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Indie Author Marketing Plan 2026: A Simple Weekly System You Can Actually Keep
If your marketing plan requires a color-coded spreadsheet, a new app, and a minor in ritual summoning… it’s not a plan. It’s a guilt machine.
This is the 2026 alternative: a small, repeatable weekly system that builds readers through owned attention (email), search (SEO), and social (short content)— without burning your entire writing life to the ground.
What changes in 2026 (and what doesn’t)
What doesn’t change: you still need attention, trust, and a clear next step. What does change: platforms get stricter about spammy or scaled content, and algorithms shift constantly— which makes owned channels (like email) even more valuable.
Translation: build your plan on things you control, then use social as a discovery engine—not your entire livelihood.
The weekly system (the whole plan)
The 3-anchor week
- One “pillar” piece (SEO): publish or update one blog post that answers a real reader question.
- One email touchpoint (owned): send a short, useful newsletter that links back to the pillar.
- 3–5 socials (discovery): repurpose the pillar into short hooks, carousels, and quick videos.
That’s it. Anything beyond this is optional seasoning.
If you can keep this going for 12 weeks, you don’t just “market your book.” You build a searchable library and a subscriber base that follows you between releases.
The 60/30/10 content mix (so you don’t sound like an infomercial)
60%: Engagement
- Relatable reader/writer humor
- Hot takes on tropes
- Quick “if you like X, try Y” recs
- Mini-stories, micro-scenes, one-liners
30%: Book-tied content
- Theme posts (belief, consequence, identity)
- Character POV snippets (no spoilers)
- World rules explained like you’re not a textbook
- “If you liked this vibe…” positioning
10%: Direct promo
- New release / sale
- Signed copies
- Limited-time bundle
- Events and appearances
Bonus rule: one CTA per post
- “Read the full post”
- “Grab the free sample”
- “Join the newsletter”
- “Take the quiz”
A plan that balances value and conversion feels generous—and generous marketing converts better long-term.
A copy/paste weekly template
Weekly author marketing plan template
- Mon: Draft the blog post (or update an older one with a new section + fresh sources).
- Tue: Publish. Add 3 internal links and 2 external sources.
- Wed: Email your list: 150–300 words + one clear link back to the post.
- Thu: Turn one section into a Reel/TikTok (15–30 seconds).
- Fri: Carousel or thread: “3 takeaways” + a soft CTA.
- Weekend: One fun engagement post + one “book-tied” post.
Minimum viable version: publish + email + 3 socials. Done.
What to measure (so you don’t spiral)
Pick 3 numbers for a 30-day sprint
- Email: subscribers gained (and replies—replies are gold)
- Search: top 10 pages by impressions/clicks (Google Search Console)
- Social: saves + shares (not just views)
If you only watch one thing, watch: how many people take the next step.
Where to send people (conversion, not vibes)
Your content can be brilliant and still fail if it doesn’t have a clear next step. Here are your best “always available” endpoints:
- Start the series: The Observer
- Read what other readers say
- Take the Spirit Type Test
- Join the newsletter (weekly prompts + behind-the-scenes)
- Get the free 7-chapter sample
One CTA per post. Two CTAs if you’re feeling spicy. Three CTAs is how you summon indecision.
FAQ
How long should this take each week?
Aim for 2–4 hours total. If you’re over that, you’re probably overproducing. Ship smaller. Repeat longer.
What if I miss a week?
Resume next week. No “catch-up week.” Catch-up weeks are how you create a second job you hate.
Do I need to be on every platform?
No. Pick 1–2 you’ll actually use. Consistency beats omnipresence.
Sources
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