Book Marketing Tips and Author Success Podcast

We keep repeating ourselves because authors don't do it enough, but promoting locally is one of the best ways to start securing media opportunities, and your local exposure is one of the best tools for securing bigger, national-level features and other media.  Our goal for this episode is to discuss pitching local media and other tips for building a stronger local brand by leveraging support...

This episode was inspired by an author that came to us with a wonderful book (but terrible cover) saying, "This one won the Facebook poll I did." Getting advice from your personal network can be tricky, whether it's about your cover, your editing, your website - really anything that represents your brand and your author resume.  Our goal for this episode on our podcast for writers i...

Today's podcast is about rules and yes, we know that sounds like a lot of buzzkill but trust us when we say: publishing rules matter and those who follow them, are always successful. That's not an overstatement!   Our goal for this episode is to discuss the rules that are often broken, but shouldn't be, and why it can negatively affect your success, because we want you to carve out...

Pricing a book has always been a tricky concept, and we get it, finding the balance between making your book accessible while also making money can be challenging. Our goal for this episode is to tackle the hurdles a lot of authors end up facing, with everything from production choices to market choices,  and to give you some really helpful tips on pricing your book for success. Remember to leave...

If you've been on any publishing news sites, I'm sure you've heard about AI (artificial intelligence) and more specifically, ChatGPT. AI  is really ramping up across all industries, including publishing. In this episode we're not only breaking down what AI is and how it can be used, but also sharing our predications of how it might change publishing as well as how books are wri...

We talk about book covers a lot, because they really are that important. Your book cover alone can keep a potential buyer interested long enough to read your description - or it can send them scrolling without a second glance - and you won't ever get that potential sale back. So we decided to each share our number one pet peeve when we're assessing whether or not a book cover is strong e...

It's not easy trying to compete as a how-to or self-help author, and Penny knows this first hand. Not just from the 18 books she's written and released, but also because she and her team have worked with hundreds of books in this genre! Our goal for this episode is to candidly tackle the challenges you're likely facing, and offer up ways to improve both your platform and your book&a...

Permissions aren't fun or sexy - but they're necessary. Any time you're using someone else's words, praise, input or inspiration there are right and wrong ways to go about it. Our goal for this episode is to share some pitfalls other authors have experienced so you can better avoid them! Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always f...

We know it's tempting to want to do all the right things to get your book out there. But in reality, it's more important to do the right things, at the right time! Our goal for this episode is to help you avoid getting caught up in the whirlwind of marketing and publicity, and instead, help you feel confident creating a plan that you can both manage, and get a solid return from.  Remembe...

This is a revival from the archives because it's really THAT important! 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! Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know , we're always finding creative ways...

You got a great endorsement or review, or maybe you won an award, or finally set up your newsletter - so what do you do now? A lot of authors have a checklist of things they know they should do, but most forget that each achievement can (and should) be turned into a handful of other wins or positive additions to your marketing and promotion. Our goal for this episode is to help you develop a simpl...

In our final episode of 2022 we want to address why it's important to reevaluate what success means to you, and how to let failure boost your will to succeed. Let's face it, most of us don't share our failures online. We share success, little snippets of our lives that only show the good stuff and hides the bad. So our perception of failure is skewed. "Where's my Netflix d...

This is a revival from the archives because it's really THAT important! As soon as you put your title up on Amazon the platform starts to "learn" about your book and how shoppers are responding to it. Listen to us discuss the top five pitfalls to putting your book on Amazon before you're ready to promote, and why they potentially cause so many problems! Remember to leave a revi...

This is a revival from the archives because it's really THAT important! 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 rele...

How would you like to sell 5,000 copies of your book in one deal? Have we got your attention? Good, because you're absolutely going to want to listen to this show. Our goal for this episode is to break down selling books in bulk, specifically what works and what doesn't, and why planning and diligence matters, because Penny has done this before quite successfully. Remember to leave a rev...

This is a revival from the archives because it's really THAT important! Book titles play a huge role in positioning your title competitively in the market, it's also the supporting actor to your cover design in terms of creating a strong first impression - one that convinces shoppers to spend a bit more time reading your description and checking out your reviews. Remember to leave a revi...

We get it, you have knowledge and expertise to share, and you genuinely feel you can help a wide demographic of people. But shoppers don't buy books that don't feel personal to them.  And one of the biggest marketing mistakes we see non-fiction authors make is marketing a single title to too many different kinds of people.  Instead, you should be identifying and focusing your marketing e...

It's a simple thing really, but surprisingly, so few authors do it. Our goal for this quick episode is to discuss a simple yet effective tip for authors - regardless of genre - that will leave a lasting impression on readers, thought leaders, and media. Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to reward followers! Send us...

Hiring a company to do marketing for you can be confusing. How much should you spend? What do things cost? And how can you maximize your marketing budget? Our goal for this episode is to shine a light on guidelines and realistic expectations for how you'll need to budget and pay for your book marketing. Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always...

It seems obvious, doesn't it? But Amy's got strong feelings about this, and she's not wrong. Marketing and sales are not the same but they are often used interchangeably, which can create unrealistic expectations and divert your attention from elements of your platform and promotion that really matter. Amy will explain more (as only Amy can). Our goal for this episode is to ensure y...

If you’ve ever been pulled into a book by the enticing headline on the book retail page, chances are you were reading an elevator pitch. Our goal for this episode is to unveil the secrets behind a great elevator pitch, and tips for how to create one that will help you pull in readers and sell more books.  Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always fin...

We see this all the time but it still surprises us how many authors do this one thing. Want to know what it is? Tune in! Our goal with this episode is to help you convert more website browsers to buyers and fans.  Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to reward followers! Send us your feedback! Preorder Think Local Sell Glob...

The first 30-days of the life of your book is really exciting, isn't it? But what happens after that? If you're like most authors, not much. So we're unpacking what starts after the 30-day honeymoon is over. We'll share how long you can still pitch your book for review, what you ideally want to be doing at the six month mark, and one thing you should never wait too long to do!...

Having your book up on Amazon for pre-order can be a really fun and exciting time, and we admit, the allure of racking up additional sales is real, but there are also some potential downsides to pre-orders if not planned for and managed properly. Our goal for this episode is to ensure you understand the pros and cons of pre-orders so you can strategically prepare to reap the benefits of an early m...

We get it, your book came out and five hundred other things were vying for your attention. While book launches are important, sometimes we miss the mark, or life happens and your efforts fell short, or your marketing ideas didn't quite hit it out of the park. If this resonates with you, you're going to love this episode! Our goal for this episode is to get candid about limitations, while...