Book Marketing Tips and Author Success Podcast

This idea was born from a listener request, specifically they wanted some tips on how to work with libraries to book more events. So we decided to cover that, and more!

Because libraries are a great way to build your reader-base, but getting involved with libraries is also a great way to support your community and even garner local media attention. Get ready to jot down some of our creative tips and recommendations for easy (and hon...

Want to grab your share of holiday sales? Then now is the time to plan! In this special bonus episode, Amy and Penny break down what you need to do - and how you can prepare - for big holiday book sales! Packed with tips and some insider scoop, we'll get you ready for the biggest shopping market of the year!

July Promotion:

We talk a lot about Amazon, and for good reason - it can make or break your success as an author.

Download ...

If you've ever considered hiring a book marketing company, are already interviewing potential teams, or still feeling a bit burned by your last book promotion campaign - this episode is not-to-be missed!

We're getting candid about what to expect (and what's often off the table), smart questions to ask about the work, ways to evaluate what you're being offered, and even tips that can save you money.

August Promotion:

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Your website says a lot about you, so you really don't want to risk giving potential visitors the wrong impression. But sadly, we see authors miss seemingly small, yet critically important details all the time that are setting them back. Check out our tips for ensuring your website is primed to help you convert more shoppers into buyers and fans.

July Promotion:

We talk a lot about Amazon, and for good reason - it can make or b...

We see this a lot:  an author puts a bunch of stuff on their website because they think that’s what goes on a website. But they’re missing the point that their website should be focused on a very particular market, and rarely does turning it into a digital resume or superficial biography of your life work in your favor. This show will unpack what to do, and what not to do, when it comes to your website.

Packed with tips, insider in...

Online media alerts have seemingly taken a back seat in recent years because there's just so much distracting us online - but that's exactly why you need them! Honestly, they're a really valuable tool for building and maintaining your brand. Review our tips and recommendations before getting yourself set up to know everywhere your brand is mentioned online, and how to make the most of the exposure!

June Promotion:

Book c...

If you are writing under a pen name, or considering one, you won't want to miss this show. Amy and Penny discuss a lot caveats and (avoidable) mistakes authors make when it comes to establishing and using pen names.

Learn how to plan for success, issues and challenges to consider and avoid, and how to maximize on your pen name once you feel confident you're ready to introduce your "other" self to the world!

June Pro...

We got to chat with a team at Goodreads and wow, we got a lot of insight into their future plans, but also, a great reminder about what really moves the needle when it comes to effective book marketing. Listen in to see what we learned!

June Promotion:

Book covers matter, more than a lot of authors realize.

 So if you’re releasing a book this year, or you’re open to breathing new life into an already existing title by creating a new c...

Amy volunteered at her kids' book fair this year and came out of the experience with a lot of cool and exciting insight into what kids are looking for, so she and Penny were inspired to chat about what's working in the children's book market, and how authors can really stand out and build their kiddo super fan base!

June Promotion:

Book covers matter, more than a lot of authors realize.

 So if you’re releasing a book this ...

A lot of authors when thinking about “editions” of their books think: audio! Hardcover! Translation! But so few think of large print books - which are a hugely underserved market with a dedicated clientele: librarians.  

May Promotion:

Let's celebrate the good ones.

If you've worked with a great editor, cover designer, interior designer, agent, author assistant, website designer - or someone else you credit for your success i...

 We thought it was time that we did a show on Tiktok, because while I realize it’s not a new-new platform per se, as social media sites go it’s fairly young, and  it’s gotten such great buzz, and especially with the #BookTok hashtag and such building so much interest for books, which we always love!

May Promotion:

Let's celebrate the good ones.

If you've worked with a great editor, cover designer, interior designer, agent, au...

Are you interested in creating a Kickstarter campaign to finance your next book? Tune in to listen to our take on one crowdfunding campaign that worked because he outlined it as a business venture - not as a way to get free money!

Here's the link to the author's page we discussed for your reference: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dragonsteel/surprise-four-secret-novels-by-brandon-sanderson?ref=msa

May Promotion:

Let...

We did this episode because there still seems to be a lot of confusion around the differences between self-publishing, traditional publishing, and using a publishing service.

Which is understandable!

But there's a lot of grey area in the industry today that really needs to be explored and understood before you can confidently make the publishing decision that's going to be right for you right now and down the road too.

Keep a...

We get it, bad reviews can be hard. But instead of focussing on the negative, it's important to understand all of the positive benefits that can come from reviews.

In this episode, we talk about how to approach reviews and what you can learn from them- yes, even the bad ones!

April Promotion:

Book covers matter, more than a lot of authors realize.
 
So if you’re releasing a book this year, or you’re open to breathing new life into...

Separating fact from fiction, in this episode we tackle the myths, untruths and yes, even a few urban legends - all of which can tank your publishing career. Tune in as Penny and Amy share 10 myths you maybe thought were true, but actually aren't!

April Promotion:

Book covers matter, more than a lot of authors realize.
 
So if you’re releasing a book this year, or you’re open to breathing new life into an already existing title by...

We hear a lot about paid reviews and many authors are eager to get their book into these services, but are there drawbacks to paid reviews? In this episode we take a candid look at paid vs. organic reviews - what to look for in paid reviews and what to what out for, and maybe why you need both!

April Promotion:
Book covers matter, more than a lot of authors realize.
 
So if you’re releasing a book this year, or you’re open to breathin...

Is your book cover helping or hurting your success? In this podcast Amy and Penny dig deep on what it means to have a successful book cover vs. one that's hurting your author brand and book sales. We also unpack how to find a good cover designer and the questions to ask when you're interviewing someone to design (or redesign) your cover!

April Promotion:
Book covers matter, more than a lot of authors realize.
 
So if you’re re...

 "I know enough people who will buy my book I don't have to worry about marketing it!"

If you've said this you're not alone, but you're also not setting yourself up for real success.

Two of the biggest pitfalls we see in author marketing are "good enough" and "everyone loves it"  and it's a real problem. Having Facebook followers isn't marketing, and they're not sales. Your alumni...

We love creativity, but sometimes there's such a thing as "too creative." When authors are looking for readers, they sometimes want to dip into other, nearby markets - and we're here to tell you there's a right way and a wrong way to do that.

In this episode Penny and Amy unpack the pitfalls of not understanding who your real markets are, and why and how to stay laser focused on who your audience is!

March Promot...