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It feels great to check marketing chores off your to-do list, but how do you know if what you're doing is really worth your time? Focused and strategic marketing  isn't actually that hard. GASP! How can we say that? Because the education and research needed for strategic marketing is front loaded. You set yourself up correctly, and every marketing effort after that is significantly more effective! But too often authors start marketing before they fully understand the bigger picture of why they're doing what they're doing.Our goal for this episode is to have a candid chat about the differences between marketing with the goal of simply "doing marketing" and marketing in ways that connects with readers and actually help you build a successful brand.  Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers!Check out our podcast page and learn more about the team at www.amarketingexpert.com/author-podcast

Social media advertising is a staple in many authors' DIY marketing plans, but when is social media advertising not beneficial? And how do you really know if it's paying off?Our goal for this episode is to have an unfiltered and honest conversation about social media advertising, the challenges and the requirements for ensuring they're working for you. You might be surprised (or you might not) but you'll no doubt come away with a better understanding of how to assess the appropriateness for your brand.  Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers!Check out our podcast page and learn more about the team at www.amarketingexpert.com/author-podcast

Bonus hashtags below! Despite what the "vibe" might be out there these days, parents are still really committed to reducing screen time for their kids, especially over summer break!If you've written a book for independent readers, tweens, and even teens, this is your time to shine.  But don't forget, you're marketing to the parents of these kids, so your goal is to convince them your book is a way to keep kids engaged this summer, and will be a slam dunk with their kids. Our goal for this episode is to spark your creativity and encourage you to get some really fun and aggressive summer promotions going, so you don't want to miss this one!Here are some great hashtags to use when you're promoting your book on social media this summer:#childrensbookrecommendations#summerreading#summerreadingchallenge#raiseareader#kidsbookshelf#kidswhoread#childrensbookstagram#booksforkids#middlegradebooks#teenbooks Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers!Check out our podcast page and learn more about the team at www.amarketingexpert.com/author-podcast

We love book contests, in fact, Penny has judged a few of them, including Writer's Digest and IBPA's Benjamin Franklin Awards! So this podcast is both a behind-the-scenes deep dive into book awards and contests, why you'd want to enter your book, and how to find the right ones. Plus, we'll talk about what to avoid, like scammy contests that just want to take your money (sadly, they're out there, too). Our goal for this episode is to inspire you to put yourself out there and start submitting yourself to contests and awards (or more of them) because there are a lot of surprising ways they can help your platform!  Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers!Check out our podcast page and learn more about the team at www.amarketingexpert.com/author-podcast

Most of us have heard the term 'soft launch' before, whether in the publishing industry or for another product or company launch.But what is a soft launch really? And how does it work in the publishing industry? Our goal for this episode is to chat about the origins of the soft launch, and what they are and aren't, especially in today's publishing market. We'll also give you tips for running a successful soft launch if you think you're ready for it! Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers!Check out our podcast page and learn more about the team at www.amarketingexpert.com/author-podcast

There's a lot of confusion around book distribution, and the terminology can be really confusing. For example, what is distribution exactly, and how does it differ from digital distribution? Our goal for this episode is to go over the origin of distribution, what it used to mean, what it means today, and what your role is in making sure you get the opportunities you're looking for! Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers!Check out our podcast page and learn more about the team at www.amarketingexpert.com/author-podcast

Drum roll please! Penny has just finished updating How to Sell Books by the Truckload and it's the 10th edition! We're so excited (especially Penny, who was getting Amazon algorithm-fatigue)! Our goal for this episode is to celebrate the upcoming release by sharing some insider info on what Penny discovered revising this book and, more specifically, why your Amazon ads aren't working!  Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers!Check out our podcast page and learn more about the team at www.amarketingexpert.com/author-podcast

We realize this industry is full of authors with a range of abilities. We don’t all have the same computer savvy, some of you may feel you’ve earned the right to not jump on every trend, and hell, maybe some of you just aren’t interested! We get that - but there are some things you have to know how to do. Whether you’re 17 or 87, there are expectations in this industry that need to be met if you in fact want to get your books in the hands of readers. Our goal for this episode is to ensure you're 100% set on the basics of surviving the publishing industry in 2023, and beyond! Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers!Check out our podcast page and learn more about the team at www.amarketingexpert.com/author-podcast

We get it, it's hard to know what to spend on book marketing. So we thought it was a good time to talk about the elephant in the room: How much should you expect to spend on your book marketing? And the million-dollar question (pun intended): How much money does it take to make a best seller? Our goal for this episode is to discuss why having a budget is not only imperative but also empowering. Know your limits and find a firm that can work with them.  Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers!Check out our podcast page and learn more about the team at www.amarketingexpert.com/author-podcast

Book formats are often not talked about enough until it's too late, or more accurately, until the options and missed opportunities cause a lot of stress and anxiety. Too many authors actually end up limiting their sales potential by not fully understanding the benefits that come along with having multiple formats of their book.  Our goal for this episode is to open your eyes to the short and long-term potential of releasing multiple formats of your book, no matter your topic or genre. Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers!Check out our podcast page and learn more about the team at www.amarketingexpert.com/author-podcast

Is there such a thing as the perfect book release?  Actually yes, but it's not what you think! Too often authors get caught up in having ALL the pieces in place for a book release, but it's not about having everything ready on launch day, it's about having the right things ready, and knowing when, and how, to get the other pieces in order along the way. Our goal for this episode is to cover what really needs to be ready for your release, what you can expect to take more time on, and maybe most importantly, discourage you from continually moving the goalposts and delaying your wins along the way.Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers! Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers!Check out our podcast page and learn more about the team at www.amarketingexpert.com/author-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 from those who have a vested interest in your success! Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers! Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers!Check out our podcast page and learn more about the team at www.amarketingexpert.com/author-podcast

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 is to discuss the pitfalls that come with soliciting advice from people that are close to you,  and why consulting with a professional is absolutely worth your time and money in the long run.Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers! Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers!Check out our podcast page and learn more about the team at www.amarketingexpert.com/author-podcast

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 a path that will continue to serve you long-term. Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers! Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers!Check out our podcast page and learn more about the team at www.amarketingexpert.com/author-podcast

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 a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers! Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers!Check out our podcast page and learn more about the team at www.amarketingexpert.com/author-podcast

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 written. Will an AI start writing books? You'll have to tune in to find out! Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers! Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers!Check out our podcast page and learn more about the team at www.amarketingexpert.com/author-podcast

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 enough to compete it today's market. Our goal for this episode is to focus on just a couple elements of book cover design, and spend a bit more time explaining why these details are so critical.  Do you think you'll be surprised? Let us know! Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers! Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers!Check out our podcast page and learn more about the team at www.amarketingexpert.com/author-podcast

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's sales potential. Honestly, anyone writing non-fiction will benefit from this episode, so don't miss it.Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers! Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers!Check out our podcast page and learn more about the team at www.amarketingexpert.com/author-podcast

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 finding creative ways to thank followers! Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers!Check out our podcast page and learn more about the team at www.amarketingexpert.com/author-podcast

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.  Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers! Remember to leave a review for the podcast and email us to let us know, we're always finding creative ways to thank followers!Check out our podcast page and learn more about the team at www.amarketingexpert.com/author-podcast