Self Publishing

Episode 425 – Certainty of Success, KDP Author Growth, & Why You Aren’t a Hack (with Becca Syme)

Posted on by SMBS Team

If you could choose any of your books to be your biggest success story ($50k+ per year in book sales), which would you choose and why?

This week Bryan is joined by Becca Syme! Join the Sell More Books Show Afterparty group on Facebook and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. Be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcast. Top Tips of the week include how to choose your next email service, where to find the perfect author podcast for you, and how to maintain your hope and drive for the long-haul. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what indie authors are doing to make it big with Amazon, how to prove you’re not a hack writer, where to find a children’s book store that’s indies only, how to vet a traditional publisher, and which book has been printed and bound using fireproof materials. Question of the Week: If you could choose any of your books to be your biggest success story ($50k+ per year in book sales), which would you choose and why? read more

Episode 424- Crowdfunding, Target Reader, and Book Bans

Posted on by SMBS Team

Based on this week’s audience targeting discussion, who are you writing your current book for?

This week we have a great show in store for you! Join the Sell More Books Show Afterparty group on Facebook and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. Be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcast. Top Tips of the week include what unusual ways to make crowdfunding work for you, how bad marketing can be worse than no marketing, and what makes a good book fail. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how to avoid failing as an author, why bookstores are being told to ban books, why you should write even when things are bad in the world, how KDP’s reports have changed to give you more updated information about your books, and why Amazon has updated it’s stance on low-content books. Question of the Week: Based on this week’s audience targeting discussion, who are you writing your current book for? read more

Episode 423- – Ads Help, Tik Talk, and Ditching the Day Job

Posted on by SMBS Team

What strategies have you used to cope with those harsh 1-and 2-star reviews?

This week Claire is joined by romantic comedy author Rich Amooi! Join the Sell More Books Show Afterparty group on Facebook and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. Be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcast. Top Tips of the week include how to get your books into libraries, how to reboot a dying series, and why you should consider writing in a series. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include when to ditch the day job, Amazon KDP is able to print in Poland and Sweden now, what is better than 5-star reviews, how to have someone run your ads for you, and how one publisher is embracing TikTok. Question of the Week: What strategies have you used to cope with those harsh 1-and 2-star reviews? read more

Episode 422- Respecting Rights and Planning for the Worst

Posted on by SMBS Team

Do you have a backup plan if sales dip, and if not, what do you think you’d try so you could still progress in your self-publishing career?

This week we have a great show for you! Join the Sell More Books Show Afterparty group on Facebook and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. Be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcast. Top Tips of the week include how to best find and use keywords to sell more books, why to create and distribute a hands-off mystery box, and why you should write and market in more than one genre. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how to plan for the worst, whether to refresh or republish your book, how changes to Android and Apple could affect in app book sales, what those rank numbers really mean, and why Creative Commons might be more trouble than it’s worth. Question of the Week: Do you have a backup plan if sales dip, and if not, what do you think you’d try so you could still progress in your self-publishing career? read more

Episode 421 – Sell More Books, Working Your Backlist, and Changing Bonuses

Posted on by SMBS Team

Do you think traditional publishing is going to change its mindset about backlist vs new release? And how are you leveraging your backlist at the moment?

This week Claire is joined by author Jamie Davis! Join the Sell More Books Show Afterparty group on Facebook and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. Be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcast. Top Tips of the week include how to spot book problems, what you shouldn’t do with social media, and what new feature Dropbox has. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how to make your backlist work for you, how KU readers are helping your reviews, what KU bonuses are changing, why Modi files are on the outs, and how groups have the power to sell books. Question of the Week: Do you think traditional publishing is going to change its mindset about backlist vs new release? And how are you leveraging your backlist at the moment? read more

Episode 420 – Junk Marketing, Delayed Launch, and Managing Pain

Posted on by SMBS Team

What do you think publishing will look like in 2032?

This week we have a great show in store for you! Join the Sell More Books Show Afterparty group on Facebook and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. Be sure to leave us a review on Apple Podcast. Top Tips of the week include when are the best times to post on social media, when to delay a book launch, and whether you should sell direct from your site. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what the next 10 year of publishing will look like, how to avoid junk marketing scams, where another ship full of books is stuck, how to cope with and manage chronic pain that affects your writing, and what author summit you won’t want to miss. Question of the Week: What do you think publishing will look like in 2032? read more

Episode 419- Tax Changes, Writing Buddies, and Backlist’s Back

Posted on by SMBS Team

Getting started in publishing, what side hustles did you work (or are you still working) in order to fund your business?

This week we have a great show in store for you! Join the Sell More Books Show Afterparty group on Facebook. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. Top Tips of the week include how to revamp your backlist to increase sales, your ideal role at book events and conventions, and how a daily theme can help you write more. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include Why authors should have multiple streams of income, why you should find the best writing group for the stage of your author journey, how a new coffee shop is helping writers write, what ACX’s big tax reporting change means to authors, and how Kickstarter is changing the tide in the publishing industry. Question of the Week: Getting started in publishing, what side hustles did you work (or are you still working) in order to fund your business? read more

Episode 418- Home Retreats, Hacks, and Hucksters

Posted on by SMBS Team

How might you or will you use the new poll feature offered in Kindle Vella?

The challenge is on and you can join in! You can find Bryan’s Author Ad Challenge in the links provided as well as Claire’s Author Motivation series. Join the Sell More Books Show Afterparty group on Facebook. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. Top Tips of the week include how to have a home-brewed writer’s retreat, how to copyright your book, and whether you should accept a Kindle Daily Deal. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include whether hacking your productivity is a good idea, what new Kindle Vella feature will help engage your readers, what you can do tonight to start writing more tomorrow, what Barnes & Noble did to their audiobooks, and what print being down means for publishing. Question of the Week: How might you or will you use the new poll feature offered in Kindle Vella? read more

Episode 417- Family Business, Fresh Covers, and Taxed Twice

Posted on by SMBS Team

Have you ever updated your book covers, and if so, how has it impacted your sales and conversion rate?

This week we have a great show in store for you! Be sure to check out Bryan’s Author Ad Challenge on April 12th. Join the Sell More Books Show Afterparty group on Facebook. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. Top Tips of the week include how to get your book rights back, what advice NOT to take to succeed, and why to give your book the cover it deserves. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include why everyone is upset with ebook returns, how traditional publishing is out of step with royalties, how not to pay taxes twice, why you can’t buy an ebook in your reading app anymore, and what to consider when hiring a relative as your author assistant. Question of the Week: Have you ever updated your book covers, and if so, how has it impacted your sales and conversion rate? read more

Episode 416 – Award Shows, Alli’s Anniversary, & Sharing the Kickstarter Wealth (with James Blatch)

Posted on by SMBS Team

What’s a tool you think is undervalued that you use everyday with your books and/or marketing?

This week Bryan is joined by James Blatch! Be sure to check out the Self Publishing Show LIVE on June 28th-29th. Join the Sell More Books Show Afterparty group on Facebook. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. Top Tips of the week include When you need permission to quote something, Why you can use those 50 reviews, and how Al can write with you. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include Why you might want to avoid some social media, how Vellum can help you make better box sets faster, which indie author got a tv show from one of his oldest books, how Brandon Sanderson gave back to the author community, and how far indies have come. Question of the Week: What’s a tool you think is undervalued that you use everyday with your books and/or marketing? read more