Author: SMBS Team

Episode 362 – Book Resurrections, Ahab Audiobooks, and the Algorithms of Lore

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If there was a person with a list of all the relevant PR contacts, do you think you would prioritize?

This week we have a loaded show and we really dive into email. Claire is holding a 5-Star Power Endings Masterclass this month and Bryan is doing a Blurb & Sales Page Webinar on Thursday March 11th. Make sure to check them out at the links provided. The winner this week is – Jamie Collins. Our Honorable Mention this week is – Have fun storming the castle! Top Tips of the week include how to get started on your book cover, what Gmail hacks you need to know, and how to understand the Amazon algorithm.The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what is the alternative for Amazon’s ACX, how to work on your multitasking, what guide you need for publishing wide, how Author and YouTuber Dale Roberts revamped Thomas A. Bradley’s entire horror catalog, and whats going on with Amazon. Question of the Week: If there was a person with a list of all the relevant PR contacts, do you think you would prioritize? read more

Episode #361 – Avoiding Libel, Amateur Books, and Simplifying Collaboration

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What stop and start habits do you currently have to transition in and out of writing & marketing mode, and which ones might you adopt to strengthen that transition?

Welcome to another week of SMBS! Claire is holding a 5-Star Power Endings Masterclass this month and Bryan is doing a BookBub webinar the day this episode goes live on March 3rd. Make sure to check them out at the links provided. Our Self Publishing Resource of the Week is – DIY Book Covers. The winner this week is – Sylvester Barzey. Top Tips of the week include how to make your co-writing process smoother, what you can do to catch a readers attention, and how to avoid libel charges. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how to have a clear content strategy, how Overdrive is making it easier to know your competition, what is Atticus, why making a fake commute may be just what you need, and how to tell if a book is a “Amateur Self-Published Book”. Question of the Week: What stop and start habits do you currently have to transition in and out of writing & marketing mode, and which ones might you adopt to strengthen that transition? read more

Episode 360 – Glorious Calculators, Clubhouse for Authors, and Copywriting

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If you could have a magical calculator that could import data from any variables, what would you want it to calculate for you?

Welcome to another week of SMBS! Claire tells us about a 5-Star Power Endings Masterclass that she is holding next month. Bryan is also holding a Webinar on Thursday, February 25th with Alana Terry on Facebook Ads. Make sure to check them out at the links provided. Our Self Publishing Resource of the Week is – BkLnk. The winner this week is – Amy Martinse. Top Tips of the week include where to start with custom ads, what calculators you need to know about, and why it is helpful to know your ideal reader. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what you need to know about the new platform called Clubhouse, why Amazon has some explaining to do, where you can now stream Audible audiobooks, how Six Figure Author Lindsay Buroker is selling her audiobooks, and how to balance your mental health and social media. Question of the Week: If you could have a magical calculator that could import data from any variables, what would you want it to calculate for you? read more

Episode 359 – Brand Blunders, Success Stories, and Indie Incentives

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When you receive criticism, how will you field it and how will you rebound to keep writing?

There is some great words of wisdom at the end of the show so be sure to listen till the end! Claire is holding a Enneagram & Character Motivations Masterclass and you have a chance to win a free ticket on her Instagram page. Bryan is also holding a Hook & Email Webinar. Make sure to check them out at the links provided. This week’s winner is Steve Moretti. Self Publishing Resource of the Week is – An Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores by Mark Leslie Lefebvre. This weeks honorable mention is Our Little Thorn is Growing Up. Top Tips of the week include what hidden features are on BookBub, how to get more engagement on author blog posts, and why having a strong brand can make all the difference. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include why you should consider going the indie route, how to build an author email list, and what way books are evolving, how you could get 10% bonus on your March royalty statement, and why you need to develop thick skin as an author. Question of the Week: When you receive criticism, how will you field it and how will you rebound to keep writing? read more

Episode 358- Platform Power, Rumor Mills, and Building Support.

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What’s one thing you can do this year to get more control over your business?

We have a great show in store for you this week. Claire is holding a Enneagram & Character Motivations Masterclass and you have a chance to win a free ticket on her Instagram page. Bryan is also holding a Hook & Email Webinar. Make sure to check them out at the links provided. This week’s winner is Eustacia Tan.Self Publishing Resource of the Week is – Book Craft: Cut the Fluff. Keep the Magic By Derek Murphy. Top Tips of the week include what does it mean to be good at marketing, what tips Findaway Voices has on boosting sales on Apple Books, and what great advice we learned from the Blurbs Sell Books Podcast. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include where to find a workshop on legal advice for publishing, why it is important to create your own platform, why authors need a support system, what the new rumor is about Kindle Unlimited plans, and why Jeff Bezos is stepping down as Amazon CEO. Question of the Week: What’s one thing you can do this year to get more control over your business? read more

Episode 357 – Down Days, Book Refreshes, and Owning Email

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If you had to pick one marketing channel to use exclusively (besides your email list) what would you pick for YOUR business, and why?

Welcome back to another week of SMBS! Claire has a Enneagram and Character Motivations Master Class coming up on February 20th so check that out at the links provided. This week’s winner is Chez Churton. Our Honorable Mention Is – Who will watch the watchmen? Author Resource of the Week is – Write to Market: Deliver a Book that Sells by Chris Fox. Top Tips of the week include how to organize an ARC team, what the latest in email design trends are, and how to build engagement. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what author Julia Quinn shares about her book turned Netflix show, how to evaluate your own writing, why to update your back matter, what is new with Barnes & Noble, and why to put all your energy into one or two ways to market. Question of the Week: If you had to pick one marketing channel to use exclusively (besides your email list) what would you pick for YOUR business, and why? read more

Episode 356 – Promotion Stacks, Book Hacks, and Kindle Attacks

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If you have an audiobook in ACX, what will you do, if anything, as a result of the updates to exclusivity?

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 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