The Publishing Times
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In-depth articles, how-to guides, and industry analysis for self-published authors.
Filtering by tag: #Book Marketing · 40 articles · All articles
book-marketing
Books aimed at a clearly defined reader tend to be easier to market than books for everyone. Here is why specificity works and how to find a niche that is big enough to matter.
book-marketing
Trade and editorial reviews and everyday reader reviews do different jobs. Here is how each one helps a book, who reads them, and how authors can use both.
book-marketing
Your author photo appears on retailer pages, book jackets, event posters and every interview. Here is why it matters and a practical checklist for getting one that works.
book-marketing
A practical ten-step walkthrough for creating a Facebook Page as an author, from choosing the name and category to linking your books, posting and planning for ads.
publishing-news
The free AuthorTube Writing Conference runs on YouTube on Saturday, November 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern, with a Friday-night kickoff. What's on the schedule.
industry
The 2026 Amazon Kindle enhances reading experiences for authors and readers alike with faster performance. But are missing features a concern?
industry
Amazon's Kindle e-readers are now missing a USB-C charging cable. Discover how this affects indie authors and the user experience for e-book readers.
Strategy
Forget waiting for the tinsel to drop. Smart indie publishers are capitalising on the 2027 planner rush right now to secure early Q4 dominance.
Industry Analysis
Audiobooks are no longer just an alternative format; they are the ultimate discovery engine for modern publishing, supercharged by the rise of AI narration.
publishing-news
TikTok and Media Control named Rebecca Yarros' Fourth Wing Europe's top #BookTok book of 2026. Chloe Walsh is the top author, with two titles in the top five.
book-marketing
The Goodreads Author Program is free; Giveaways are paid, with Standard listed at $119 and Premium at $599. Who qualifies, how to apply, Kindle vs print giveaways and what Goodreads does not promise.
publishing-news
Goodreads readers can now rate books in quarter-star steps from 0.25 to 5.0. Book pages still show five histogram bars, and averages may shift over time.
industry
Amazon’s 2026 Kindle release reshapes the e-reader scene, offering AI-driven features that indie authors must leverage for reader engagement.
industry
The Honor Life S3 is a new ultra-compact e-reader catering to reader's desire for portability. What does this mean for indie authors?
book-marketing
One author will get a free marketing overhaul and a managed campaign, documented as a public case study. Applications close October 1.
industry
Discover how to create an author brand style guide that ensures consistency and builds reader connections across all platforms.
book-marketing
BookBub now sends a Featured Deal again the next day to some subscribers who didn't open the first email. BookBub says to keep the price low for at least two days after the deal date.
Publishing Strategy
The final quarter makes or breaks the annual balance sheet. Here is how independent publishers can weaponize the holiday product timeline for maximum sales.
Industry Analysis
General fiction on KDP is a bloodbath of vanity and low margins. Smart publishers are pivoting to specialty print guides for high-intent buyers.
Industry Analysis
Generalist publishing is gasping for air. In 2026, the real fortunes are built by authors dominating hyper-specific KDP print niches.
Industry Analysis
Indie publishers and savvy authors are finally bypassing legacy gatekeepers by mastering direct-to-consumer print marketing.
Industry Analysis
Stop dancing on TikTok for pennies. We examine why author newsletters still reign supreme for actual book sales while social media remains an expensive vanity trap.
Industry Analysis
Barack Obama’s upcoming Audible series signals a seismic shift in how books are anointed, bypassing traditional publishing gatekeepers entirely.
Marketing
Celebrity endorsements remain a potent force in book marketing, capable of catapulting titles to bestseller lists and generating significant buzz. Yet, their power is matched only by their potential for peril, demanding careful consideration from publishers and authors alike.
kdp
This 2026 guide for indie authors outlines the essential steps for selling books on Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), covering everything from setting up your KDP account and understanding ISBNs to strategic pricing for optimal royalties and leveraging author copies for direct sales. Success
book-awards
Reading is becoming a 'sexy' cultural trend, with celebrities and luxury brands embracing literature. This shift offers indie authors new opportunities for visibility and engagement with a broader, fashion-conscious audience.
kdp
In 2026, a well-crafted book launch press release is essential for indie authors to gain media attention and professional visibility. It's a free marketing tool that, when focused on a newsworthy angle and structured professionally, can attract journalists, bloggers, and reviewers.
industry
Hane Selmani advises indie authors to fully polish their books before seeking reviews or awards. Prioritizing thorough editing, proofreading, and professional presentation is crucial for success and a strong author brand.
book-awards
Los Angeles is launching its first book crawl featuring 13 indie bookstores. This event offers a prime opportunity for indie authors to connect with the local literary community and expand their book's reach.
Strategy
Amazon's changing review policies have made one thing clear: authors who own their reader relationships are insulated from platform changes. Here is why building an email list is now the foundation of every review strategy.
Marketing
Amazon now treats sudden review spikes the same way it treats sales spikes — as a potential manipulation signal. Here is why the launch week review blitz is now a liability and what to do instead.
Industry News
Amazon's automated review bots are removing legitimate reviews at an unprecedented rate in 2026. Here is what changed, why real readers are getting caught, and what authors need to know.
Marketing
Editorial reviews are not the same as Amazon customer reviews. Here is what Kirkus, Readers' Favorite, and Amazon Author Central actually do for indie authors — and the cold-pitch scam you need to know about.
Marketing
BookFunnel and StoryOrigin both handle ARC file delivery — but they work differently and cost differently. Here is which one makes sense for your publishing setup in 2026, and why Google Drive is not the answer.
Marketing
A review redirect link takes readers directly to Amazon's Write a Review page, bypassing the product page. Here is how to create one and why it dramatically increases your review conversion rate.
Marketing
Getting Amazon book reviews in 2026 is harder than it has ever been — and more important than ever. Here is the complete TOS-compliant strategy indie authors are using to build review counts without risking their accounts.
cover-design
Uncover the top 5 book cover design mistakes indie authors are making, backed by CoverCrushing's data.
Tools & Technology
Fewer than 30% of indie authors who run Amazon ads consider them profitable. BookAds AI is a new platform built exclusively for KDP authors that automates campaign creation, AI keyword targeting, and royalty-aware ACOS reporting.
Marketing & Discoverability
By The Publishing Times Editorial Team
amazon-kdp
Amazon Author Central is the free tool that transforms your Amazon presence from a bare product listing into a professional author brand — yet a surprising numb.