Publish & Prosper

Matt & Lauren recap their time at London Book Fair 2024, one of the biggest publishing conferences in the world. Get the lowdown on hot topics from the conference, an insider's look at the event, and a special peek into what it’s like to travel with Team Lulu. Dive Deeper 💡 Learn how (and why) Lulu is a Certified B Corp 💡 Watch this video on 5 Things to Know Before You Publish 💡 Check...

In this episode, Matt & Lauren explain why indie authors need to stop relying on Amazon as their primary sales channel. Listen now to hear why we feel so strongly about it, what alternatives we suggest, and how to get your readers on the same page. Dive Deeper 💡 Read These Blog Posts The Independent Author’s Guide to Thriving Without Amazon How To Convince Readers To Buy Books Directly From Y...

In this episode Lauren and Matt discuss Kevin Kelly’s 1,000 True Fans theory, what it means to be a true fan (or super fan), and a few unique ways small business owners and content creators have turned casual buyers into true fans.  Dive Deeper 💡 Read the Kevin Kelly’s 1,000 True Fans essay 💡 Read The 1,000 True Fan Theory: Sustainable Income for Creators on the Lulu blog 💡 Watch Joe Pulizzi’s...

In this episode Matt & Lauren explore paid book promotion. We review our favorite sponsorship opportunities, take a brief look at different types of book promo ads and paid social media ads, and debate the value of influencer marketing.  Dive Deeper 💡 Check out Written Word Media 💡 Check out BookFunnel 💡 Learn how to set up BookBub Ads 💡 Read Social Media 101: Facebook, Instagram, and X So...

In this episode, Matt & Lauren debate earned promotion, PR and publicity efforts, and creator collaborations. Learn how to promote your book with earned media opportunities, book signings, public speaking, and collaboration with fellow creators. Dive Deeper 💡 Read These Blog Posts The Complete Book Marketing Plan for Authors and Creators   How to Pitch Your Book for Earned Promotion Selling Y...

In this episode, Lauren & Matt talk about using valuable and authentic social media engagement to find new readers, ideas for promoting your books, and a few of their favorite social media dos and biggest don’ts.  Dive Deeper 💡 Read These Blog Posts Social Media 101 for Authors Basic Social Media Book Promotion Social Media Promotion 💡 Watch These Videos TikTok, BookTube, and Instagram - Oh...

In this episode, Matt & Lauren discuss one of the most successful marketing strategies, share ideas and tips for building your email list, and review best practices for keeping those subscribers engaged.  Dive Deeper 💡 Check Out These Reports Lulu & The Tilt’s Creator Insights Report Email marketing stats from HubSpot’s State of Marketing in 2024 report Written Word Media’s 2023 The State...

In this episode, Lauren & Matt explore the three stages of promoting your book—pre-launch marketing, at-launch marketing, and post-launch marketing. Download your free book marketing checklist to help you stay on track.  Dive Deeper 💡 Read These Blog Posts Complete Book Marketing Plan How to Plan & Promote Your Book Pre-Launch How to Pitch Your Book for Earned Promotion How to Grow Your A...

In this episode, Matt & Lauren discuss some of the most important questions asked by authors and creators - is it worth it to publish my books in print? Are readers still buying print books, or is print dead? Dive Deeper 💡Review the Data Overall book sales & revenue statistics, reported by Words Rated How print book sales in 2023 compared to previous years, reported by Publishers Weekly  ...

In this episode, Lauren & Matt discuss the publishing, design, and marketing experts that you may want to help you self-publish your book. We take a look at hybrid publishers, different types of editors, and interior versus exterior designers. Plus, hear our thoughts on which services are a must-do and which we think you can DIY to help keep costs low, a few suggestions for tools designed to h...

Lulu.com is a print-on-demand self-publishing company. But what exactly is print-on-demand? And why is it such a popular business model?  In this episode, Matt & Lauren explore the environmentally-friendly, budget-conscious benefits of print-on-demand. We also answer a few FAQs about POD, including why it takes a little extra time to receive your book, what you can expect from the book’s produ...

In this episode, Matt and Lauren expound on the many reasons we’re passionate about sponsoring and attending in-person events. We talk about why we love meeting new people (even as a pair of introverts), the educational and inspirational benefits, networking and community-building opportunities, and more!  Matt’s Famous Vegas Out-of-Office: I am out of the office Monday, November 6th, through Frid...

In this episode Lauren and Matt address the robot in the room – artificial intelligence! We share a few of our favorite ways to use AI and generative AI tools to help streamline content creation. Learn how we use AI as a research and analytics aid, to help with drafting and outlining content, to come up with variations on email subject lines and titles, and more!  Dive Deeper 💡Curious about any o...

In this episode, Matt and Lauren tackle the question on every author and creator’s mind – can you actually make money from books? We share our favorite tactics for maximizing your book’s earning potential, including doing your market research, selling direct, making effective use of all your content, and more. Plus, we share some Lulu authors & creators who are doing it right!  Dive Deeper 💡...

In this episode, Lauren & Matt tackle some common myths, misconceptions, and hesitations creators often share about selling direct! We debunk concerns like, “I don’t know how to build my own website,” “I don’t have what it takes to run a business,” and “I rely on third-party platforms for discoverability.” Plus, we share why selling direct is the future of book publishing, and why we think it’...

In this episode, Matt and Lauren discuss how publishing a book can help you establish yourself as an expert or thought leader in your industry. Your book can serve as a business card or lead magnet, as the foundation for a community of fans, and as a networking key to unlock doors to speaking engagements, guest appearances, collaborations, and more. Plus, a book will generate passive revenue for y...

In this episode, Lauren & Matt explore traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing, and make a case for why self-publishing is the best path for today’s creators.  Whether you're looking to grow your brand, make money, share your story, or establish yourself as an expert, there’s a publishing path for you. Discover the benefits of self-publishing, including complete creative control, faster...

Meet Matt Briel and Lauren Vassallo, hosts of Publish & Prosper, a new podcast where publishing, ecommerce, and marketing collide! Join us for a quick introductory episode where we talk about who we are, our experience in the self-publishing industry, and what you can expect from future Publish & Prosper episodes.   💀 Can’t wait for our next episode? Check out our Resources page for links...