It's difficult to encourage reading when most people would rather spend their time reading short and sweet status updates, text messages and other social media posts rather than delving into a lengthy book. With attention spans becoming shorter than ever thanks to the instant gratification that the Internet brings, it's becoming harder and harder to get people interested in reading.
However, these creative reading campaigns appeal to the digital generation in ways that speak their language. Using advertisements that are just as quick and attention-grabbing like bookmarks that tweet, WiFi-equipped birdhouses that serve as digital libraries and URL shorteners, these campaigns have all been successful at increasing the sales of books and getting people to crack into them.
26 Campaigns to Encourage Reading

25
Literary Companion Campaigns
These Steimatzky Books Ads Lets You Snuggle Up to Gandalf and Stalin

24
Transformative Reading Experiences
D'Buk Editors Campaign Turns People into Who They Read About

23
Literary Adventure Ads
The Stories! Bookstore Campaign Turns Readers into Novels' Protagonists
22
Tribute Author Books
The Ernest Hemingway Foundation Ads Focus on Hemingway's Life
21
Crowdfunded Book Shows
Levar Burton Has Gone to Kickstarter to Bring Back the Reading Rainbow
20
Missing Story Book Ads
These Sebo Museu Do Livro Show What Happens When Books Become Movies
19
Hi-Tech Periodical Sticks
The Digital Newspaper Holder is More Up-to-Date Than Printed Press
18
Anti-Social Media Book Ads
Norlis' Book Ad Campaign Cleverly Arranges Book Titles
17
Tweeting Bookmarks
Penguin Books' Reading Campaign Serves as a Reminder to Read
16
Literary Fast Food Giveaways
McDonald's India Will Offer Books With Happy Meals Instead of Toys
15
Literary Production Videos
'Birth of a Book' Shows the Behind-the-Scenes Creation of Making Books
14
Literary Figure Headphones
The Penguin Audiobooks Ad Campaign Turns Famous Writers into Earphones
13
Social Short Fiction Festivals
The Twitter Fiction Festival Has Famous Authors Tweet Small Stories
12
Storytelling Audiobook Ads
These Penguin Audio Illustrations Show Capturing the Story's Sounds
11
Literary Coffee Cups
Chipolte's Bags and Paper Coffee Cups Feature Essays 'Cultivating Thought'
10
Touch-Activated Talking Walls
This Wall Hosts an Interactive Audio Book Activated by Touch
9
Alternate Destiny Ads
See the Influence of Books in this Penguin China Campaign
8
Age-Appropriate Reading Ads
These Ads for Ladybird Books Show Subjects That Mature with Kids
7
Literal Literary Life Campaigns
Penguin Audiobooks Ads Make Everyday Activities More Adventurous
6
Virtual Book-Sharing Trees
Instead of Chopping Trees, EPM Helps Trees Offer Free Book Downloads
5
Imagination-Inducing Book Ads
These Ads for Penguin Books Force Vivid Imagery into Your Thoughts
4
Perfect Length Flight Books
Books Released by Qantas Airways Can Be Read in the Length of a Flight
3
Reading Radio Stations
Ghandi Bookstore Promotes Literacy Through the Airwaves
2
Deceptive Reading Campaigns
Libri Mundi's Book Campaign Disguises Book Gift Cards as Cool Tech
1
Record-Breaking Reading Campaigns
The Seattle Library's Reading Campaign Turns Books into Dominoes
Related Ideas
Creative Ad Responses
Kiehl’s Response to Censorship Embraces Bold Creativity
Time-Specific Marketing Campaigns
Ikea’s ‘u up?’ Campaign Targets Late-Night Scrollers
Positive Social Media Campaigns
The New Tumblr Campaign Champions Community Over Controversy
Irish Stout Campaigns
Guinness Unveiled its St. Patrick’s Day Campaign
Creative Online Social Networks
BuzzFeed Introduces the New BF Island Social Network
80s-Inspired E-Ink Gaming Consoles
The 'Ink Console' Offers a Series of Text-Driven Adventures
Naturalistic Taco Stand Campaigns
Coca-Cola Launched a Street Photography Campaign in Norway
Literature-Inspired Packaging Designs
Bennet's Good to Read Packs are Informative
Purposeful Consumer-Focused Campaigns
IKEA's Sleepfluencers Campaign is a Clever Way to Give Back
Late-Night Text Campaigns
The IKEA "U Up?" Stunt Reached Sleepless Social Media Users
Photosensitive Book Experiences
Fruittella's the Outside Book is a One-Of-A-Kind Campaign
Popular Interactive Illustrated Books
Scholastic Debuts an Illustrated Edition of Harry Potter
Seasonal Phone Booth Activations
Spotify's Q4 is Calling Urges Brands to Start Holiday Advertising
Modern Bookworm-Inspired Capsules
Indigo Debuts its Book Club Collection
Unretouched Photography Books
Dove Reimagine Beauty Celebrates Authentic Representation
AI-Assisted Business Ads
Google Workspace's 50 States, 50 Stories Shares Small Businesses Using AI
Philanthropy-Inspired Collections
The I’m Library People Initiative Encourages Holiday Giving
Cheeky Coffee Ads
Starbucks' New Ads Celebrate Personal Connections Through a Modern Twist
Book Series-Inspired Retreats
Club Crackers Brings #BookTok to Life with the 'Book CLUB House'
Water-Activated Book Designs
Water for People Raises Awareness with the Dehydrating Book
Art-Promoting Campaigns
Beige Billboards Spark a Bold Call to Save Charlotte’s Art Scene
Digital Staredown Games
Modern Human Habits Inspired TWIX's Second Screen Staredown
Cheeky Bar-Focused Campaigns
Heineken Advocates for Financial Support for Bars with Starring Bars
Data-Driven QSR Campaigns
Burger King's BK Unwrapped Reveals Customers' 2024 Ordering Preferences
Social Media App Campaigns
Snapchat Promotes Creators in a Bold Campaign Amid TikTok Uncertainty
Festive Advent Campaigns
Cadbury's 24 Out-of-Home Ads Represent the Countdown to Christmas
Gen Z-Influenced Marketing Campaigns
Kraft Heinz is Studying Gen Z's Preferences with New Launches
Country Music Songwriting Contests
Busch Light Fans have the Chance to Inspire a BRELAND Song
AI Publishing Platforms
Inkitt Transforms Literature Creation Via Algorithmic Optimization
Adventurous Roadtrip Retail Campaigns
The Pilot Flying J 'See You Out Here' Campaign is Relatable
Coffee Milk Campaigns
Kristen Wiig Stars in the Ad for the Craveable New Dunkin' Dunkalatte
Innovative Outdoor Advertising Campaigns
Unilever's Dirt is Good Turns Billboards into Playgrounds
Inspiring Women-Focused Campaigns
'Computer Science Is Everything' Inspires Future Innovators
Fandom-Friendly Campaigns
WhatsApp & Netflix Unite for a Squid Game Fandom Celebration
Anti-Digital Social Campaigns
Heineken Partners with Joe Jonas for 'Socials Off Socials'
Hands-Free Driving Campaigns
Ford UK's Social Campaign Shares Merch for the "Passenger Princess"
Romantic Cafe Loyalty Rewards
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Buy One, Share One Promo is Sweet
Coffee Kindess Initiatives
Cambio Roasters Launches Random Act of Kindness Week Campaign
Sleep Poverty Awareness Campaigns
Ikea Canada Introduces the Sleepless Lamp Calmpaign
Provocative Guerrilla Campaigns
Jewelry Brand MWCurated Uses Fake Infidelity Flyers for Marketing
Visual Museum Campaigns
MoMA’s New Museum Campaign Transforms NYC into an Art Lover’s Paradise
Anthropomorphic Store Campaigns
IKEA's Short Social Films Promote Its Click-and-Collect Service
Afternoon Break-Encouraging Campaigns
Halfday Iced Tea is Launching the Halfday Break Campaign
Immersive Cereal Cities
Kellogg's Town Welcomes Virtual Visitors in a Breakfast World
Personality-Forward Bookmark Designs
Humdrum Paper Offers Unique Bookmarks for Book Lovers
Cat-Friendly Book Sets
Temptations' Tails of Irresistibility Shares "Kitterary Classics"
Rewarding Reading Challenges
Ferrero Rocher's Reading is a Treat Pairs Chocolate and Good Books
Calming Audio Escapes
Audible's Activation at King's Cross Helps Commuters Beat the Rush
Reimagined Classic Beer Campaigns
Guinness Gives 'A Lovely Day' a Modern Artistic Refresh
Creative Writing Hubs
Prompt IQ Helps Writers Share, Discover, And Test Creative Writing Ideas
Book-Themed Collectibles
Booksy's Tiny Books & Figures Inspire a Love of Reading in Kids
Communal Reading Events
Reading Rhythms Transforms Social Reading into Curated Experiences
Smartphone-Concealing Books
The 'GATBOOK' Keeps Smartphones Out of Infant View
Literature-Inspired Pen Campaigns
BIC Brazil Marks the 75th Anniversary of the BIC Cristal Pen
Drink Coaster Phone Cases
The Ultimate Signal-Free Party by Captain Morgan Encourages Presence
Immersive Book-Influencer Events
Sheraton Centre Toronto will Host a Bookworm Bash
In-Store Audience Engagement Solutions
Social Shelf® Has a Novel Approach to Customer Engagement
Coffee-Inspired Pens
The Sheaffer Coffee Edition Celebrates the Pairing of Coffee & Writing
Senior-Targeted Digital Journals
This Dual-Screen Journal Concept Helps Elderly Users
Collaborative Digital Coffee Campaigns
illy Launches its Digital Content Series 'Coffee Break'
Mobile Reading Accessories
Astropad's New 'Bookcase' Aims to Enhance Mobile Reading Comfortability
Marketing Idea Generators
Thunderbucket Provides Marketing Ideas and Observations at Speed
Digital Taste Profiles
The Shelf App Creates Comprehensive Media Consumption Analytics
Reading-Focused Compact Houses
Backcountry Tiny Homes Designs the Library Tiny House
Social-First Car Campaigns
Škoda's Reddit Car Share Amplified the Voices of Passionate Fans
Banned Book Campaigns
Seattle Bookmarked | Banned Edition Addresses Book Censorship in the Us
Emotion-Driven Cider Campaigns
Angry Orchard's Latest Campaign Subverts Anger-Inducing Moments
Minimizing Phone Usage Initiatives
Heineken's Latest Campaign Addresses Phone Use at Music Events
Creative Cancer Awareness Campaigns
F Cancer Debuts the 'Pick Up Your Poop' Campaign
Personalized Book Boxes
Aardvark Book Club Offers Exclusive Hardcovers for Book Lovers
Literary Subscription Platforms
Buffy's Creates Monthly Book Club with IRL & Digital Components
Effortless Online Publishing
Writebook Creates and Self-Publishes Books with Text and Images
Childhood Literacy-Promoting Initiatives
International Paper Has Reaffirmed Its Dedication
Reimagined Story-Driven Campaigns
Visa Presented its 'Typewriter' Campaign at the 2025 Oscars
Tattoo-Committed Coffee Incentives
Punk Bunny Coffee and 7-Eleven Dream Up a Coffee Deal
Engaging AI-Powered Reading Apps
Ello Upgrades Its AI-Powered Reading App with a Storytime Feature
Content Idea Generators
Spin The Wheel and Capture Content Ideas Based on Your Online Presence
Motivational Takeaway Cups
Tim Hortons Created Five Limited-Edition National Coffee Day Cups
Personalized Story Creators
Story Spark Helps Create Magical, Personalized Stories for Children
Censorship-Combatting Library Initiatives
The Toronto Public Library Marks Freedom to Read Week
Cheeky Financial Stress-Alleviating Campaigns
HOPWTR Has Debuted a Creative Promotional Campaign
AI Audio Summaries
Google Illuminate Turns Books and Papers Into AI-Powered Podcast Chats
Hard-To-Read Health Campaigns
A Specsavers Campaign Encourages Movie-Goers to Check their Sight
Social Connection Campaigns
Beavertown Brewery's Is This Seat Taken? Campaign Unites Strangers
Language App Pop-Ups
Duolingo Hosted an Interactive Street Society Event in Soho
Marketing Social Advocacy Tools
Nut Tree Helps Smaller Brands Boost Their Presence
Bizarre Soda Campaigns
Dr Pepper's Try More Weird Disrupts Life's Boredoms with Weirdness
Travel-Themed Book Recommendations
Belletrist Curated The Reading Route for Trainline
Independent Author Publishing Programs
Spotify Launched a New Audiobook Publishing Program
Book Summary Platforms
SumReads Provides Book Summaries, Offering Valuable Insights at No Cost
Early Literacy Campaigns
Leapfrog Launched the Everything Starts with Reading Campaign
Pancake-Centric Health Campaigns
Pancakes Against Breast Cancer Sparks Conversation & Action
Appealing Text-To-Visual Tools
Word Glow Converts Text into Stunning Visuals for Social Media
Ball Game-Promoting Urban Initiatives
London Sport and Saatchi & Saatchi Run 'More Ball Games'
AI-Powered Bedtime Stories
Sleepytales Creates Custom Bedtime Stories with Engaging Narrations
Gamified Shopping Experiences
Browse Booster Rewards Coupons for Product Views
Short Story Platforms
Drabble Offers a Platform to Showcase 100-Word Stories
AI Book Suggestions
'Book Recommendations Tool' Suggests Personalized Reads Based on You
Personalized Keepsake Storybooks
My Life in a Book Captures and Preserves Personal Stories
Educational AI Reading Assistants
Zanki Uses AI to Help Busy Parents Teach Their Kids to Read
Personal Digital Book Libraries
Bookov Lets Readers Create a Digital Personal Library Collection
Digital Dependency Awareness Campaigns
Trapped by the Screen Uncovers Hidden Costs of Screen Time
Graphic Design Bold Books
Standards Manual Presents the Parks 2 Graphic Design Book
Lively Literary Character Apps
Hello Literature Connects Readers to Classic Books with AI
Optimized Reading Journeys
Books Calculator Estimates Reading Potential and Suggests Books
Creative Texting Tools
TextTheInternet Lets You Build Minimalist Blogs Using iMessage
Youth-Targeted Finance Campaigns
Little Learners, Big Earners Teaches Money Basics to Gen Alpha
Personalized Toddler Tales
The Spark Book Creates Custom Stories with Your Toddler as the Hero
Youth-Targeted Reading Tournaments
311Literacy Debuts the Great Reading Tournament
Inspirational Content Libraries
Quotes: Inspire & Reflect Delivers Daily Motivation and Insights
Smart Literary Companions
Wisebits Brings Stories to Life with Narration, Lessons, and Goals
Ad Inspiration Archives
Nobody Reads Ads Showcases Print and Outdoor Ads With Notable Success
Nonfiction Book Discovery
BookFave Helps You Discover Bestselling Nonfiction and New Releases
Nostalgic Postcard Cafe Campaigns
Peet's Coffee 'Postcards from Peet’s' Campaign is Nostalgic
Content Retention Tools
Active Recall Helps You Retain Online Content with Tailored Summarizations
Literary Email Signatures
'Currently Reading' Adds Your Book Title to Your Email Signature
Digital Reading Companions
RLT Tracks Reading Progress and Manages Digital Bookshelfs
Mobile Device Addiction Campaigns
The Women's Brain Health Initiative Highlights a Growing Concern
Gaming-Inspired Headphone Campaigns
Nazarian Films Aims to Engage a Younger Generations
Book-Themed Plush Collectibles
Punchkins’ Book Plushies Celebrate a Love of Reading
Toddler-Focused Typography Books
Jessica Hische Develops My First Book of Fancy Letters
Beginner Artistic Inspiration
Drawing Prompts Helps Artists Develop a Consistent Practice
QSR Book Initiatives
SONIC Drive-In Donates to Expand Book Access Across America
Intentional Online Experiences
Slow Internet Takes Users Back to a More Enriching Online World
Home Relaxation Beer Promotions
This Abbot Ale Promotion Encourages Cozy Nights at Home
Gamified Reading Habit Builders
BookSlice is a Gamified Book Reader with Goal-Setting and AI Help
SEO Resource Hubs
Daydream Library Offers SEO Insights, Case Studies, and Strategy Guides
Imaginative Children's Holiday Campaigns
Aretto and Hamleys Partner on an Engaging Campaign
eBook-Creating Content Platforms
'Ebookany' Transforms Web Content into an eBook
Actionable Book Summary Tools
BookToAction Turns Key Lessons from Books into Real-Life Steps
Intellectually Stimulating Social Media
Maven Goes Back to Basics with Traditional Algorithms
Reading Promotion Pizza Deals
The Pizza Hut Book It! Promotion Celebrates 40 Years of Reading
Texting Publication Services
'My Forever Books' Turns Texts into Printed Books
Children-Focused Literacy Campaigns
Scholastic Focuses on Expanding Access to Books
Speed-Enhancing Reading Tools
Bolder Reading is a Chrome Extension That Boosts Reading by Bolding
Branded Book Clubs
Nutella Biscuits and Betches Media Partnered for the Betches Book Club
Learning Game Platforms
Study Snacks Turns Vocabulary and Knowledge Learning Into a Fun Game
Personalized Bedtime Story Generators
Bumble Stories Creates Bedtime Stories Featuring Your Child
Elderly-Catered Journal Concepts
The Dual-Screen Journal Concept Captures Important Memories
Accessible Christmas Initiatives
The Santa Reads Braille Initiative Ensures Inclusivity