2025 Book Publishing Predictions: 7 Trends Authors & Coaches Need To Know (Audiobook Gold Rush)
The Book Writing & Publishing World is Going to Be Unrecognizable in 2025. Here’s How To Make the Most of these Trends…
After leaving my position as a communications lead at the United Nations overseas, I've spent the last years helping thought leaders, coaches, celebrities and grandmothers bring their wisdom to the page. As a book doula, I’m all about changing lives and businesses through books! And I’m glad you’re here because I'm more excited than ever about the opportunities for wealth and impact ahead.
Right now, self-published ‘indie’ authors are earning up to double the amount of those using traditional publishing models, according to analysis by the University of Glasgow’s CREATe. That excellent piece of news is just one arm of the octopus.
Here are my predictions for 2025, backed by emerging trends and insights I'm seeing in our rapidly evolving industry. If you’re writing a book or are thinking about it, this is an essential read for you.
I’ve also enclosed resources for each of the seven trends to help you make the most of it wherever possible, so consider bookmarking this page for reference now before you continue.
Here are seven key shifts that I believe will shape our industry and your potential earning & impact:
The Rise of "Hybrid Authority" Books
We're going to see an unprecedented merger between personal expertise and collaborative wisdom in nonfiction books. I predict the days of the lone expert voice will keep evolving into something more powerful and authentic. Especially in business and life coaching and as people get tired of the AI-echochamber of content being dumped on online.
I'm seeing successful books increasingly weave together three key elements: the author's core methodology, client transformation stories, and expert insights from their professional network. With Pew Report studies showing that 82% of business book readers value real-world application over theory, this shift couldn't come at a better time. The most successful coaches are already incorporating 3-5 detailed case studies per core concept to support their methodology.
This is especially good news for coaches who already have a community of clients with powerful transformation stories. Your book doesn't need to showcase just your voice – it can be a compendium of others’ lived experiences that validates your approach and really lands with readers.
To make the most of this trend, I’m encouraging all my private book doula clients to (more than ever!) shift away from telling and into showing. Ask yourself, how can you demonstrate your truths and advice by getting vulnerable and illuminating them with true stories and client case studies. What stories will shine and connect deeply, even if perhaps they don’t always show you in the best light at first?
In the age of AI copywriting - in 2025 and beyond readers will increasingly mistrust ‘information’ as just another piece created by CHATGPT and empty B.S.. People will put a premium on hero’s willing to show their shadows before claiming the throne of redemption and glory.
Stories of lived experiences will stand out and resonate as trustworthy and true more than ever before.
How will you tap into your network and life experience to imagine a powerful book that fits this trend?
Emily Bauman teaches a book writing and marketing workshop in Tulum, Mexico
2. “Living" Digital Companions AKA “Book Hubs” Will Become Essential
Physical books will remain cherished, but they'll increasingly launch with dynamic digital companions that evolve over time. Think multimedia resource hubs online where you can update examples, add new worksheets, and foster community discussions. QR codes included in the book will be increasingly popular to direct readers to resources, meditations, videos and prompts to join programs or communities. It’s exciting! For coaches especially, this creates an incredible opportunity to bridge the gap between your book and your practice. I’ve noticed that author and speaker Brené Brown does this really well with her book hubs, providing valuable tools to her readers to explore themes of courage, vulnerability and shame in their own lives.
Dec 20, 2024 screenshot from https://brenebrown.com/
In the same way, your readers can move seamlessly from your pages to your digital space, where they'll find fresh content and opportunities to engage with you directly.
Think about creating digital workspaces and website hubs where your readers can:
- Access updated examples and case studies
- Download customizable worksheets, journal prompts or checklists
- Participate in monthly implementation discussions or a paid mastermind
- Track their progress through your methodology
The key is designing this ecosystem before you write your first chapter, ensuring seamless integration between your book's content and its digital extension.
If marketing or digital marketing and web design aren’t your zone of genius, then working with a strategist or consultant could help you see the big vision. Make sure you get a second opinion to fill in any gaps in your ecosystem, helping it reach its full impact and revenue potential.
3. The Audiobook Gold Rush Will Reach New Heights
My heart leaps with happy thoughts when I share this prediction because it represents such an incredible opportunity for first time authors, coaches, and thought leaders. The audiobook market is experiencing explosive growth – we're seeing 20-30% year-over-year expansion, pushing toward a staggering $13 billion annual market by 2028. Here's what makes this especially exciting for coaches and nonfiction authors:
- Royalty Structures That Favour Authors:
* 40% royalties for platform-exclusive deals
* 25% for wide distribution options
* Average earnings 3-5x higher per unit compared to ebook sales
* Particularly strong returns for self-help and transformational content
The most successful genres are aligning perfectly with coaching expertise:
- Self-help/Personal Development
- Transformational Teaching
- Memoir/Personal Story
- Business Methodology
- Romance & Fantasy
-Thrillers & Mystery
Who doesn’t love the time-out of a good romance audiobook (or writing one for that matter.
Pro Tip from your Book Doula: Consider recording your audiobook yourself if you're a coach, leader or public figure – listeners report 30% higher engagement rates with author-narrated transformational content.
Resource
Here is a related blog post I crafted that walks you through all the key steps and considerations for making your first successful audiobook. Yes, all the steps and recommendations for which platforms to use to record and then distribute your audiobook:
READ IT HERE and perhaps bookmark the post for later for when you’re ready to record your first audiobook empire-building masterpiece.
4. Amazon's Algorithm Will Reward "Reader Completion Metrics"
Here's something fascinating on the horizon: Amazon's algorithms will likely start weighing reader engagement patterns more heavily than just raw sales numbers. They'll track how quickly readers finish books, whether they highlight passages, and if they recommend the book to others.
This means authors who create genuinely engaging, well-structured content that readers actually finish will see better organic visibility than those who just optimize for initial sales.
For coaches, service-based CEOs and teachers, this is wonderful news – your focus on practical, implementable content naturally lends itself to higher engagement rates. By 2025, we'll see Amazon's recommendation engine heavily weighted toward what I call "completion metrics." Amazon scrubs its data from your ebooks and to a smaller degree, audiobooks.
Early indicators suggest books with high completion rates are already receiving up to 2.5x more organic visibility. Here's what I'm advising my authors to include:
- Implementation checkpoints every 20-25 pages
- Reader progress trackers with clear milestones
- "Quick win" exercises that deliver immediate value
- Summary cards perfect for digital highlighting
When readers actively engage with these elements, your book's visibility naturally increases. I'm seeing coaches who structure their books this way consistently maintain higher sales rankings over time.
Sound overwhelming? Consider including "action prompts" throughout your chapters that encourage readers to pause, reflect, and apply your teachings. Simple and effective way to build in a success strategy into your book format, whether its relationship and dating advice or a book on how to build an organic garden on your balcony.
5. Micro-Pre-Launch Communities Will Drive Success
The most successful authors in 2025 and beyond will cultivate small, deeply engaged pre-launch communities (think 100-200 people) who help shape the book during its creation. Why? These early readers will provide invaluable feedback, validate each chapter’s viability with the target audience, create initial word-of-mouth momentum, and often become your book's biggest champions.
The data is clear: books launched with engaged pre-launch communities are seeing 3-4x higher first-month sales and significantly better Amazon rankings. But here's what's fascinating – it's not about size. Books with highly engaged pre-launch communities of 150-200 people are often outperforming those with larger but less engaged groups of 1000+. This "quality over quantity" approach perfectly suits coaches who already have deep relationships with their clients.
Start imagining how you can involve select clients in your writing journey, making them feel valued while ensuring your book truly serves your audience's needs. This brilliant strategy is easier said than done! Not because people aren’t eager to support your book birthing. The greatest barriers will be inside you - as always! Wanting a chapter to be “perfect” before you share it is crippling for many. Feeling not-yet-ready to allow others into your journey or anxious about being capable of consistent sharing are two more common blocks to a successful pre-launch community.
I see this every week inside my B.O.S.S. (being of sacred service) Books Collective and I have the honour of guiding authors to dissolve the blocks with my bespoke practices.
Resources
Experience the shifts yourself for $60 a month in our fun, book writing community where you can pla, write and launch your own bestseller in as little as 90 days. Or grab a copy to read through it in Born To Write: Transform Your Wisdom into a Bestseller in 90 Days by Emily Bauman. The Ebook is $7 Canadian, and reviews are saying the creative unblocking process is priceless!
6. The Coaching Credibility Divide Widens
By 2025, having a published book will be more than just a nice-to-have for coaches – it will be the primary dividing line between different tiers of perceived expertise and reputation. We're already seeing:
- Coaches with books commanding 40-60% higher fees
- 75% higher client retention rates for author-coaches
- 3x more speaking opportunities
- 85% higher media coverage rates
The Market Is Particularly Demanding Books From:
- Financial & Money Coaches
- Leadership Development Experts
- Transformation Specialists in All Areas
- Business Strategy Coaches
- Life Purpose/Career Transition Coaches
The Harvard Business Review piece entitled "The Wild West of Executive Coaching" backed this up. Interestingly, coaches who integrate their book's methodology into their coaching practice and associate a book with their coaching containers are seeing:
- 50% faster client acquisition
- 25% higher program completion rates
- 90% more referrals from existing clients
Writing a book shows you are not a new face, you’re an established, trustworthy voice in your industry. You have the confidence and grit to complete a major project like writing and self-publishing a book. And it shows you’re in it for the legacy, impact and being of sacred service - not just interested in having a high social following count, mentoring VIPs or charging $50,000 for a mastermind.
I’m convinced that in 2025, any teacher, service-based entrepreneur or coach with experience under their belt can publish a bestseller. In fact, I created a blueprint on how to do it, and podcast episode called The 13th Key Book Formula: Proof Anyone can Write a Bestseller which lays it all out.
7. The Rise of "Hybrid-Plus" Publishing Models
We're going to see the traditional vs. self-publishing divide become almost meaningless as new "Hybrid-Plus" models emerge. These will combine the creative control and speed of self-publishing with the professional support typically associated with traditional publishing. The Balboa Press side of HayHouse is a perfect example. Goodbye traditional publishing and 2-year timelines. Say hello to the "Hybrid-Plus" model, which I believe will dominate by 2025. These emerging platforms are offering:
- 90-120 day production timelines
- 50-70% royalty rates
- Professional editing and design services
- Integrated marketing support
- Distribution to all major platforms (digitally, not getting you on Barnes & Nobles shelves)
Expect to see more boutique publishing partners offering à la carte services like developmental editing, marketing strategy, and distribution support, allowing authors to build custom publishing packages. What's particularly exciting for coaches is that these models will often include guidance on integrating your book with your broader business strategy – something traditional publishers rarely address. Many of these platforms are now offering guidance on:
- Turning book concepts into signature programs
- Creating book-based workshop materials
- Developing lead generation systems
- Building speaking platforms around your book
What most hybrid publishers don’t do, however, is support you to complete your manuscript. Take note, that’s still on you!
No matter how much you can pay them, they won’t do the inner work with you - getting you to believe that your memoir matters or that your storytelling is good enough. Seeing what’s really beneath your procrastination or using the ill-health of a family member to stall your writing progress is key. Authors in 2025 and beyond will have to contend with the gremlins of resistance no matter what publishing opportunities are out there. Working with a book doula or somatic coach for inner processes that comes with stepping into a new role will be essential.
Likewise, the key will be choosing hybrid publishing partners who understand both the publishing landscape and the unique needs of coach-authors and their clients. Not everyone speaks your language or understands conscious approaches, energy, or more subtle factors so choose wisely!
This is a lot of information and if you’re feeling overwhelmed, that’s completely natural. Remember that being an author and publishing is a business. There are lots of support systems out there to rely on, people to whom you can delegate.
THE KEY TO SUCCESS in 2025 AND BEYOND
Craft Must Meet Consciousness: The Inner Game Becomes the Ultimate Success Metric
Here's something fascinating I'm seeing in my coaching practice: technical writing skill is only about 30-40% of what determines an author's success. The real game-changer? Inner work, somatic resilience and emotional bandwidth. By 2025, I predict we'll see this truth become even more evident
A Book’s Success Factors Breaking Down As:
- 40% Technical Writing Capability
- 35% Inner Work/Energy/Mindset of the Author
- 25% Platform/Marketing
I'm seeing authors who integrate both craft and consciousness achieving:
- 3x higher completion rates
- 2x faster writing timelines
- 4x greater likelihood of meeting launch deadlines
- 70% reduction in creative blocks
This is backed by International Coaching Federation (ICF) "Global Coaching Study" 2024.
Which found that authors who struggle most often stall at the 70% completion mark – not due to lack of skill, but due to internal barriers. Some authors manage to press publish then play like an ostrich - taking their energy away from the book and failing to promote it with effective strategies.
This is why I'm not a writing coach, I’m a book doula known for incorporating deep somatic, energy and mindset work into every stage of the writing journey. The nexus of craft meets consciousness and will continue to birth successful books - books that transform the author who writes it and their global communities who read it.
The Path Forward
At the end of the day, these industry shifts aren't about making publishing more complicated – they're about making it more human, more connected, and ultimately more impactful. These 2025 book publishing trends aren't just market forces – they're opportunities to serve your readers more deeply and authentically. Your expertise, combined with these emerging platforms and strategies, creates an unprecedented opportunity to share your message and transform lives through your work.
Your voice and message matter more than ever.
I truly believe you have a story the world needs, and one only you can tell.
Reflection Points
I encourage you to sit with these predictions and consider how they align with your vision for your book.
Which of these elements most excites you?
Where do you see your unique wisdom fitting into this evolving landscape?
What support systems do you need to make a brave move and start writing your book?
The hardest part is to begin.
Feel free to book a complementary 30 minute strategy session with me to outline or validate your book idea and publishing plan.
With deep belief in your message and value to the world,
Your Book Doula
Emily Bauman
______
Sources & Methodology That Informed My Predictions
Key Sources for Publishing Industry Statistics & Trends
Audiobook Market Growth & Revenue
- Grand View Research Report (2024): "Audiobook Market Size & Share Report, 2024-2030"
* Validates the 20-30% YoY growth rate
* Projects market size reaching towards $13B
* URL: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/audiobooks-market
- Audio Publishers Association (APA) Annual Sales Survey
* Most recent data on audiobook revenue growth
* Details on bestselling genres
* URL: https://www.audiopub.org/industry-data
Author Earnings & Royalties
- Written Word Media's "Author Survey 2023"
* Data on author income across publishing models
* Comparison of ebook vs audiobook earnings
* URL: https://www.writtenwordmedia.com/author-survey/
- Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) "Self-Publishing 3.0 Report"
* Current royalty rates across platforms
* Income comparisons between traditional and self-published authors
* URL: https://www.allianceindependentauthors.org/reports/
Coaching Industry Statistics that Informed My 2025 Predictions
- International Coaching Federation (ICF) "Global Coaching Study"
* Latest data on coaching fees and revenue
* Impact of published books on coaching credibility
* URL: https://coachingfederation.org/research/global-coaching-study
- Harvard Business Review Articles:
1. "The Wild West of Executive Coaching" (Updated analysis)
* Credibility factors in executive coaching
* Impact of published works on perceived expertise
* URL: https://hbr.org/coaching-and-mentoring
Digital Publishing Trends
- Publishers Weekly Market Reports
* Current data on digital companion content
* Reader engagement metrics
* URL: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/
- Digital Book World Annual Reports
* Statistics on reader engagement
* Digital companion effectiveness
* URL: https://www.digitalbookworld.com/reports/
Reader Behavior & Engagement
- Pew Research Center's Reading & Publishing Reports
* Reader behavior statistics
* Format preferences
* URL: https://www.pewresearch.org/topics/books-and-reading/
Important Disclaimer:
While these sources are generally reliable, market conditions change rapidly, and authors should verify current data for their specific needs.