Self Publishing

Episode 396- The True Universal Link, Chapter Titles, and AI

Posted on by SMBS Team

If you were to come up with a chapter title for one of your favorite chapters you’ve written, what would it be?

This week we have a great show in store for you! Be sure to check out Bryan’s Kickstarter at the link provided. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Kevin J Fellows. Top Tips of the week include how to promote when you don’t want to promote, how chapter titles can help sell books, and why to ask for blurbs and beta reads even when it hurts. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what is coming to AI audiobooks, what new link to use to promote your print books, what platform you should use to help go direct, how to take your buyer on a journey that increases book sales and what to do to get yourself back out there and writing again. Question of the Week: If you were to come up with a chapter title for one of your favorite chapters you’ve written, what would it be? read more

SMBS 395 – Conferences, Audience Insurance, and Ditching the WIP

Posted on by SMBS Team

Will you be checking out the Copper social media site, and if so, how do you see yourself using it?

This week Claire is joined by Jami Albright and we have a great show in store for you! Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Kamuela Kaneshiro. Top Tips of the week include how to promote your audiobook on Instagram, when to bail on a project..or not, and how to make a fantasy world map for your book or readers. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include Why you need to have a print book not just an ebook, why your cover matters so much, what new social media platform is coming just for readers and writers, what indie author event is less than two weeks away. Question of the Week: Will you be checking out the Copper social media site, and if so, how do you see yourself using it? read more

Episode 394- Rights, Defamation, and Publishing Imposters

Posted on by SMBS Team

Do you see Kickstarter being something you might try, and if so, what kind of project?

This week we have a great show in store for you! Amazon Ad School is open through October 25th, sign up at the link provided. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Jon Auerbach. This weeks Honorable Mention is Serial Successes. Top Tips of the week include how to get your rights back from a vanity press, what are the best ways to include real people in your books without legal problems, and why going full-time can lead to less writing. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how to Kickstart a project without begging for money, what KDP is doing to books to make things easier on readers, what is an easy way to find your also boughts, why three men pretending to be one woman is a problem, and how translators are fighting for recognition. Question of the Week: Do you see Kickstarter being something you might try, and if so, what kind of project? read more

Episode 393- BookTok, Vella Warriors, and Fake Reviews

Posted on by SMBS Team

Are you on TikTok, and if not, have you simply not gotten around to it or is there a reason you’ve decided to pass?

This week we have a great show in store for you! Today kicks off The 5-Day Amazon Ad Profit Challenge, its not too late to register! Claire also has a refresh of her free 5-Day Indie Author Alignment Course which will now be called Indie Author Supercharge. You can find the link to both of these 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 Jon Auerbach. This weeks Honorable Mention is Serial Successes. Top Tips of the week include how to be where your readers are, what are the best tools for writing on the go, and how to hook a reader onto your series to sell more books. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how to utilize Tik-Tok to sell your books, why you should be using deeper keywords, what is being done about the fake Amazon Review scam, why audiobook authors need your help, and what you can do to support your fellow author. Question of the Week: Are you on TikTok, and if not, have you simply not gotten around to it or is there a reason you’ve decided to pass? read more

Episode 392 – Self-promotion, Email Woes, and Offloading Ads

Posted on by SMBS Team

What tip or takeaway from this week’s show are you going to add to your to-do list for the week and why?

This week we have a great show in store for you! Wednesday, October 13th kicks off The 5-Day Amazon Ad Profit Challenge, register now! Claire also has a refresh of her free 5-Day Indie Author Alignment Course which will now be called Indie Author Supercharge. You can find the link to both of these 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 Rebecca Carter. This weeks Honorable Mention is Print and Ebook, all in one place. Top Tips of the week include how to dress up your book page, where to find helpful email prompts, and how to promo without self-promo. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include why email serial is most likely still dead, how Bookbub Ads are changing due to Apple, why to consider hiring someone to run Facebook ads for you, what new book formatting tool is making big promises, and why writing connected series sells more books. Question of the Week: What tip or takeaway from this week’s show are you going to add to your to-do list for the week and why? read more

Episode 391 – Going Wide, Hardcovers For All, and Kickstarter for Authors (with Erin Wright)

Posted on by SMBS Team

If you’ve considered going wide, what’s currently holding you back? If you ARE wide, what’s one of the reasons you decided to go wide?

This week we dive deep into going wide with western contemporary romance author Erin Wright. Erin is also one of the co-founders of the Facebook group Wide for the Win. Be sure to check out her link 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 Stephen Wholesome. This weeks Honorable Mention is Three Formats, One Dashboard. Top Tips of the week include how to manage your beta readers, what are the best tools to format your books, and how to train your brain to write more. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how PublishDrive is making things easier on authors, what wide authors can use to help finance book projects, what’s new with the audiobook market, how Trad Pub is defeating ebook pirates, the latest on KDP’s worst-kept hardcover secret, and why most author advice isn’t right for authors selling wide. Question of the Week: If you’ve considered going wide, what’s currently holding you back? If you ARE wide, what’s one of the reasons you decided to go wide?. read more

Episode 390- QR Codes, B&N FTW, and All-You-Can-Read

Posted on by SMBS Team

If you’re an Audible Plus subscriber, what do you think of the service, and what opportunities do you see for authors who put their books into it?

This week Claire is joined by author Lindsey Pogue. We will link her website in the show notes as well as Claire’s mega sale. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Elle Clouse. Top Tips of the week include how to get others to blurb your book, what a QR code can do for your books, and why its important to embrace marketing as an author. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include where to get great writing craft training for free, why Disney needs a wake up call from the author community, how B&N is making a comeback, how Audible is expanding and why Trad Pub will be suffering from a print book slow down this holiday season. Question of the Week: If you’re an Audible Plus subscriber, what do you think of the service, and what opportunities do you see for authors who put their books into it? read more

Episode 389 – Nabbing Reviews, Accessibility, and Indies Supporting Indies

Posted on by SMBS Team

What is a way you can support your fellow indie author between now and the end of the year?

This week we have a great show in store for you. Be sure to check out Bryan’s Book Multiplier Webinar and Claire’s 5-day course, the links will be provided 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 Patrick O’Donnell. Top Tips of the week include how to help readers review quickly, why a more accessible site will sell more books, and when to consider using a pen name. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include how Susan Darlene Faw is using her indie bookstore to help other authors, what is going on with Amazon and the Big 5, how to make six figures with kids books, how to spot a suspicious hybrid publisher and how to save money while publishing. Question of the Week: What is a way you can support your fellow indie author between now and the end of the year? read more

Episode 388- Series Perks, Masterminds, and Holiday Planning

Posted on by SMBS Team

What is one thing you would like to set up in advance to promote your books this coming holiday season?

This week we have a great show in store for you. Leave us a review on Apple Podcast and answer the Question of the Week in the comment section. The winner this week is Amy Martinsen. Top Tips of the week include how to maximize your book revenue, how to start your own author mastermind, and when is a good time to get new covers for your books. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include who is bringing back in-app ebook purchases, how KU is allowing readers more books at once, how to plan ahead for your holiday promos, what is the new reporting metrics in your KDP Reports Beta and how to hit best seller status. Question of the Week: What is one thing you would like to set up in advance to promote your books this coming holiday season? read more

Episode 387- Stacked Launches, the Blehs, and Taking Back Your Rights

Posted on by SMBS Team

If you knew it was guaranteed to succeed the way you’d planned, what one thing would you add to your next book launch, and why?

This week we have a great show in store for you Check out Bryan’s Q&A Session at the link 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 Andrew Chamberlain. Top Tips of the week include what makes up an author platform, how to get your rights back and use them, and what is the value of a good blurb. The 5 News stories that matter most to indies this week include what lawsuits have begun, how stacking promos can help your book launch, what are the new ad bid strategies on Amazon, what is happening between KDP and Ingram and how to write when you are not feeling it. Question of the Week: If you knew it was guaranteed to succeed the way you’d planned, what one thing would you add to your next book launch, and why? read more