Process 5 & 6: Marketing & Promotion Archives — The Self-Publishing Advice Center

Inside the Judges’ Minds: What Award Panels Really Look For

In this Alliance of Independent Authors post, Book Award Adviser Hannah Jacobson explains what judging panels prioritize and how authors can position their books for the best chance at award success.

Smart Spending: How Many Book Awards Should You Enter?

In this Alliance of Independent Authors post, Book Award Adviser Hannah Jacobson explains how to set a smart, realistic budget for award submissions and decide how many competitions are worth your time and money.

Self-Publishing | With ALLi | Conference | Highlight | SelfPublishingAdvice.org/podcast

Proof is Profitable — Use Reviews, Contests, and Awards to Drive Reader Engagement and Sales: Self-Publishing Advice Conference Highlight

In this Self-Publishing Advice Conference highlight, discover how reviews, contests, and awards can boost your reputation and drive engagement in the session, “Proof is Profitable.” Hannah Jacobson of Book Award Pro and Edward Trayer of The Wishing Shelf Book Awards share case studies and practical strategies alongside a panel of award-winning indie authors. Together, they explore how to use customer reviews to build trust, enter and win contests to gain recognition, and leverage awards to enhance your brand’s prestige and attract a wider audience.

Small Awards, Big Impact: Why Niche Recognition Can Outperform Major Prizes

In this Alliance of Independent Authors post, Book Award Adviser Hannah Jacobson explains how smaller, niche awards can often deliver more meaningful career benefits for indie authors than chasing major literary prizes.

The Biggest Book Award Myth That’s Keeping Indie Authors from Winning

In this Alliance of Independent Authors post, Book Award Adviser Hannah Jacobson debunks the myth that great books automatically win awards, urging indie authors to take an active role in seeking recognition.

The Hidden World of Global Book Awards: Opportunities for Every Author, Everywhere

In this Alliance of Independent Authors post, Book Award Adviser Hannah Jacobson explores the wide world of global book awards and how independent authors everywhere can find recognition, no matter where or how they publish.

One Author, Many Faces: Managing Multiple Identities

As indie authors expand their careers, many discover that one name doesn't always fit all. A romance author might pivot to horror. A nonfiction writer might decide to finally publish that novel. Or someone who writes across genres may wonder whether each audience needs a different kind of branding. The result? Writers are managing multiple identities—some under different pen names, some through distinct imprints, and others just by shifting tone and voice depending on the context.

The Ultimate Guide to Author Collaboration in Writing and Publishing

Indie authors are generous in sharing information and paying knowledge forward which has given us real competitive advantages. The Alliance of Independent Authors is built on such author collaboration. Others are entering formal collaboration partnerships in writing and publishing. Here is your Ultimate Guide to Author Collaboration in Writing and Publishing

June 30, 2025
ALLi Editorial
Business & Planning, Process 5 & 6: Marketing & Promotion, Top 100
1 Comment

Can Older Books Still Win Awards? Absolutely!

In this Alliance of Independent Authors post, Book Award Adviser Hannah Jacobson dispels the myth that awards are only for new releases, showing how older books can remain strong contenders for recognition.

Live Events: What Authors Gain by Showing Up

With so much expert content now available online—through webinars, courses, and virtual conferences—many authors wonder if it's still worth attending live events. The answer, as you'll see below, is yes. But not just for the educational sessions. The real value often lies in the connections you make, the energy in the room, and the unexpected conversations that can shape your career.

Going Local: Authors on the Payoffs and Pitfalls of Hometown Promotion

Going local often provides the surest path to meaningful publicity. Standing in front of a library audience, chatting at a farmers’ market stall, or fielding questions on community radio transforms a distant byline into a neighbor readers can root for. That face‑to‑face connection sparks genuine word of mouth—the signed copy passed to a friend, the snapshot shared on local social media, the casual mention that “the author lives just down the road.”’

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.