Book Marketing Tips and Author Success Podcast

Can you compete if you don’t want to list your books with major online retailers? We get this question more often than many of you might think, authors that have very strong feelings about not bowing to “the man” but how realistic is it that you’ll be able to build a strong network of readers and return buyers using just your website or through sites like Smashwords? October Promotion: Book to Bes...

Amazon is a great place to sell books, but you know what's even better? Selling more direct to your readers! Is it possible to do this? Absolutely it is and we'll teach you how. In this episode Amy and Penny discuss some key strategies and simple tips to build more sales on your website and sell more directly to your readers! September Promotion: It's time to start working on holida...

Are you getting ready to launch a book? Why not consider doing some special pre-order pricing? If you haven't considered it, or even if you have, you'll want to tune into this episode where we break down why it might help you, considerations you have to make, and what pricing pitfalls you'll want to avoid!   September Promotion: It's time to start working on holiday book sales!...

You've got a book that's still current and interesting, but it's a bit older. Can something be done to spike book sales on this older title? The answer is a resounding YES!  Whether it's a single book, or a backlist, we'll unpack some strategies to help you revive and reignite book sales for your older book!  Send us your feedback! Preorder Think Local Sell Global and clai...

How's your bio on Amazon? When was the last time you checked it and gave it an update? Penny and Amy break down the often ignored author bio, with tips for how to use it to improve your sales conversions. September Promotion: It's time to start working on holiday book sales! If you're wondering how to work a clever holiday sales angle into your book marketing we're here to help...

A lot of authors jump onto social media without a real plan, or knowing which social media platform best suits their message. You wind up wasting a lot of time and effort trying to get more readers, and find you wind up with very little to show for it. If this feels like you, you'll want to listen to this episode! Penny and Amy discuss the pitfalls of social media, how to avoid them and how t...

We’ve all been told that a newsletter is something that will help us build a better, often more engaged, fan base. But getting sign ups is quite another thing. The term “reader magnet” is often tossed around a lot, but what is it and what do you do with it? Penny and Amy break down some great tips to help you increase your newsletter sign ups! August Promotion: A lot of companies offer Amazon Opti...

What’s your author brand saying about you right now? Not sure? Don’t have one? Well guess what you do. Because your brand is out there, whether you want it to be or not. In this episode, Penny and Amy unpack and demystify the author brand - because it's really not as complex as you may think. We'll look at tips to easily create your "look" or brand as well as a few things you m...

I'm betting when you read this title, you thought: "I'm proud of my book!" But we aren't talking about your book, we're talking about the things you may not have considered - like a social media channel you hardly ever use that's still in your signature line or on your website, or a release date announcement that's long since expired... as we often say: Deta...

ALERT! This is a special minisode because this announcement from Amazon is awesome ! It's a big book marketing win for all of you KDP authors out there! Amazon just released an exciting new update to their KDP offerings: A+ Content! What's A+ Content? Penny and Amy break it down in this show! We also just published a blog on this, too which you can see here: https://www.amarketingexpert....

There's a lot of confusion around Kindle Unlimited vs. Kindle and in this episode we break down what it is, why it matters - and does it matter to you? Should your book be in Kindle Unlimited and if so, what does that mean exactly? We break down the options, what's good - and what's not so great and what does it really mean to be "exclusive to Amazon"?  August Promotion: A...

It happens a lot: we get to release day and our marketing falls through the cracks, and the book winds up languishing on Amazon with little to no sales. So you focus on the next book, assuming it'll fix the first, right? Well, it won't unless you make some serious changes to how you approach your marketing.  -- Please remember to leave a review and send us an email with show topic reques...

When was the last time you read your book reviews on Amazon? Book reviews can be a goldmine for authors wanting to find out how they can improve their books (yes, even after they're published) and reviews can also offer you some outstanding insights into other, potentially creative markets you may want to dig into. Readers who are authentic in their reviews  will tell you what you got right,...

Don't miss these strategies you must consider for a successful book release, especially if you want to create the biggest window possible for media attention, from national magazines to genre specific bloggers. -- Please remember to leave a review and send us an email with show topic requests! And we love a good DIYer, but if you're ready to take your marketing to the next level, drop us...

Did you hear? Apple is pushing out a new iOS update in September with even more security features which could change the way you market your book(s). Tune into this special episode covering what we know, and what you can do to prepare! -- Please remember to leave a review and send us an email with show topic requests! And we love a good DIYer, but if you're ready to take your marketing to the...

Book marketing can help your book succeed, but there's a lot that book marketing can't fix and in this episode we're exploring what those limitations are. Join Amy and Penny as we lift the curtain on some things that many book marketing professionals won't tell you and learn what may be preventing your book from being successful! July Promotion: You have a book, you’ve had some...

If you've written a book series, or even if you have multiple books out - you might be missing this one, crucial detail that can cost you book sales! -- Please remember to leave a review and send us an email with show topic requests! And we love a good DIYer, but if you're ready to take your marketing to the next level, drop us a line and let's chat! July Promotion : You have a book...

Picking the "birth" date of your book can be tricky. You want to pick the right one, but where do you start ? A lot of authors get confused about picking a publication date that will help their book be successful.  Please remember to leave a review and send us an email with show topic requests! And we love a good DIYer, but if you're ready to take your marketing to the next level, d...

Do media kits and press releases still matter? A lot of authors still want one, but does it really make sense and will it move the needle?  -- Please remember to leave a review and send us an email with show topic requests! And we love a good DIYer, but if you're ready to take your marketing to the next level, drop us a line and let's chat! June Promotion : Email us your most frustrating...

Summer is in full swing and if you're ready to kick your book marketing up a notch, maybe it's time to consider marketing your book as a summer read! In this episode we talk about some books that *are* summer reads that might surprise you as well as some tips and tricks to get your book in front of readers looking for a summer escape (or a summer project, hint, hint). -- Please remember...

Yes, we would all love blurbs for our covers and in prep for our releases, but they're tough to get. Luckily today's market gives you more options and is a lot more flexible! -- Please remember to leave a review and send us an email with show topic requests! And we love a good DIYer, but if you're ready to take your marketing to the next level, drop us a line and let's chat! Ju...

This spicy yet insightful episode breaks down common mistakes a lot of amateur authors make and why you should avoid them when building your brand and platform!  -- Please remember to leave a review and send us an email with show topic requests! And we love a good DIYer, but if you're ready to take your marketing to the next level, drop us a line and let's chat!   Send us your feedback!...

We see a lot of authors waiting too long to release books in a series. So what's the RIGHT timing?  -- Please remember to leave a review and send us an email with show topic requests! And we love a good DIYer, but if you're ready to take your marketing to the next level, drop us a line and let's chat!   Send us your feedback! Preorder Think Local Sell Global and claim your free Loca...

Promoting a memoir can be challenging, but that doesn't mean it can't be successful. Check out our tips for doing things correctly out of the gate! And even if memoir isn't your genre, we guarantee you'll learn a few things you can apply to your self-promotion as well. -- Please remember to leave a review and send us an email with show topic requests! And we love a good DIYer,...

What's the worst thing you can do on social media? Amy and Penny unravel this mystery! A lot of authors still think social media is a sales channel, and that couldn’t be further from the truth. Social media is part of your brand, and your brand will support sales if managed the right way, or it could kill sales if you let it falter. Here’s a simple but important tip! -- Please remember to lea...