Question of the Week: At what point should an indie be considered a “sellout?”

Bryan and Jim are back with a very news-focused show! After thanking their patrons, Black Shadow Moon, The Tilt, and Twins of Prey, the publishing pundits discussed making big plays, connecting with readers on social media, and how to improve your email engagement. News stories included an idea for improving KDP customer support, lessons Joanna Penn learned in her sixth year in publishing, why trad pub bet big against digital, a new system in erotica characterization, and what we can learn from Chance the Rapper. This week’s Question of the Week: At what point should an indie be considered a “sellout?”

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Question of the Week: How much would your earnings have to drop to consider going wide instead of in KU? Also, would you consider leaving if Amazon’s actions against the scammers aren’t effective? Why or why not?

What’s your KU pain point? Jim and Bryan ask the big questions this week on Episode 180. After thanking their patrons Guardian of the Brail, Achieve Anything in Just One Year, and How to Drive Your Next Car Deal, the Towers of Publishing Power discussed tips on paperback preorders, rookie publishing mistakes, and a new email swap service. News stories included teaching self-publishing to high schoolers, David Gaughran’s wish list for Amazon Ads, Rip Van Winkle syndrome for midlisters, tips for Amazon Ads, Kobo’s new audiobook platform, and Amazon’s lawsuits to stop scammers. This week’s Question of the Week: How much would your earnings have to drop to consider going wide instead of in KU? Also, would you consider leaving if Amazon’s actions against the scammers aren’t effective? Why or why not?

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Question of the Week: Would it be as big a story if a major retailer like Amazon allegedly discriminated against LGBT books, or is the story the same magnitude no matter where that discrimination happens?

Happy Labor Day! Jim and Bryan each ran special sales this week (discount book descriptions and reviewer submissions) and chatted at length about tips on sending personal emails, dealing with fear, and changing up your Facebook Ads. After thanking their patrons Thawed, The Hat Trick Series, and The Dragon Rustler, the emperors of entrepreneurship discussed news stories on earning from shorter works, WordPress 5.0, waiting to promote your books, creating a shared universe, and alleged discrimination from Playster. This week’s Question of the Week: Would it be as big a story if a major retailer like Amazon allegedly discriminated against LGBT books, or is the story the same magnitude no matter where that discrimination happens??

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Question of the Week: Given the release of Wattpad’s Raccoon video app, do you think video storytelling will ever become a part of your author business? Why or why not?

With Jim’s 24 Hours of Free Author Marketing Club promo and Bryan’s crazy few weeks, there was a lot to discuss. After thanking their patrons, The Outline Book, Removed, and A Curse upon the Saints, the warriors of indie writing discussed networking, book cover redesigns, and Kindle Unlimited promos. News stories included Medium’s subscription service, Amazon’s review word cloud tool, Wattpad’s new Raccoon app, the Handbook for Mortals New York Times scandal, and Nook’s recent uneven bans on erotica authors. This week’s Question of the Week: Given the release of Wattpad’s Raccoon video app, do you think video storytelling will ever become a part of your author business? Why or why not?

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Question of the Week: Why do some authors spend time getting angry about fellow indies attempting to get on bestseller lists when they could instead learn from the marketing successes of box sets like Dominion Rising?

We’ve reached 500,000 downloads, and we couldn’t have done it without you! This week, Jim and Bryan discussed tips on ad copywriting, indie author mistakes, and writing by hand. After thanking their patrons Peaks of Passion, Where the Leaves Wither, and The Last Days Begin, the Walter Cronkites of self-publishing took on the latest news stories, including Australia’s trad pub matchmaker site, Smashwords Special Deals, Nook First Look, KU’s drop in per page payout, and the Dominion Rising’s exclusion from the New York Times Bestseller List. This week’s Question of the Week: Why do some authors spend time getting angry about fellow indies attempting to get on bestseller lists when they could instead learn from the marketing successes of box sets like Dominion Rising?

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Question of the Week: Is it fair for readers to leave customer reviews en masse if they haven’t yet read the book? How can publishers and retailers avoid situations like this in the future?

Director of Content Abigail Dunard visited the show this week to talk tips and news with Jim. After thanking their patrons, We Own the Sky, Kick Author Overwhelm to the Curb, and The Newbie’s Guide to Sell More Books with Less Marketing, Jim and Abigail discussed tips on major marketing campaigns, six-figure steps, and reader on-boarding. News stories included Amazon’s new shipping policy, Hallmark Publishing, David Gaughran’s brush with Amazon iron fist, IndiePicks, and a contentious campaign fighting a popular YA book. This week’s Question of the Week: Is it fair for readers to leave customer reviews en masse if they haven’t yet read the book? How can publishers and retailers avoid situations like this in the future?

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Question of the Week: Which is going to hit big first and why: texting-based stories or stories with augmented or virtual reality?

Thank you, listeners, for helping us reach this landmark episode! This week, Jim and Bryan talked tips about scheduling social media, adopting habits of successful authors, and evolving with your readers. After thanking their patrons The Commons: Book 1, Time Code, and Stalked by Flames, the publishing pair discussed using Overdrive through Draft2Digital, refining your Amazon Ads, WattPad’s Tap app, virtual and augmented reality, and whale readers. This week’s Question of the Week: Which is going to hit big first and why: texting-based stories or stories with augmented or virtual reality?

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Question of the Week: As a reader, what makes you put down a book in the first 10%? Conversely, what makes you keep reading and read on to future books in the series?

20Books Vegas head honcho Craig Martelle visited the show to talk tips and news with Bryan this week! After thanking their patrons Cold War: Alien Incursion, Shades of Treason, and Angelborn, Bryan and Craig talked tips about productivity, strong habits, and conquering BookBub Featured Deals. News stories included a Goodreads competitor, new ebook taxes in Australia and India, Kobo’s preview conversion feature, KENPC version 3.0, and steps to take to become a six-figure author. This week’s Question of the Week: As a reader, what makes you put down a book in the first 10%? Conversely, what makes you keep reading and read on to future books in the series?

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Question of the Week: How long will it take for mobile reading to take over as the primary form of online reading in the U.S. and why?

Is China’s online reading marketplace significantly larger than the U.S. and U.K.? Find out in our latest scorching episode! After thanking their patrons A Finger in Every Pie, Awakened, and The Prosperous Writer’s Guide to Finding Readers, Jim and Bryan tackled tips on starting from scratch, grading your own writing, and targeting the right readers. News stories included gender fluid pen names, potential changes in Facebook Groups, Instafreebie’s app-based attempt to solve side-loading, France adopting online reading, and China’s massive growth in e-reading. This week’s Question of the Week: How long will it take for mobile reading to take over as the primary form of online reading in the U.S. and why?

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Question of the Week: Do you think Amazon will do anything about its click-farming problem? Why or why not?

What should Amazon do about its clickfarm problem? Jim and Bryan have their thoughts on that question and this week’s other top stories. After thanking their patrons Faster Than Falling, Leaving Eva, and Inharmonic Fantasy, the powerful publishing pair tackled tips on author mindset, beta readers, and pricing. News stories included the BookBaby’s author survey, author apps, bullying, PublishDrive, thinking small, and a click-farmed book hitting #1. This week’s Question of the Week: Do you think Amazon will do anything about its click-farming problem? Why or why not?

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