5 Reasons to Apply Marketing with no Budget in the self-publishing world

1. Mid-Sized Audiences Are the New Gold

In Samir’s report, mid-sized creators (25k–500k views) are driving the biggest growth in brand deals.

Similarly, in self-publishing, authors with small but loyal audiences often have more long-term value than viral bestsellers.
Instead of chasing scale, focus on trust and depth—build an audience that believes in your voice and shares your work.

2. Marketing Doesn’t Require Money—It Requires Connection

As Samir shows, growth doesn’t come from big ad budgets but from smart, consistent collaboration.
In self-publishing, that means:

• Cross-promoting with other authors in your niche.

• Appearing in podcasts, newsletters, or reader communities.

• Creating valuable short-form or educational content that naturally points back to your book.

3. Think Like a Brand, Not Just an Author

Successful creators package their content for brands; authors should package their stories for readers.

Have a clear author media kit, define your message and tone, and communicate what transformation or experience your books deliver. You’re not just selling stories—you’re offering a consistent creative identity that readers can connect with.

4. Diversification Builds Stability

In Samir’s analysis, brands are spreading their ad spend across many smaller creators instead of one big name.

For authors, that same logic applies: diversify your income through multiple formats and offers—books, audiobooks, courses, memberships, or special editions.

Each format becomes another “sponsor” sustaining your creativity.

5. Data Is Your Advantage

Samir cited data from Gospel Stats to understand YouTube’s changing landscape.

Authors should do the same: track sales, clicks, reviews, and conversion rates to identify what resonates. Use simple tools like BookReport, Notion, or Google Sheets to make decisions based on evidence, not guesswork.

Your numbers tell you which story deserves your next investment.

In Summary

The future of self-publishing isn’t just about writing—it’s about building a system that funds creativity. Your books are your content; your brand is your channel; your audience is your community.

“We don’t publish books to make money.
We make money to keep publishing books.”

(Adapted from Samir and Colin’s “Marketing Without a Budget,” Creator Startup, 2025.)