If you want to develop a successful strategy for 2025, you can’t do so without knowing the key self-publishing trends. That’s why we’re here to tell you what awaits all of us in the upcoming year.
Keep reading to learn why you should release audiobooks, how AI can simplify your writing workflow, how to enhance your book aesthetics, and why you must review your website design.
So, let’s get down to the business and dive deeper into the self-publishing trends.
Trend #1. Demand for ebooks and audiobooks continues to grow
The number of readers who prefer ebooks is expected to reach 1.1 billion by 2028. This is unsurprising, as electronic versions are cheaper and accessible from any device.
This is good news for indie authors who often have a limited budget. After all, it is cheaper to publish an ebook. Moreover, you can spread the digital version worldwide more efficiently and faster than a physical book, which requires extra costs for shipping at a minimum.
The audiobook market will grow by 26.4% annually over the next seven years. The voiced versions are an excellent opportunity to expand your audience. They allow people to immerse themselves in your books even when they’re busy cleaning or walking.
So, if you haven’t created an audio version of your story yet, it’s time to do so, especially since it’s easy and fast to produce it today.
Trend #2. Revenue channels for indie authors
Amazon is still the top moneymaker for indie authors, with 87% naming it as their main revenue source. Kindle Unlimited plays a big role here – authors in higher-earning brackets, like $5,000–$20,000+, often make over 75% of their income here. But for those earning under $250, nearly 28% report earning nothing from Kindle Unlimited at all.
For authors looking to diversify, platforms like Apple Books (13% of authors’ second-highest revenue source), Kobo, and Barnes & Noble offer great ways to reach global readers and explore print.
Trend #3. Direct sales in self-publishing
Direct sales are gaining momentum among indie authors, but the adoption rate varies widely. While 87.5% of authors have a website, only 29.6% currently sell books directly – though 33.2% plan to start within 2025.
For lower-earning authors (under $250 annually), direct sales are rare, with most sticking to third-party platforms like Amazon or Kobo for their reach and simplicity. Mid-income authors ($251–$2,500) start experimenting with tools like Shopify or BookFunnel to sell directly while maintaining their presence on larger platforms.
Higher-earning authors ($10,000+) embrace a balanced strategy, using both direct sales and third-party platforms. Direct sales let them keep more profits, build stronger reader relationships, and offer perks like exclusive content or signed books.
Trend #4. AI becomes the best assistant for writers
Let’s start with audiobooks. KDP has launched a beta feature that allows you to create audiobooks in minutes using virtual voice narration, a synthetic speech technology. Indie authors no longer need to hire a narrator and spend extra money on it.
Further, AI helps writers create catchy blurbs for their stories or improve existing ones. Besides, ChatGPT can help proofread your text for grammatical and spelling mistakes. By the way, popular proofreading platforms, such as Grammarly, have also added generative AI functionality.
You can also use AI to do quick research for your book, generate visual references, or just for inspiration. All these make technologies one of the essential self-publishing trends.
Trend #5. Romance, fantasy, and sci-fi are top genres among indie authors
Romance continues to reign supreme in self-publishing, with 22.7% of authors identifying it as their primary genre. Fantasy follows at 12.8%, while science fiction rounds out the top three at 7.5%. These genres are staples of the indie author community, beloved for their broad appeal and ability to cultivate loyal, engaged reader bases.
Interestingly, income trends reveal that certain niche genres – such as cozy mystery and paranormal romance – tend to perform exceptionally well at higher earning levels. For authors earning over $10,000 per month, these genres are particularly lucrative, likely due to the dedication of their fanbases, who eagerly support series and return for new installments.
Trend #6. Book aesthetics become essential
The book market is buzzing with competition, so why not stand out with an eye-catching aesthetic for your book? Plus, the design world is booming right now, with tons of tools and services available – think overlays, colorful edges, and more. Let’s explore them in detail.
Page overlays
They help your readers better visualize the characters and setting and immerse themselves in the story. A few high-quality illustrated scenes can be a game changer for your book promotion.
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Colorful or sprayed fore-edge
The edge can be monochrome, harmonizing with the color palette of the book cover design. You can also order a limited edition with sprayed edges containing key symbols from your story. Find more examples and inspiration for your book edges in our blog post.
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Dust jacket as an alternative cover
Dust jacket raises the status of your book and creates a wow effect. To enhance it, order it to be different from the main cover. It can be more ornate and rich.
On the contrary, you can make a dust jacket exquisitely minimalistic. By the way, this is an excellent idea for spicy romance authors because some readers can be embarrassed to read books with provocative couples on the cover in public places. A minimalist dust jacket will allow you to take your story everywhere.
Endpapers and decorative pages
Don’t forget about the magic of endpages and decorative interior pages. They can set the tone as soon as readers open your book. Whether it’s intricate patterns, illustrations, or quotes, these details can turn your book into a collector’s item. Decorative pages with thematic designs sprinkled throughout the book turn your story into something memorable.
Chapter openers
You can add unique typography, small illustrations, or thematic motifs to make each chapter feel special. They’re a perfect way to tie the aesthetic of your story into the interior design, creating a seamless reading experience.
Chapter opener design by Miblart
Foiled cover design
Foiled accents on the cover give your book a touch of elegance. Whether it’s shimmering gold, silver, or holographic foil, these details catch the light – and readers’ attention. Foil can highlight your title, author name, or intricate patterns, making your book feel premium and gift-worthy.
Trend #7. Best marketing strategies in self-publishing
Marketing is the toughest part of self-publishing for 78.5% of indie authors. However, the fact remains that those who are actively engaged in promotion make a significant profit. So no matter how difficult it is, it is impossible to avoid it.
Promo sites like Freebooksy and BookBub Deals remain top choices for boosting visibility and driving sales, especially for price promotions. Newsletters and lead magnets are reliable tools for building reader relationships and growing email lists. However, paid ads on platforms like Facebook and Amazon are often seen as challenging and expensive, requiring time and expertise to deliver results.
Underrated strategies like backmatter links, reader magnets, and multi-author promotions can make a huge difference. Adding an email sign-up link to your book’s backmatter or teaming up with other authors for joint promos can grow your email list and boost sales significantly.
Trend #8. TikTok and Reels in book promotion
Short video forms, like TikTok clips and Instagram reels, remain a powerful marketing tool, and here is why.
As of 2024, #BookTok has had over 100 billion views on TikTok, growing daily. It’s no secret that the platform helps authors who have been overlooked for a long time become popular. For example, as happened with Lloyd Devereux Richards.
As for Instagram reels, more than 2 billion people interact with them monthly. Thus, you must take advantage of this vast audience.
Generating book video content for TikTok and Instagram should be included in your social media strategy in 2025 if you haven’t done it yet.
Trend #9. Accessibility for your readers
Take care of your readers with disabilities. This means that electronic and audio versions are a must. This way, readers can adjust the font size and contrast and listen to your book if traditional reading doesn’t work for them.
However, accessibility is not only about the book format but also about your website. Add to that the ability to choose a version for people with low vision or a voice search function. Reviewing your website in general for compliance with web accessibility principles would be a good idea.
Trend #10. Augmented reality enhances your stories
Augmented reality is transforming storytelling into a fully immersive experience, and it’s only the beginning. Imagine your readers flipping through the pages of your book, then using a mobile app to watch characters and scenes come to life right before their eyes. AR bridges the gap between imagination and reality.
AR is just the beginning of interactive storytelling. By 2025, new technologies will take reader engagement to exciting new heights:
- Interactive ebooks with quizzes, videos, and choose-your-own-adventure paths make reading more engaging.
- Virtual reality allows readers step into your book’s world with 3D maps, interactive scenes, and fully immersive environments.
- Enhanced non-fiction offers Interactive diagrams and simulations to make learning dynamic in digital textbooks.
- Gamification includes leaderboards, badges, and rewards that turn reading into a fun and engaging game.
These innovations take storytelling to the next level, blending imagination with technology.
Summing up the self-publishing trends
Now you’re ready and equipped to face 2025 and achieve even greater success as an indie author. Let’s summarize the upcoming self-publishing trends once again:
- Ebooks and audiobooks remain in high demand
- AI technologies simplify and fasten writer’s work
- Amazon is still the best revenue channel for indie authors
- Direct sales grow popularity in self-publishing
- Romance and fantasy are expected to be the most anticipated genres
- It’s essential to enhance your books with extra aesthetic features
- Specialized promo sites are great for getting new readers
- TikTok and Instagram reels can boost book sales
- Authors should make their books and websites accessible to everyone
- Augmented reality can make your stories stand out.
Which of these self-publishing trends do you like the most? Share your opinion with us in the comments.
