{"id":5656,"date":"2026-01-27T10:58:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T14:58:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/?p=5656"},"modified":"2026-01-27T10:58:15","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T14:58:15","slug":"reaching-readers-irl-2026-foot-traffic-opportunities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/reaching-readers-irl-2026-foot-traffic-opportunities\/","title":{"rendered":"Reaching Readers IRL: 2026 Foot Traffic Opportunities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Last year, we saw a rise in foot-traffic ad performance, and we&#8217;re excited to keep building on that in 2026. Below are some of the most impactful location-based opportunities where book publishers can connect with their audiences beyond the screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"471\" src=\"https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-26-at-4.15.54-PM-700x471.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5665\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.4862276464107127;width:608px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-26-at-4.15.54-PM-700x471.png 700w, https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-26-at-4.15.54-PM-240x161.png 240w, https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-26-at-4.15.54-PM-768x517.png 768w, https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-26-at-4.15.54-PM.png 1100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before we dive in, here\u2019s a quick refresher on how foot-traffic ads work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Foot-traffic advertising lets us reach people based on the places or events they visit in real life \u2014 like book festivals or retail stores. In some cases, we can even layer on additional targeting, like reaching romance readers while they\u2019re shopping at Barnes &amp; Noble. We can reach someone while they are visiting a specific destination in real-time, and we can reach visitors from the last 30 days. After someone visits one of those locations, we can continue reaching them with banner ads for the next several weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Okay, that\u2019s the quick overview \u2014 now let\u2019s get into it!<br><br><strong>1. Book Festivals &amp; Reader Events<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Book festivals and reader events draw the perfect mix of audiences actively seeking out new books and authors. Here are a few of the book-related events we can reach this year:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>BookCon (<em>this is already in high demand!)<\/em> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The LA Times Festival of Books<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>YallFest<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Texas Book Festival<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tucson Festival of Books<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Imaginarium Book Festival, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>IRL example:<\/em><\/strong> A debut romantasy title serving ads to BookCon attendees during and after the event to build awareness and drive discovery among highly engaged readers.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"486\" src=\"https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-26-at-4.17.50-PM-700x486.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5666\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.4403843722341636;width:635px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-26-at-4.17.50-PM-700x486.png 700w, https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-26-at-4.17.50-PM-240x167.png 240w, https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-26-at-4.17.50-PM-768x533.png 768w, https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-26-at-4.17.50-PM.png 1092w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2. Comic Cons &amp; Fan Conventions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re looking for sci-fi and fantasy superfans, you\u2019ll find them exactly where their fandom is on full display. Here are a few of the cons and fan conventions we can reach:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>International Comic Con<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>New York Comic Con<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>MegaCon <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Romantasy Con <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>WonderCon, etc. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>IRL example: <\/em><\/strong>Ads for a new fantasy series reaching New York Comic Con attendees while they\u2019re at the event \u2014 and continuing to reach them afterward \u2014 to stay top of mind with genre readers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3. Libraries &amp; Educator Events<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Libraries and educator events bring together the people who shape what communities read next. And with fewer direct paths to librarians than there used to be, these events have become even more valuable for making those connections. Here are a few of the library and educator-focused opportunities we can reach:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>ALA Conference<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>PLA Conference<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>National Council of Teachers of English Annual Convention<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Regional Libraries <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SXSW EDU<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>IRL example:<\/em><\/strong> A new urban-themed picture book serving ads at major city libraries to reach librarians and parents focused on inclusive, community-centered stories.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"477\" src=\"https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-26-at-4.22.15-PM-700x477.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5667\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.4675586362537278;width:608px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-26-at-4.22.15-PM-700x477.png 700w, https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-26-at-4.22.15-PM-240x164.png 240w, https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-26-at-4.22.15-PM-768x523.png 768w, https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-26-at-4.22.15-PM.png 1086w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>4. Retail: Book-Related shopping<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Retail locations capture readers at the exact moment they are thinking about buying books. These spaces offer high-intent environments where discovery and purchase naturally intersect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Barnes &amp; Noble <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Niche bookstores (Black-owned, Children&#8217;s, Queer-friendly, etc.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Indie bookstores <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Target<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Books-a-Million<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Walmart<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sur La Table <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Urban Outfitters, etc. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>IRL example: <\/strong><\/em>Ads for a BIPOC YA series running in Black-owned bookstores to drive discovery among bookstore employees and readers seeking diverse voices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>5. <strong>Family &amp; Kid-Focused Destinations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Book-loving parents and grandparents are the best ones to reach while they are already thinking about education and entertainment for their kids. Here are some kid-specific destinations that are perfect for reaching parents and grandparents:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Disney World <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>LEGO Land <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Children&#8217;s museums<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Zoos and Aquariums <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>SeaWorld <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tutoring centers (Kumon, Sylvan, etc.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Universal Studios Orlando<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Great Wolf Lodges<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sesame Place<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Peppa Pig Theme Park, etc. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>IRL example:<\/em><\/strong> Ads for a space-themed STEM children\u2019s series running at science centers and museums like the Johnson Space Center and Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum to reach families and kids interested in science and exploration.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"470\" src=\"https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-26-at-4.26.01-PM-700x470.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5668\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.487877781467951;width:574px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-26-at-4.26.01-PM-700x470.png 700w, https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-26-at-4.26.01-PM-240x161.png 240w, https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-26-at-4.26.01-PM-768x516.png 768w, https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-26-at-4.26.01-PM.png 1104w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>6. Cultural Institutions &amp; Museums<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cultural institutions and museums are ideal places for publishers to connect with readers interested in history, art, and culture. Here are a few popular places we can reach:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Smithsonian Institution (all DC museums)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The National WWII Museum<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>National Museum of the American Indian<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>American Museum of Natural History<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Regional museums and cultural centers, etc. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>IRL example:<\/strong> Ads for a WWII memoir reaching history buffs at places like The National WWII Museum in New Orleans and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>7. Performing Arts &amp; Live Entertainment Venues<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These locations offer opportunities for publishers to connect with readers who value the arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Theater, Broadway and Opera venues like Broadway theaters, Chicago Theater, Metropolitan Opera, Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, New York Philharmonic, and the Lincoln Center<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ballet &amp; Dance studios like New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and San Francisco Ballet<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Comedy clubs like the Comedy Cellar in New York and the The Comedy Store in Los Angeles, etc. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>IRL example: <\/strong><\/em>Ads for a popular comedian\u2019s memoir running at comedy clubs in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles to reach fans of stand-up and storytelling.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"470\" src=\"https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-26-at-4.20.47-PM-1-700x470.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5670\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.4878366036587054;width:534px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-26-at-4.20.47-PM-1-700x470.png 700w, https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-26-at-4.20.47-PM-1-240x161.png 240w, https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-26-at-4.20.47-PM-1-768x516.png 768w, https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-26-at-4.20.47-PM-1.png 1098w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>8. Travel &amp; Tourism<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Train stations and transit hubs (Amtrak stations, Union Station DC, Grand Central Terminal, etc.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hudson Booksellers in major airports <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Popular beach \/ resort destinations like Myrtle Beach, Miami Beach and Aspen, CO<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>National Parks like Yellowstone National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>IRL example<\/em><\/strong>: Ads for a thriller audiobook reaching mystery, thriller and suspense lovers in Hudson Booksellers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Foot-traffic campaigns give books a chance to be discovered beyond the screen, and 2026 is giving plenty of opportunities. If you\u2019d like to explore one for your next release, I\u2019d love to connect \u2014 <a>marybeth@adbiblio.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last year, we saw a rise in foot-traffic ad performance, and we&#8217;re excited to keep building on that in 2026. Below are some of the most impactful location-based opportunities where book publishers can connect with their audiences beyond the screen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":5671,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[82,35,74,7],"class_list":["post-5656","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-advertising","tag-childrens-books","tag-non-fiction","tag-targeting"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5656","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5656"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5656\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5673,"href":"https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5656\/revisions\/5673"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5671"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5656"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adbiblio.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}