The State of Author Marketing

Dear Author,

We’re on a mission to answer a big question: What is actually working in book marketing right now for nonfiction and memoir authors? To find out, we’re going straight to the source, authors like you who are in the trenches doing the work. Whether your book came out last month or ten years ago, your real-world experience is invaluable.

You've probably heard that the average author sells 150 copies of their book in their lifetime. We went looking for where that number actually came from and couldn't find a credible source. What we did find was a single 2006 industry estimate that's been repeated ever since.

This survey exists to replace that guess with something real.

Would you take up to 10 minutes to share your insights with us? The survey length varies based on the amount of marketing you have done for your book.

Why Participate?

• See your own marketing through a new lens. This isn't a generic survey, every question is built around the ASPEN Method, a five-stage marketing framework (Assess, Strategize, Plan, Execute, Nurture). As you answer, you'll walk through your own approach stage by stage, which tends to surface gaps or angles you hadn't considered, whether that's a channel you never tried, a piece of your launch you skipped, or a way to re-engage readers you hadn't thought about.
• Get a Free Workbook. As a thank-you for completing the survey, you'll receive a free copy of the Promote Your Purpose Workbook, a practical, prompt-driven companion to the ASPEN Method.
• Get the Industry Report. Everyone who finishes will have the option to receive the published findings, so you can see how your own approach compares to authors across the industry.
• Win Prizes. You'll also be entered to win one of nine additional prizes, including a 1:1 strategy call, a membership to the Institute for Author Growth and Impact, or the full Promote Your Purpose book bundle.

A special thank you to all of our community partners for helping spread the word, this research wouldn't reach nearly as many authors without your support.

And if you're reading this: thank you in advance for adding your voice. This only works because authors like you are willing to share what's actually happened for them.