Author: SMBS Team

Episode 355 – Teamwork, Lawsuits, and 2021 Trends with Quinn Ward

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Where are you now and what is your goal for where you’re gonna be a year from now?

This week we have a great show for you. Bryan is joined by MM author Quinn Ward. Thank you to all of our featured Patrons! Top Tips of the week include how to beat formatting stress, what you need for a great Amazon ad copy, and how to break even with audiobooks. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how author Alexa Kang spiced up her free reads for her newsletter subscribers, what new ebook company Medium has acquired, why Wattpad is on the verge of being sold, who is being accused of ebook price-fixing, and what is in store for authors in 2021. Question of the Week: Where are you now and what is your goal for where you’re gonna be a year from now? read more

Episode 354 – Narrowing Focus, Doing Less, and Making More

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What was the last book you read that made you cry?

It is not too late to join Bryan’s 5 Day Amazon Ad Challenge or Claire’s Indie Author Alignment Workshop. Check them out at the links provided. Thank you to our featured Patrons – The 8-Minute Writing Habit, Writing the Past, and Love’s Current. Top Tips of the week include how to let readers preview your book on Amazon, what you need for an author platform, and where to find author podcasts’. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how to start 2021 on the right foot as an author, what book companies are doing to public schools, why Facebook is taking away page likes, what the pricing for IngramSparks print-on-demand paperbacks are increasing by, and how to set realistic goals for the new year. Question of the Week: What was the last book you read that made you cry? read more

Episode 353 – New Year, New Challenges, and New Categories

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What BISAC category would you want to add to the list that doesn’t already exist, and do you think it would be worth the push to make it happen?

Happy New Year from the Sell More Books Show Team! We are hoping to have a great year of shows and are so happy to kick it off 2021 with the 353rd episode. Bryan is having his 5 Day Amazon Ad Challenge on January 11th and Claire has a Indie Author Alignment Workshop coming up, be sure to check those out at the links provided. This week’s winner is Shirish Deshpande. Thank you to our featured Patrons – Time Code, Unfrozen, and Rock Rain. Top Tips of the week include why you need an email list, what new challenge Amazon is launching, and how to avoid distractions. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include why you should reach out to local media, what you need to know about scammers, what Medium is doing for your follower list, whats new with LMBPN Publishing, and how to push for categories you want. Question of the Week: What BISAC category would you want to add to the list that doesn’t already exist, and do you think it would be worth the push to make it happen? read more

Episode 352 – Year in Review

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What do you think is the biggest publishing story of 2020?

We have enjoyed this year of The Sell More Books Show and look forward to you joining us in 2021! Kick off the new year with Claire’s 5 Day Indie Author Alignment Course for free. Brian is also holding his 5 Day Amazon Ad Challenge on January 11th with a special offer of a speed pass that allows you to jump ahead. Be sure to check these out at the links provided. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how the pandemic has impacted libraries, why traditional publishing struggles are occurring, what the surge in audiobooks means for Audible, what new changes Amazon Advertising had in 2020, and how it’s possible that the Coronavirus lockdowns have changes the industry. Question of the Week: What do you think is the biggest publishing story of 2020? read more

Episode 351 – Back to Basics, Vanishing Pixels, and Indie Inspiration.

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What is something about you and your background or expertise from outside of your author life that you can bring into your writing to add uniqueness in 2021?

This week we have lots of great tips for you, remember to leave a review on Apple Podcast. Next week we have our SMBS year in review show so look forward to that. This week’s winner is Tracy Krimmer. Thank you to our featured Patrons – Cubicle Jail to Laptop Lifestyle and DEAD STILL. This weeks Honorable Mention is Google Keeps Going. Top Tips of the week include what to do about creating imprints, why categories can sometimes be difficult, and who is having their annual end of year sale. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include why Apple doesn’t follow standard guidelines for online bookstores, what you need to know about having an ARC team, what google is doing in part of their new text-to-speech initiative for audiobooks, why Facebook sent out a message about negative affects on ads, and how to get inspiration from fellow authors and their stories. Question of the Week: What is something about you and your background or expertise from outside of your author life that you can bring into your writing to add uniqueness in 2021? read more

Episode 350 – Perfect Titles, Time Scarcity as an Author, and Pivoting for 2021

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What is your pivot for 2021 if you have one? How will you be changing what you do and what you’re doing and why will you be making that change?

This week Bryan is back and we have a great show in store for you! This week’s winner is Dori H. Thank you to our featured Patrons – Where The Leaves Wither, The Cordova Vector, and Nolan Walker And The Superiors Squad. This weeks Honorable Mention goes to Legal Easy. Top Tips of the week include where to look to help you get started on your mockup, how to get the perfect title, and what you need to know when going wide. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include whats going on with Amazon and DPLA, how to beat time scarcity as an author, why audiobooks are a decision of time vs money, why and when to consider hiring a VA, and how to get yourself ready for the new year. Question of the Week: What is your pivot for 2021 if you have one? How will you be changing what you do and what you’re doing and why will you be making that change? read more

Episode 349 – Public Displays of Selection, Indie Stages, and BookExpo No Mo’

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Regarding Amazon’s decision not to make its imprints available in libraries, do you see this as a sensible decision, a big missed opportunity, a money grab, or something else?

This week Claire is joined by Indie Author and editor Julie Strauss. We have a great show in store for you! This week’s winner is Dave Core. Thank you to our featured Patrons – Level Up, 60 Second Tarot, and The Tilt. Top Tips of the week include when to consider pre-orders, what you need to know about building a book launch team, and what time-saving apps you need. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what Barnes & Noble is doing, why BookExpo is coming to an end, why there is a new petition against Amazon, what a new survey is saying about authors income, and why Google is making a leap into machine-generated audiobooks. Question of the Week: Regarding Amazon’s decision not to make its imprints available in libraries, do you see this as a sensible decision, a big missed opportunity, a money grab, or something else? read more

Episode 348 – Cooking Up Sales, Reducing Stress, and The Big 4(?)

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Do you stick to one plotting/outlining technique or do you find it easier to overlay or synthesize multiple ones?

This week we have a great show for you! Make sure to leave us a comment or answer the question of the week on our page. This week’s winner is Blaine Moore. Thank you to our featured Patrons – Prometheus Rising, The Nonfiction Outline Book, and Planet Dead One Shot. Top Tips of the week include how to stop overthinking your writing, what is new with Gumroad, and who is rolling out new features for marketing your book. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how to get started with Cookbook publishing, what is Binge Books, why indie authors books are disappearing from Bookshop.org, why members of the book business are objecting Penguin Random House from buying Simon and Schuster, and why self-care is good for your productivity. Question of the Week: Do you stick to one plotting/outlining technique or do you find it easier to overlay or synthesize multiple ones? read more

SMBS 347 – A Big News Week, Legacy Planning, and Audiobook Opportunities

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Which of today’s stories and tips are you the most excited about and why?

This week our show is loaded and we cant wait to share it with you! Be sure to leave a review on Apple Podcast. This week’s winner is Eustacia Tan. Thank you to our featured Patrons – A Turn for the Worse, TStrings of Subversion, and Mayhem & Murder. Top Tips of the week include what tactics you need to know when marketing a new release, why you need to get your hands on the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Bud Webster Legacy Kit, and what new design options are available on BookBub Ads creator. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include why Disney is taking some heat, who is delivering audiobooks, what Amazon has to say about Sponsored Brand ads, how to nominate your own books for Kindle Deals and Prime Reading, and how Amazon is changing their return policy for Audible audiobooks. Question of the Week: Which of today’s stories and tips are you the most excited about and why? read more

Episode 346 – Author Privacy, Reading Fine Print, and Selling Before You Publish

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What tricks do you use to keep your author life separate from your home address?

This week Bryan and Claire have a great show for us. Make sure to leave a review on Apple Podcast. Top Tips of the week include how to get comfortable with ads, what are the benefits to having a pen name, and how PublishDrive is providing a new way to distribute your audiobook. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include why people are calling for an investigation looking into the excessive pricing of academic e-books, what new portal Amazon has launched, how Wattpad is growing rapidly, what is Amazon up to now, and why sharing your chapters piece by piece may be a good option for you. Question of the Week: What tricks do you use to keep your author life separate from your home address? read more