Book Marketing in 2026: What Works Now and What Doesn’t
Edward Peppitt 
A clear look at modern book marketing. Learn what still works, what no longer does, and how authors can build sustainable visibility.
The New Reality of Book Marketing in 2026: What Still Works, What Doesn’t
Book marketing has changed more in the last five years than it did in the previous twenty.
Trends have shifted, platforms have risen and fallen, and readers have developed new habits. Yet the core challenge remains the same: writers need a reliable way to connect with the people who will love their book.
The difficulty is knowing which methods are still worth your time. Many once-effective strategies now generate very little traction. Others have become unexpectedly powerful. Understanding this new landscape helps you avoid wasted effort and build a plan you can sustain.
One change is that attention has become even harder to earn. Readers are bombarded with micro-content across every platform. A single launch post, no matter how polished, can’t compete with the speed of today’s feeds. What works now is a slower, steadier rhythm of sharing ideas, moments from your writing life, and insights from your research. Small signals, repeated consistently, build more trust than any short-term campaign.
Email has quietly become one of the most reliable channels again. Social media can introduce your voice, but email sustains it. A modest list of a few hundred engaged readers can outperform thousands of passive followers. Writers who nurture their email list throughout the writing process often see stronger sales and deeper engagement at launch.
Paid ads are no longer the easy lever many authors want them to be. Costs have increased, targeting has tightened, and conversion requires a level of testing most writers find draining. Ads can still play a role, but they work best when paired with strong positioning, a compelling cover, and early proof that the book resonates.
Community-driven marketing has grown in importance. Readers respond to real conversation, not broadcast messaging. When writers share the thinking behind a chapter, the questions they’re wrestling with, or the decisions they’re making, they create a space readers want to return to. This approach isn’t fast, but it is effective.
The writers who succeed in 2026 will be those who combine steady visibility with realistic expectations. You don’t need to be everywhere. You need a few reliable places where your voice feels natural and your readers can find you.
If you want help shaping a marketing plan for your book, I’m happy to walk you through the options that match your goals and the time you have available.
