Book Marketing Simplified

Have you ever wondered, "What's the difference between subscribing to a blog and subscribing to a newsletter?" We know this can be confusing for some authors, so Jenn and Marcus differentiate between the two and give an overview of the pieces required to get your newsletter rolling.

As an author, it can be difficult to navigate where you should be online to grow your audience and see the best results. In this episode, Jenn and Marcus talk about how authors can find the best place to connect with their ideal readers, see greater results, and actually enjoy the process. LINKS Social media demographics to inform your brand’s strategy in 2021 by Sprout Social Instagram Stories Vs...

Are you basing your entire marketing strategy on other people's connections? Whether that be influencers, media, friends, or organizations - depending on others to sell your book is not sustainable. In this episode Jenn and Marcus talk about what authors need to focus on to continue book sales, build a solid marketing foundation, and see better results.  The side effects of only relying on ot...

One of the best ways to set ourselves up for success is to create a plan with clear goals. In this episode, Jenn and Marcus discuss how authors can create a doable plan to see success. No matter if you're listening to this at the end of the year or in the middle of July, this episode will help you! Assess the previous year Understand the difference between dreams and goals Make a list of all of yo...

Sometimes we think that if we stop, even for a second, all of the plates we are spinning will fall down. But the truth is, every single one of us needs to take a break. In this episode Jenn shares her own experience with stepping away for a bit. 

Your book has a long life ahead of it - well beyond the release date. In fact, the majority of your sales will come well after the release. So why are authors struggling to keep sales alive? Jenn and Marcus dive into this and share some easy to apply tips to keep sales flowing well beyond your book's release. Adjust your mindset about the launch. Use your content to continue to drive book sales af...

You've heard us say many times that a newsletter is the most important tool in your marketing toolbox. But where do you start? What do you put in your newsletter? How do you grow? In this episode, Jenn & Marcus break it down for you.  Set up your funnel  Have an incentive  Get a newsletter management service (like MailerLite )  Be consistent  Links A Simplified Approac...

Should authors be on Instagram, TikTok or both ? Jenn and Marcus discuss both outlets, Jenn shares her experience, and provides guidance so you can make an informed decision for yourself. The difference between the two My experience with Instagram and TikTok What authors should consider Links Author Workshop: Turn Followers Into Book Buyers “How Authors Can Connect with Bookstagram and BookTok Inf...

When it comes to authors using graphics, photos, and music in our social media posts, videos, blogs, podcasts, and websites, there are some legalities you need to be aware of. Make sure you and your online presence are protected and using the right resources. In this episode, Marcus and Jenn discuss the copyright and licensing issues authors need to be aware of to stay out of trouble. LINKS “More...

When we recently asked followers on Instagram what they were struggling with, the overwhelming response was a lack of motivation. I get it - when you aren't seeing results from your efforts on Instagram it can feel like a drag. In this episode, Marcus and Jenn discuss three key strategies to boost your motivation while spending less time on Instagram to growing an engaged audience. Subscribe to ou...

In order to sell your book, you need an audience. Many authors that I talk to feel like if they just had more followers on social media, that would be the answer to all of their problems. But it's actually deeper than that. In today's episode, we talk about five things that are holding authors back from growing an audience and how to fix it.  Not having clear goals in mind  Not having th...

Jenn and Marcus discuss two specific practices that might seem crazy at first, but will actually help authors reach more of their readers.

If you find yourself asking, "What's the difference? Don't Reels and Stories do basically the same thing?" you're not alone - many authors have asked the same question. In this episode, we will break down the specific uses for each and how to best use Reels and Stories in your Instagram strategy.  LINKS 10 Reel Ideas: https://www.mixtusmedia.com/10reelideas

When it comes to creating reels, most of the focus is put on the actual video. While the video is important, there are two additional items authors need to include to make sure readers take action. Jenn and Marcus discuss these two items and how you can incorporate them into your plan. LINKS 10 Reel Ideas for Authors: https://www.mixtusmedia.com/10reelideas

You know that you want to start using reels, but what do you actually share? What can you include in your reels? In this episode, Jenn and Marcus share how you can come up with ideas for your reels.  It's all about WHAT you say. HOW you say it is icing on the cake. CONTENT is the most important. Identify what you want/need to talk about and make a list. Go through reels to spark ideas of how...

If you've played with the idea of incorporating reels into your Instagram strategy but don't know where to start, we've got you covered! In this episode Jenn and Marcus will discuss the three easy steps that you can take to be successful with reels.  Start simple, get fancy later. Research hashtags and see what others are doing to get ideas/inspiration. Play - have fun and save drafts. Downlo...

Gaining a following on Instagram isn't the same as it used to be five years ago - or even one year ago. There are two big changes that authors should be aware of to see the growth and connections that they need.

One of the major struggles I see authors face is trying to amass a large following on social media in order to sell their book. So often we are more focused on growing, growing, and growing that we overlook those we are already connected with. It’s a lot easier and more effective to sell to those who are already interested.  Focus On Who You’re Already Connected With  Identify Local Orga...

We've received several comments and messages from authors saying that they were intimidated by social media or didn't want to spend extra time growing an audience on the various platforms. Are there actually ways to market your book without social media?  Adjust your expectations (also remember publishers are expecting you to have a social presence)  Think about where your ideal readers...

In episode 16 we discussed when an author should start marketing their book. But can you actually start to grow your audience before the book is written? Absolutely! In this episode we talk about how you can do that and give you practical action steps to get the ball rolling.

If you've ever wondered how some Instagram accounts grow a massive audience of engaged readers, this episode is for you! We are pulling back the veil and letting you in on how we grew our Instagram following to over 20,000 authentic and engaged connections. And we have a free gift to help you on your Instagram journey.

Analytics aren't what most authors want to talk about, but they do play an important roll in your marketing. With all of the numbers and data services that are out there, figuring out what all the metrics actually mean can be confusing. In this episode, we show you exactly which numbers to watch and what you can ignore.

Authors should start connecting with their audience as soon as possible on social media. But when should you start marketing your book? In this episode, we break down the three phases of marketing that will show you exactly when you should start marketing your book. The Attraction Phase The Promotional Phase The Follow-Up Phase

If you find yourself fearful of starting a social media presence for any number of reasons, this episode is for you. When we have hesitations that hold us back from trying something new, we often find that they were blown out of proportion or misunderstood. In this episode, Jenn and Marcus discuss three of those hesitations and how you can crush that fear and move on confidently.

It's easy to blame an unknown algorithm when our numbers go down or our engagement fizzles out. But simply blaming it on something you have no control over won't help - in fact, it's probably hurting your engagement and growth all the more. In this episode, Jenn and Marcus discuss the triage process you can apply on Instagram to make things work for you.