Process 5 & 6: Marketing & Promotion Archives

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.

The Hidden Value of Regional Book Awards: Why Indie Authors Should Think Local

In this Alliance of Independent Authors post, Book Award Adviser Hannah Jacobson explores how regional book awards offer authors unique opportunities to connect with their communities, build local credibility, and boost their literary careers. Welcome to the Book Award Update for December 2024 with Hannah Jacobson from Book Award Pro.

Recognizing Excellence: Unique Awards for Indie Authors

In this Alliance of Independent Authors post, Book Award Adviser Hannah Jacobson highlights a variety of book awards—ranging from genre-specific to regional honors—that authors can pursue to enhance their visibility and credibility. Welcome to the Book Award Update for December 2024 with Hannah Jacobson from Book Award Pro.

Self-Publishing Marketing and Promotion Advice: Best Blogs 2024

Another year has zipped by, and December is here! Over the course of the month, we’ll be revisiting the standout posts from the Alliance of Independent Authors blog. If you’ve missed any of our weekly insights, advice, or case studies, no need to worry—we’ll be wrapping them all up for you. This week, we’re starting with a roundup of 2024’s top self-publishing marketing and promotion tips featured on the blog.