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January 21, 2026

New year brand reset for authors and illustrators

A lot can change in the year, or more, since you first design your website, create your blog, get your social media accounts up and running, or publish your listing on the ASA’s directories. Information can quickly become outdated or unaligned with where you now find yourself as a creator.

The start of a new year brings a fresh perspective and presents the ideal opportunity to take stock of your creator brand, refresh your marketing assets, and plan how you want to position yourself in the year ahead. Because, love it or hate it, marketing can be an important part of a creator’s professional role, and your brand an asset for publication and beyond.

Resetting your brand for 2026 doesn’t require a huge undertaking or a complete overhaul, just some simple evaluations and adjustments.

Reflect

Look back at the last 12 months. How did your skills and your career progress? Did you publish a book or short form piece? Judge (or win) a literary prize? Consider your achievements, what worked and what didn’t, what opportunities were embraced or missed? Then, think about your aspirations for the year ahead and how you want to position yourself to help achieve them.

Take stock of your channels

Where do you have a presence as a creator? Make a list of your channels, such as social media, newsletters, and websites. Include Wikipedia and any directories or listings you might be on, like publisher and member organisation portals. Make sure any subscriptions to these channels, if wanted, are still active.

Consider where you want to be

Decide which platforms you’re prioritising for the next 12 months and which ones you’re not. Marketing can be a full-time job on its own, and can quickly eat away at the time you’d like to spend writing or illustrating. You do not need to be on every social media platform, and also run a blog and newsletter. Instead, find the channels that suit your skills and interests. Review any analytics or metrics to see where you have been cutting through to your audience. Cull any channels you’re not interested in and that aren’t working for you, and consider introducing any new platforms that may better cater to your needs and interests.

Review images and copy

Make sure that all your information, copy, and assets are current, correct, and complete across your chosen channels: 

  • Update your latest experience, bio, awards, works or illustrator portfolio, purchasing links, agent info, headshot, and media coverage. Let people know what to expect from you this year with links to events, pre-orders, and details of the type of work you are open to. Make sure to update your ASA Find a Creator and Style File listings as part of this update.
  • Ensure all links direct to your current website and social pages.
  • Remove or replace any broken links, low-quality or outdated images, and inactive projects, and update old information (like event and publications dates) putting your most current work at the top of your portfolio gallery and bibliography.
  • Check that keywords and categories associated with your listings are current, so you’re discoverable.
  • Test your forms, including registration links for your newsletters and contact pages.
  • Update profile photos and headers where needed.
  • Change pinned posts on socials and blogs if they are no longer relevant.

Audit for brand consistency

Your content should be compatible and aligned with your author brand – in other words, with who you are as a creator. The copy and imagery you use should reflect your current messaging and positioning, and should be consistent across platforms. Create brand guidelines to guarantee consistency of tone, colour, font, and imagery. You may wish to use the same profile image across platforms, or photos from the same shoot. Illustrators should update their portfolios to reflect any changes or updates in their illustration style.

Reconnect with community

While authors and illustrators can often work independently, connecting with the creative community is vital to maintaining a sustainable career and keeping up to date with the industry. You can:

  • Follow and support other authors and illustrators.
  • Join writing and illustrator groups, and online creative communities.
  • Be discoverable to event organisers and collaborators with your updated contacts and bio, and by listing your availability for festivals, library and school visits, or other speaking engagements (don’t forget to review the ASA’s recommended rates of pay for writers and illustrators, because fair remuneration is vital).
  • Don’t forget to complete or update your free ASA Find a Creator listing!

Stay up to date with the industry

An important part of marketing is monitoring the publishing and book industry landscape. Sign up to newsletters, or follow creators, media, and industry organisations on social media to stay across industry news, developments, and trends. You can find a listing of Australian industry and creator newsletters, blogs, and book influencers and more in the ASA’s Book Industry Directory, and you can subscribe to the ASA’s newsletters.

Making time to audit, update, and tweak your branding can bring focus, and help you meet your goals for the year. With a consistent, relevant, and well-maintained brand, you and your work are more likely to get the attention of your target audience – be it readers, collaborators, agents, or publishers. 

We wish you the best of luck with your creative plans for the year!

For more information on how to use social media as an illustrator, check out our on-demand video resource Social media and Patreon for illustrators with illustrator Li Chen, in our Resources hub. For further questions about marketing and promotion, see the ASA’s FAQs on the publishing industry or submit your query via the ASA’s free Member Advice Service.

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