13 Ebook Marketing Strategies to Increase Sales In 2026

You’ve wrapped up your new ebook, and you’re ready to move to the next big step: getting it in front of the readers. It might feel like scaling a mountain at first, especially if you’re new to this.

The key to facing this challenge is to reframe it as a creative part of the process. Because it absolutely can be.

In this guide, we’ve collected some high-value ebook marketing strategies to help creators and publishers reach the right audience. Follow it step-by-step and watch your ebook sales rise.

Pre-launch Ebook Marketing Strategies

Before the official launch, you need to build buzz around your book. Here’s how to create anticipation, gain your audience’s early commitment, and turn your work into a bestselling asset.

1. Understand your target audience

Your first and most crucial step is knowing exactly who you are addressing. So, ask yourself: Who are your potential readers, and why should they choose your ebook over the countless similar pieces of online content?

To reach them, define a powerful Unique Value Proposition (UVP), whether you’re targeting business prospects or general literature readers. Share your core topics, key takeaways, or even a sneak peek of the content.

For example, if you’re targeting new-business audiences, focus on the pain points your content solves to win their trust. Define your ideal buyer persona and build your entire storytelling around them. Then adjust your tone and maintain consistency across all promotional channels, from email sequences to social media campaigns.

Moreover, use tools like AI, Google Trends, and Reddit to grasp what your target audience is discussing about your topic. Not only will this help you optimize your message, but it’ll also give you fresh content ideas to stay ahead of the curve.

2. Set up an ebook landing page

How can you start building a dedicated audience before the launch? The answer is simple. Craft a high-quality landing page and start collecting email addresses from people who are already highly interested in your topic.

Here’s a real-life scenario: The global digital marketing agency, SimplyDigital, created a free ebook on a highly relevant, trending topic to attract potential subscribers. By promoting their landing page across various platforms, they collected 15,000 sign-ups in just four months.

What makes a landing page highly effective?

• A clear, actionable headline that reflects the main purpose of the ebook.
• A strong value proposition that highlights what readers will learn.
• A short explanation of who the ebook is to attract the right people.
• A compelling call-to-action (CTA) with a simple sign-up form.
• A visual preview, such as the ebook cover or infographic.
• If applicable, social proof, like testimonials or ratings, to add credibility.

Adjust all these elements to your brand’s tone to build a consistent user experience across all platforms. To increase anticipation, create a waitlist to start building an excited audience before the launch. Keep in mind that incentives such as giveaways, pre-order discounts, or exclusive access to the first chapter always make sign-ups more appealing.

See how SEO consultant Tomer Rudzki executed this strategy:

If you haven’t built similar assets before, you can save significant time by using a landing page builder with pre-made templates. You can either use a dedicated tool like LeadPages or an email marketing service with list growth features, such as Moosend. Choose a template that suits your needs and customize it based on your ebook requirements.

Create your landing page

3. Drive traffic from different channels

Promoting your landing page requires strategic synergy across various channels. First, share snippets of your ebook content, such as quotes, infographics, and key stats on social channels like LinkedIn and Instagram, and invite your followers to your landing page or waitlist. Live videos and Q&A sessions are also major drivers of engagement.

Consider writing original blog posts and guest posts on relevant topics that serve as “appetizers” for the ebook’s core content. If you run a successful blog, place prominent CTAs on your most highly-visited pages to boost traction. If you’re active on YouTube, create a dedicated video to engage your subscribers.

As for your website, use banners, strategically timed pop-ups, and CTAs throughout your site (or on your main sales page, if applicable) to inform visitors about your upcoming launch. Optimize all these pages for SEO to ensure you are easily discoverable in search engine results.

And of course, send targeted emails to your existing list to inform contacts about the ebook and invite them to sign up.

4. Nurture contacts with a pre-launch automated series

Don’t let new contacts go cold, especially if the launch date is still weeks away. Warm them up with a triggered email series, starting with a personalized welcome email. Thank them for their support and clearly set expectations for the next steps.

Share exclusive content, such as behind-the-scenes glimpses or the mission driving this ebook. As the launch day draws near, send a teaser email with a countdown timer to build excitement.

There’s no need to overwhelm your list with a dozen emails. Instead, consider this series as strategic nudges to ensure they are ready to act on the launch date.

Crafting and delivering these emails manually, timed to each subscriber’s sign-up date, is nearly impossible. This is exactly why you need email automation software. All you have to do is select the trigger criteria and set up the workflows using if/then logic. Tools like Moosend offer pre-made workflows (often called ‘recipes’) to save you even more time.

Build your automation

Launch Ebook Promotional Tactics

Your new ebook is ready to drop. Here’s what to do during the critical first days to build maximum momentum and increase sales:

5. Give exclusive first access to email subscribers

Your most engaged readers have already signed up through your landing page. Now, turn them into your first buyers (or downloaders) by sending a highly dedicated email campaign.

Your subject line is an important factor in this campaign’s success. Create urgency to encourage them to check out faster. For your waitlist members, focus on exclusivity and scarcity in your copy.

Check out these powerful examples:

• My new ebook is LIVE! Grab your copy
• 🎉 Only 100 buyers get this bonus (Ebook is out!)
• 🚀 LIVE NOW: Your [Incentive] expired in 24 Hours!
• Stop [Pain point]. Get everything you need in the new ebook

In the body of the email, remind readers of the key takeaways and benefits using concise bullet points. Include a clear, urgent CTA such as “Get The Ebook Today” to finalize their purchase or download.

Remember, you don’t need an extravagant design to grab attention. A clearly written plain-text email with a compelling subject line and a focused CTA can often do the trick better. If you prefer an HTML version, here’s a great example from Flywheel:

6. Announce it on social media platforms

It’s time to announce the launch to your social media followers. Share dedicated posts or a launch video on the platforms where your target readers are most active (e.g., LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok).

Start by sharing powerful infographics or visual quotes directly from the book. If you’re new to content creation, simple tools like Canva or Snappa can help you easily craft engaging digital assets. If you offer an incentive, such as free copies for the first few downloads, ensure this exciting information is prominently displayed and easy to spot.

You can also run a giveaway contest. Ask users to comment and share the announcement to significantly boost visibility and reach new audiences.

Finally, host a live session to share the exciting news and get more people on board in real time. Use the session to explain the ebook’s value, share its creation story, and run a quick Q&A to further engage your audience.

7. Leverage your network for reviews

Word-of-mouth is a key component of all marketing efforts. To activate this social proof channel on the spot, share live the purchase link with your family and friends, and kindly ask them to leave an honest online review.

Leverage list segmentation by sending a dedicated email campaign to colleagues, industry contacts, or loyal readers, asking them to share it online and provide quick feedback or testimonials.

Also, you can set up a triggered email in advance that automatically goes out a few days after someone downloads or purchases the product, asking them to rate it on platforms like Goodreads or Amazon. Generating these reviews quickly will signal to platform algorithms that your book is trending. To increase your review rate, offer an incentive in exchange, such as a gift card to a lucky winner or a free copy of a similar ebook.

8. Implement a time-sensitive bonus

Urgency is a powerful motivator for immediate customer action when properly executed. To leverage this power, offer a limited-time incentive on launch day, such as a 24-hour discount or an entry into an intriguing contest or giveaway. Select an incentive that best aligns with your audience while still supporting your overall marketing plan.

Ensure you announce this bonus across all your pre-launch communications, including your teaser emails and social posts, to maximize anticipation. This is especially important if the offer is only valid for a narrow window, like a few hours.

9. Optimize your sales page

Whether your main storefront is your website or a dedicated landing page, your priority should be ensuring it turns visitors into readers. In addition to promoting across multiple touchpoints, ensure the page is fully SEO optimized to boost organic traffic from highly interested users.

Beyond the cover and topic, mention the benefits the readers will gain, and revamp your call-to-action to align with their purchase intent. As reviews start to come in, add them to the page as soon as possible to build trust with new visitors.

Look at the amazing sales page for bestselling author James Clear’s phenomenal book, Atomic Habits. It includes direct links to both digital and physical purchase options, plus bonus resources for purchasers, such as guides and a habit tracker. The social proof embedded on his page is a powerful addition:

Sustainable Post-launch Ebook Marketing Strategies

While listing your ebook on major platforms like Amazon and Kindle is a game-changer, you can make your content evergreen and drive sustainable sales using your own platforms. This requires a thoughtful, ongoing plan that you must revisit regularly to keep your promotional content fresh.

10. Analyze your pre- and launch day performance

First, monitor the progress of all your promotional efforts. Use data from platforms like Tableau and Google Analytics to gain deep insights into user behavior on your main sales page.

Track essential email metrics, including open rates, click-throughs, and downloads or purchases, to understand precisely what worked and what needs improvement. Moreover, track online conversations and reviews to grasp the ebook’s impact.

For example, if the buy-in was lower than expected, it’s worth reverse-engineering the customer journey to pinpoint what went wrong. Was the issue the topic, the price, or the promotional messaging? This valuable data will reveal clear reader preferences you can refer to when creating future content.

You can also employ tools like A/B testing in your content updates to continually discover the most impactful versions of your sales pages.

11. Re-engage disinterested subscribers

Have you spotted subscribers who signed up for your page but haven’t yet claimed the ebook? Send a targeted re-engagement email reminding them of the book’s core value to win them back.

First, send a follow-up email to non-openers with a different, high-impact subject line. For people who clicked or engaged with the content but didn’t buy or download, send a dedicated follow-up a few days later that focuses on overcoming objections.

To create urgency, induce Fear-Of-Missing-Out (FOMO) by highlighting the number of copies already downloaded or sales targets achieved. Integrating recent, positive reader reviews can also be highly effective in changing minds and capturing their attention again.

If they still haven’t purchased or downloaded after your final nudges, consider removing them from your active mailing list. This is especially important if you send frequent nurturing emails, as maintaining low engagement harms your sender reputation and email deliverability.

12. Expand your reach through influencers and affiliates

If you want to boost your ebook’s traction, partner with micro-influencers and affiliates. It’s the fastest way to tap into existing, highly engaged audiences. Identify creators and publishers in your niche and form partnerships to sell your ebook.

Send them a personalized email that clearly outlines the flat fee for their creative production and a commission percentage for every successful sale they bring. To make it easy for them, provide a clear media kit containing visual assets and pre-written copy for various formats (newsletters, social posts, videos), along with their unique tracking link to ensure every conversion is accurately recorded.

Beyond direct sales, explore other collaboration options, such as co-hosting a live Q&A session, appearing on relevant podcasts, or exchanging links with other successful bloggers to showcase your work far and wide.

13. Repurpose your ebook content

Content repurposing is an essential technique for any creator looking to target a wider audience with diverse content consumption preferences.

For example, you can transform a chapter or section of your ebook into:

• A newsletter series
• An infographic or a carousel
• A podcast episode
• A webinar or workshop

Then, embed a clear link to the sales page within all of this repurposed content. This will turn every resource into a sales tool.

Ready to Make Your Ebook a Must-Have Asset?

The biggest mistake publishers and creators make is simply waiting for sales to happen organically. But your digital asset deserves an enriched, strategic marketing approach. By prioritizing your email strategies, segmenting your lists, and creating genuine urgency through multiple touchpoints, you are transforming passive interest into active sales.

You now have the knowledge and the playbook to turn your ebook into a best-seller.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding ebook marketing strategies.

1. How long should the pre-launch phase last for an ebook?

The optimal time frame is four to six weeks. This duration allows you to effectively nurture your audience through emails, social media, and other channels, ensuring you build anticipation without losing momentum or attention.

2. Which channel (email, social media, or paid ads) should I prioritize if I have very limited time?

The people in your email list have already demonstrated interest and trust by opting in to your communications. Focus your limited time here, as this audience is already highly engaged and far more likely to convert.

3. Is email worth it for ebook promotion if my list is small?

Yes. Even a small list of highly engaged contacts is valuable. You should definitely reach out to them immediately and announce your new ebook with a dedicated email series.

4. What are the most effective marketing strategies for new ebook creators?

Create a waitlist to grow your email audience, then start nurturing those contacts with engaging emails. Key tactics include ebook sneak peeks, a teaser countdown, and valuable incentives like discounts or giveaways.