IBPA Publishing University 2026

Marketing Launch Plan Workshop: Build, Customize, and Scale Your Book Campaigns

In this hands-on workshop, attendees will create a customized launch plan for a specific book title—while simultaneously learning how to scale and adapt that plan across multiple titles for long-term publishing success.
Launching a book is only part of the journey—positioning it effectively in the market determines its success. This workshop is designed to help publishers, authors, and marketing teams connect the dots between publishing and promotion by identifying clear paths to reach readers, generate sales, and build brand equity for future titles.
 Participants will create and leave with a title-specific personalized marketing toolkit that includes:

• Target reader and buyer identification
• Title-specific business model strategies (retail, non-traditional retail, specialty markets, and supplemental revenue streams)
• Universal marketing strategies and actionable steps
• Customized promotional activities and marketing tools
• Event, traditional media, and digital engagement pitch letter models
• One genre/topic-specific media list
• Specialty market outreach overview and strategies
• Social media marketing plan template and engagement strategies
• Book trailer template
• Media video pitching tutorial

This workshop is ideal for authors, publishers, and marketing professionals looking to develop powerful, repeatable book launch systems that build visibility, drive sales, and create long-term success.

Optimizing Amazon for Profit in an AI Age
Presented by Ian Lamont

Amazon Ads. Kindle Direct Publishing. Vendor Central. No matter which way you turn, Amazon is always finding another way to take a bigger slice of the revenue pie ... and leave less for publishers. So how can publishers put some of that money back into their own pockets?

An experienced independent publisher and Amazon seller, Ian Lamont has deep insights into ever-evolving Amazon programs and new AI features. While he doesn't have a magic wand, he has best practices that can help everyone from independent authors to distributed publishers make more money from sales on Amazon.

Come prepared with your three biggest concerns about Amazon and your best listening skills. This fast-moving session will leave you with tons of notes and resources, and will feature an opportunity for on-the-spot evaluations of your own Amazon book listings.

Topics will include:

• An Amazon Roadmap for Publishers in an age of AI
• Detail Page Optimization for Books
• Search and Rufus Fundamentals
• Best Practices for Amazon Ads  
• Branding on Amazon, from A+ to Amazon Stores

For Start Strong Independent Publishers.

Learn the basics of starting your own traditional publishing company. Whether you are at square one or already running another kind of publishing-related operation, this program will introduce the key points you need to know in order to get your traditional press up and running. Doug Seibold started his company, Agate, in 2002 with little more than a cell phone, a laptop, and an internet connection, and is eager to share his experience and perspective with aspiring publishers. This program will cover:

• Finding potential funding sources—grants, investors, banks
• Determining your publishing topics and acquisition strategy
• Understanding the publishing financial timeline
• Deciding who to hire and when to hire them

Participants should leave with a fuller understanding of everything that goes into a publishing startup.

Join us at Powell's flagship store, 1005 W Burnside St. Portland, OR 97209 -- it's the largest independent bookstore in the world!!

Free reception for all IBPA Publishing University conference attendees, IBPA Think Tank for Established Publisher attendees, as well as our Pacific Northwest publishing industry friends.

[Getting to Powell's City of Books From the Hyatt Regency Portland at the Oregon Convention Center:
Option A:
Mass Transit, Red Line Train

• Walk to the TriMet MAX light rail stop outside the hotel.
• Board the Red Line train going west to City Center or Beaverton direction.
• Scan your credit card or Apple/Google Pay on your phone to pay. Cost is $2.80.
• Get off at the “Galleria SW 10th Avenue" station which is the 6th stop.
• Walk north on 10th Ave to Powell's City of Books, approximately 6 minutes (0.3 miles).]

Option B:
Walking

• Distance is 1.3 miles, approximately 30 minutes

[Getting to Powell's City of Books From Portland State University:
Option A:
Mass transit Portland Streetcar: From PSU student union, walk north about a block to the SW Park & Mill transit stop. Streetcar is NS Line (North South Line) going north toward NW 23rd Ave. Get off the streetcar at the NW 10th & Couch station. Go immediately around the corner to the W Burnside Powell's City of Books entrance.
Option B:
You can also use the Max Green or Yellow line, board at PSU South/SW 6th & College MAX Station taking train headed to Clackamas TC, get off at 6th & Pine stop, and walk 1/3 mile north-east to Powells.]