Author: SMBS Team

Episode 385- Staying Focused, Author Learning, and Goodreads Ransoms

Posted on by SMBS Team

In the next 3 months of your business, what is the project that you’re most excited about?

We have a great show in store for you this week! Please be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Sara Prow Blackard. Top Tips of the week include what books you need to jumpstart your indie author career, why these marketing strategies just won’t work, and how to stop temptation and start writing. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how you can maximize your hourly rate, why readers are willing to buy wider, what’s selling on Kobo Plus in Canada, why Goodreads is in the news for regular people not just authors and why Apple’s new email privacy isn’t such a big deal. Question of the Week: In the next 3 months of your business, what is the project that you’re most excited about? read more

Episode 384- ARC Teams, Original Content, and Business Brains

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Where have you found your ARC team members, what have you offered people to get them on your main list (no review incentives!), and what are some of your wins and challenges been throughout the ARC team-building process?

We have a great show in store for you this week! Please be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. Check out Claire’s YouTube channel for a new video every Friday! You can find the link in the show notes. The winner this week is Hildie McQueen. Top Tips of the week include how an ARC Review Team can help you sell books sooner, why you may need to prove yourself to Amazon, and what an email welcome sequence can do for you. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include why newer is better when it comes to publishing, how the MFA can improve the author business, what Youtube thinks of audiobooks, how scammers are using authors names to sell books and what BookFunnel is doing for your author support team. Question of the Week: Where have you found your ARC team members, what have you offered people to get them on your main list (no review incentives!), and what are some of your wins and challenges been throughout the ARC team-building process? read more

Episode 383- Subscription Surge, Author Bios, and Keyword Connections

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Have you created a list of comp authors for your books? If so, who are they? If not, what’s the first step you’ll take toward building that?

We have a great show in store for you this week! Please be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Erik Marshall. Top Tips of the week include how to master your author bio, who is helping new authors get started from zero, and how to utilize free bonus content. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include why publishers are getting into the subscription game, what subscriptions Audible is rolling out in the UK, how to use the right keywords on Amazon, how to brighten your book pages on KDP and how to find your book’s comps and sell more. Question of the Week: Have you created a list of comp authors for your books? If so, who are they? If not, what’s the first step you’ll take toward building that? read more

Episode 382- Protecting Your Assets, Book Pirates, and Subscriptions

Posted on by SMBS Team

What’s one habit you can change this week to clear more time in your schedule for sleep?

Bryan is back this week and we have a great show in store for you, please be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Houston Hare. This weeks honorable mention is Undervalued Opportunity. Top Tips of the week include why you need to protect yourself with an LLC, what to do when your book is pirated, and why to check your rights with new apps and platforms. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how to succeed with email after the Apple upgrade, how BookShop.org is leading the diversity charge, what is Amazon doing with scammers, what traits of KU readers you need to know and how resting affects your work. Question of the Week: What’s one habit you can change this week to clear more time in your schedule for sleep? read more

Episode 381- Audio Subscriptions, Custom Domains, and Psychic Armor

Posted on by SMBS Team

What is your five statement manifesto for your career over the coming year (“I am…” “I do…” “I have…”)?

This week Claire is joined by USAToday Bestseller Romance Author Michelle Spiva. We have a great show in store for you, please be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Ethan Jones. Top Tips of the week include how to market your book on Amazon, what to do when you’re not feeling supported as an author, and how to target your BookBub ads better. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what audiobooks are doing for kids and teens, who is Clubhouse competing with, what are the new domain features of Bookfunnel, how Amazon’s new series feature can help and hurt and what you need to know about the Kindle Vella launch. Question of the Week: What is your five statement manifesto for your career over the coming year (“I am…” “I do…” “I have…”)? read more

Episode 380- Diversifying Your Portfolio, Conference Fever, and Amazon’s Latest Legal Battle

Posted on by SMBS Team

How might you prepare your business for when subscription services become more prominent in the industry?

Get in on Bryan’s ad challenge and check out Claire’s youtube channel to find some great free resources. You can find the links in the show notes. Please be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Randy L. Top Tips of the week include how to help readers find your book with SEO, what to do when your find your ideal reader, and where to find upcoming writing conferences. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what Amazon changed to help readers understand their ads better, how to earn multiple streams of income, who’s upset about audiobook royalties, why ebook subscriptions are taking off, and what legal siege Amazon is under. Question of the Week: How might you prepare your business for when subscription services become more prominent in the industry? read more

Episode 379- Maximizing Your Time, and Reimagining Your Systems

Posted on by SMBS Team

Where’s somewhere in your writing business that you might have been unintentionally exclusionary, and how might your change your processes and platform to make sure a greater diversity of voices are heard?

Check out Bryan’s 5-Day Challenge on July 12th! Please be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Brian Scott Pauls. Top Tips of the week include how to maximize your writing time, what to learn from authors that came before you, and where to start when it comes to platform. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what new types of publishers to be on the look out for, how to make the most of those bad reviews, why pirated books are outranking published versions, what changes Bookbub is making to support diversity, and what you need to know when making a publishing decision. Question of the Week: Where’s somewhere in your writing business that you might have been unintentionally exclusionary, and how might your change your processes and platform to make sure a greater diversity of voices are heard? read more

Episode 378 – Production Planning, Vella Changes, and Stopping Audio Scammers

Posted on by SMBS Team

Do you have a marketing and production schedule that goes beyond three months? If not, how do you think your production schedule would change if it was planned out 6, 12, or 18+ months into the future?

Trixie Silvertale is here! She’s a successful cozy author featured in an awesome case study that we talked about last week on the show. Please be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Michael Lauck. Top Tips of the week include what BookBub Ad you should be using, how to be twice as productive, and why you should market seasonally. This week’s honorable mention is Pointing Fingers. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how to protect yourself from audiobook scammers, how Google is getting more book and audio apps created, where to find more free reviews, what are Kindle Vella’s latest updates, and why you should sell direct. Question of the Week: Do you have a marketing and production schedule that goes beyond three months? If not, how do you think your production schedule would change if it was planned out 6, 12, or 18+ months into the future? read more

Episode 377- Strategizing Ads and What Readers Want

Posted on by SMBS Team

What doom and gloom story that’s circulating through the author community do you think is the most overblown?

Welcome back to another episode! Bryan has a webinar this Thursday on how to fix the 5 most common book description mistakes so be sure to check that out. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Garrett Robinson. Top Tips of the week include how to get your book seen with Facebook ads, where to find motivation when stalled, and what is the best distribution strategy. This week’s honorable mention is New Kid on The Book Block. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what is Amazon’s biggest profit source, why Apple is making it harder for email marketing, what flood might be making its way to the indie world, how to reach readers, and how Amazon Ad school is reaching the mainstream. Question of the Week: What doom and gloom story that’s circulating through the author community do you think is the most overblown? read more

Episode 376 – Discovery Marketing, TikTok & Reader Magnets

Posted on by SMBS Team

What is your favorite social media platform right now and do you think you’ll use one of these new-fangled platforms to promote your books at some point in the future?

Welcome back to another episode! This week we dive into social media. Be sure to check out Jami Albright’s launch plan that will be linked in the show notes. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Blaine Moore. Top Tips of the week include how to maximize your international sales, what TikTok can do for you as an author, and how to find the best title for your book. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what the newest publishing trends of 2021 are, why audiobook sales are increasing, how you can get started on Instagram, why you need a book plan, and how to find a reader magnet that works for you. Question of the Week: What is your favorite social media platform right now and do you think you’ll use one of these new-fangled platforms to promote your books at some point in the future? read more