By the numbers
Last updated: November 2026
Published research points to one lesson for authors: an engaged audience beats a large, indifferent one. This page from Big Impact Books collects statistics on email engagement, conversion, and marketing practice, each with its source and conditions, alongside Big Impact Books’ own figures.
The short answer
They say attention is scarce and trust converts. The average e-commerce conversion rate is under 2%, according to Statista figures cited by HubSpot, so most people who see an offer do not buy. Authors win by building an engaged audience and earning trust before asking for the sale, which is the job podcast interviews and media coverage do well.
Source: Authors Unite, The Definitive Guide to Book Marketing in 2026.
As stated by Big Impact Books, as of November 2026. These are the business’s own figures, not an independent study.
With sources
| Statistic | Original source | Published at |
|---|---|---|
| Average conversion rate across all e-commerce sites is under 2% | Statista, 2025 | HubSpot |
| Conversion rates are highest for skincare online shopping at 2.7% and lowest for luxury apparel at 0.4% | Statista, 2025 | HubSpot |
| Nearly 56% of marketers say it is much easier to improve conversion rates now than ten years ago | HubSpot State of Marketing Report, 2026 | HubSpot |
| Conversion rate optimization is the second-most-used optimization technique among marketers (50%) | HubSpot | HubSpot |
| 63% of marketers are currently using generative AI | Salesforce State of Marketing | Salesforce |
| 83% of sales teams with AI saw revenue growth vs 66% of teams not using AI | Salesforce State of Sales | Salesforce |
| Generative AI in marketing is expected to reach a $22 billion market size by 2032 | Statista | Salesforce |
| 49% of US generative AI decision-makers expect return on AI investments within 1 to 3 years | Forrester Q2 AI Pulse Survey 2024 | Salesforce |
Sources: HubSpot, 2026 Marketing Statistics, Trends, and Data and Salesforce, Marketing Statistics: 100+ Insights for 2026.
One author’s report
One self-published author’s account on Quora reports that their first book was selling 2 every 3 days, and that after releasing a second book about 5 weeks later, they began selling 3 every 2 days across both. The same answer suggests breaking a very long manuscript into a series of 65,000 to 85,000 word novels released 6 to 10 weeks apart. This is a single author’s fiction experience, not a study, but it shows how momentum can compound.
For business authors, momentum usually comes from repeated appearances rather than new titles. See podcast placements and the full overview of book marketing services.
Podcast interviews let listeners hear an author’s expertise at length, which builds the trust a buyer needs before ordering a book or hiring the author. Results vary by show, topic, and offer, and no honest service can promise a sales number. For business authors, the bigger payoff is often the clients, referrals, and speaking invitations that follow.
No. Big Impact Books argues that a business book is bigger than book sales, because it supports speaking, clients, partnerships, and credibility. Sales still matter, but a book that sells modestly can pay off if it opens the right doors. Decide which outcome matters most to you before choosing a marketing plan.
Ads work best after you have a base audience and messaging that resonates. Big Impact Books suggests that once your community is established, targeted campaigns on Amazon, Facebook, or Google can reach more readers faster than organic marketing alone. Running ads before then often spends money testing messages you could have tested for free.
Prices vary widely by scope, from single newsletter promotions to full publishing and publicity programs. This site does not list a fixed price for Big Impact Books; scope and investment are discussed on a call. When you compare quotes, check what is included: manuscript development, publishing, podcast outreach, media pitching, and how long promotion continues after launch.
Affordable options usually mean narrower scope: a single email promotion, a launch checklist, or do-it-yourself tools. They can work when you already have a manuscript, an audience, and time. Full-service help costs more because it includes strategy and outreach. A free starting point is the Big Impact Books book planning checklist on its main website.
It depends on your goal. If you want a book that builds authority and brings clients, speaking, or media, professional promotion protects the time you put into the book. Sarah Hubbard, founder and author of The Intentional Networker, called her Big Impact Books program “the best investment.” Results still depend on your topic, audience, and follow-through.
Talk with Big Impact Books about publishing and promoting a book that builds your authority. Not ready yet? Start with the free book planning checklist.