with Ricardo Fayet, ALLi's marketing adviser, co-founder of author services marketplace Reedsy, and author of How to Market a Book, to explore what’s ahead in book marketing. From leveraging AI as a time-saving tool to making the most of tried-and-true marketing strategies, Fayet shares his insights on what’s working—and what’s not—for indie authors.

Monetize Your Public Speaking: Podcasts, Author Events, and Beyond: Self-Publishing Conference Highlight

Alexa Nazzaro, founder of the Axel Author Group, discusses how authors can monetize public speaking through podcasts, author events, and other opportunities. Drawing on her background as a Toastmaster, corporate presentation trainer, Dale Carnegie trainer, and TEDx selection committee member, she outlines strategies for identifying speaking engagements, crafting effective author pitches, and making the most of speaking appearances to support an author’s career.

Feedback You Shouldn’t Ignore: Judges Speak About Self-Published Books

In this Alliance of Independent Authors post, Book Award Adviser Hannah Jacobson shares common critiques from award judges on self-published books, highlighting key areas—editing, formatting, and cover design—that authors should refine to improve their chances of success.

How To Sell Your Funny Fiction

Can you write humour? Or humor, depending on where you’re reading this? My answer to that is . . . probably. Yes. Yes, you can. Why am I hesitating? Perhaps it’s because, for many people, there’s a slightly different question. It’s not “Can I write funny?” but more a case of “Do I want to?”

Live Video Key to Author Visibility in 2025

In 2025, author visibility is more important than ever, but the strategies for getting noticed are evolving. According to Dale L. Roberts, indie author, YouTuber, and ALLi’s marketing podcast host, live video is becoming one of the most effective ways to connect with readers.

ALLi Member Marketing Success Stories

For our forthcoming marketing and promotion guidebooks, we're inviting member contributions that spotlight real-life marketing success stories. These will showcase a range of evergreen principles (Marketing Book) and practical promotional tools (Promotion Book) that have proven effective in the independent publishing space.