10 Unorthodox Book Marketing Ideas for 2026

About this video

Dale offers ten book marketing ideas beyond the standard advice (post more, run Amazon ads, build a list). (1) Donate copies to Little Free Libraries: in his Columbus, Ohio case study most donated books were gone when he returned 3 to 6 months later; he says he has checked in at over 100 locations and donated well over 100 books — add a ’not for resale’ note and a QR code (he names kindlepreneur.com’s free generator) to a newsletter or book page. (2) Pitch niche-matched podcasts rather than big mismatched shows, finding them via the free podcastguests.com newsletter (Ctrl+F for your niche) and pitching a conversation, not the book, with a press kit ready. (3) After an appearance, offer the host an affiliate deal through Payhip or Gumroad — he suggests at least 10% and up to 50% for a large, well-targeted audience, negotiated individually. (4) Go grassroots locally, citing children’s author Karen Inglis and Bowling Green, Ohio author Susan Montgomery, whose local hooks led to newspaper, radio, podcast and PBS attention. (5) Seek local bookstore consignment (his friend Keith Wheeler’s deal: store displays, profits split, unsold copies returned) instead of walking in cold with a box of books. (6) Use libraries as venues: he reports Sylvia Hubbard of Motown Writers Network landing paid library opportunities of about $100 to $400. (7) Livestream readings and reader access (his example: Skelly’s Skellypop channel). (8) Host author panels of three to five same-audience authors with a moderator, on reader-language topics. (9) Relaunch an older book around an anniversary or milestone. (10) Go permafree: Amazon price-matches a book made free on a competitor like Apple Books; he says his nine permafree books launched in 2015 grew his list, and one permafree title’s print edition outsells his other print titles. He also plugs his free No-Budget Book Marketing Plan throughout.

Key takeaways

• Little Free Library donations work as discovery: most of Dale’s donated copies were gone within 3-6 months; add a not-for-resale note and a QR code to capture the reader
• Find podcast guest spots free via podcastguests.com, pitch a conversation that serves the audience (not the book), and keep application answers pre-written to respond fast
• Turn hosts into affiliates after rapport is built: Payhip/Gumroad links at 10% up to 50% commission, negotiated per partner
• Local-first marketing compounds: community hooks, bookstore consignment and library events (reported at about $100-$400 per paid library opportunity) cost little and earn local media
• A permafree first book (price-matched by Amazon via a free listing elsewhere) plus anniversary relaunches can revive a backlist without ad spend

Episode details: published July 28, 2026 · 16:44 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Business results and any income figures mentioned are Dale L. Roberts’s own claims, shared for education — they are not typical or guaranteed.

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